British journal of community nursing
-
Br J Community Nurs · Sep 2007
ReviewCOPD and coping with breathlessness at home: a review of the literature.
Patients with COPD and their partners often feel isolated while trying to cope with the psychological and physical effects of their condition and the change in their quality of life. Research studies support the fact that some patients with COPD cope better with their breathlessness at home with appropriate community support. ⋯ However, there appears to be an imbalance in the provision of community support/palliative care for COPD patients who have a life-limiting illness compared to other patients with a life limiting illness and a cancer diagnosis. Where 'hospital at home' and support in the community for COPD patients occurs it is provided in many different ways and has been shown to reduce the necessity for acute hospital admissions.
-
Overgranulation is a difficult condition to deal with and is thought to be due to possible infection or to use of occlusive dressings. The overgranulating tissue can be soft and oedematous with a shiny appearance. The fastest route to treatment (steroids or silver nitrate) may be aggressive and should be used sparingly (if at all). This article provides an outline of the process or tissue overgranulation in wounds and its appropriate clinical management.