Internal medicine journal
-
Internal medicine journal · Jul 2022
COVID-19 pandemic 2020 - A tertiary Melbourne hospital's experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected different parts of Australia in distinct ways across 2020 and 2021. In 2020, Melbourne was the epicentre of COVID-19. As one of the key tertiary centres caring for the patients affected by the outbreaks, the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) managed the majority of the Victorian inpatient caseload. ⋯ The experience of this health service in 2020 demonstrated changing demographics over time, with associated differences in outcomes; notably marked mortality in older populations, frequent complications and limited inter-site transfer possible with mobilised resources.
-
Internal medicine journal · Jul 2022
Myocardial perfusion imaging failed to improve patient risk classification compared to the revised cardiac risk index for early cardiac complications after major non-cardiac surgery.
Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is frequently used for cardiac risk assessment before major non-cardiac surgery, but its ability to improve patient risk classification beyond simple clinical assessment is unknown. ⋯ MPI risk factors are weak predictors for early cardiac complications after major non-cardiac surgery and failed to improve patient risk classification beyond essential assessment using age, RCRI and surgical priority. Clinicians should consider alternative risk assessment strategies because of MPI's poor prognostic utility and its associated time and financial costs.