Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi / Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
-
Multicenter Study Observational Study
Angiographic factors associated with haemorrhagic presentation of brain arteriovenous malformation in a Chinese paediatric population.
To identify specific angiographic factors associated with haemorrhagic presentation of brain arteriovenous malformation in Chinese paediatric patients. ⋯ Smaller arteriovenous malformation size and diffuse nidal morphology are angiographic factors independently associated with haemorrhagic presentation. Bleeding risk is important in determining the therapeutic approach (aggressive vs conservative) and timeframe, particularly in paediatric patients.
-
To examine the level of family satisfaction in a local intensive care unit and its performance in comparison with international standards, and to determine the factors independently associated with higher family satisfaction. ⋯ This is the first intensive care unit family satisfaction survey published in Hong Kong. Although comparable with published data from other parts of the world, the results indicate room for improvement when compared with a Canadian multicentre database. Future directions should focus on improving the intensive care unit environment, agitation management, and communication with families.
-
To identify the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic values of transforaminal epidural steroid injection as interventional rehabilitation for lumbar radiculopathy. ⋯ The immediate response to transforaminal epidural steroid injection was approximately 80%. Transforaminal epidural steroid injection is a useful diagnostic, prognostic, and short-term therapeutic tool for lumbar radiculopathy. Although transforaminal epidural steroid injection cannot alter the need for surgery in the long term, it is a reasonably safe procedure to provide short-term pain relief and as a preoperative assessment tool.
-
Review
Strategies and solutions to alleviate access block and overcrowding in emergency departments.
Access block refers to the delay caused for patients in gaining access to in-patient beds after being admitted. It is almost always associated with emergency department overcrowding. This study aimed to identify evidence-based strategies that can be followed in emergency departments and hospital settings to alleviate the problem of access block and emergency department overcrowding; and to explore the applicability of these solutions in Hong Kong. ⋯ Several evidence-based approaches have been identified from the literature and effective strategies to overcome the problem of access block and overcrowding of emergency departments may be formulated.