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Biomedical subjects

F T Fitzgerald

Publications and source records attributed to F T Fitzgerald.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Preserving renal function in surgical patients.

Postoperative acute renal failure, especially associated with oliguria, carries a high rate of mortality and morbidity. This complication can frequently be avoided if physicians are knowledgeable about preventable or modifiable risk factors. Patients who have underlying renal disease, sepsis, volume depletion or other conditions associated with renal hypoperfusion, or who have severe liver disease, are at particular risk. Exposure to nephrotoxic agents and wide fluctuations of intravascular volume are key conditions that can usually be minimized. Managing patients with chronic advanced renal failure (creatinine clearance 10 to 25 ml per minute) requires close interaction between the internists, anesthesiologists and surgeons. Understanding associated metabolic and organ system disorders is necessary to prevent complications and preserve remaining renal function. Chronic renal failure should not be a contraindication to an elective or emergent surgical procedure.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1986

Stratification of prognosis in granulocytopenic patients with hematologic malignancies using the APACHE-II severity of illness score.

The APACHE-II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) severity of disease classification system was used to stratify prognosis of granulocytopenic patients with hematologic malignancies. A total of 146 admissions were retrospectively reviewed. In 26 ICU admissions, mortality was 69.2%; in 120 admissions to the ward, mortality was 15.8%. The APACHE-II score successfully stratified prognosis in both ward and ICU settings. Respiratory failure and the presence of pneumonia on chest x-ray were identified as poor prognostic factors. ICU patients admitted for monitoring or postoperative care had a better prognosis than those admitted for severe cardiopulmonary compromise. We suggest that the APACHE-II system is useful for stratifying prognosis for clinical research in this group of patients, although it remains to be shown whether it will be useful in predicting the prognosis of individual patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The therapeutic value of pets.

While domestic pets are capable of transmitting disease and inflicting injury, they may also be of benefit to human health. Studies suggest that companion animals, in addition to their well-known role as helpers to the handicapped, may alleviate depression, solace the lonely, facilitate psycho-therapy, socialize criminals, lower blood pressure, increase survivorship from myocardial infarction and ease the social pain of aging in our society.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Penetration of oral doxycycline into the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with latent or neurosyphilis.

Five patients with laboratory evidence of latent or neurosyphilis were treated orally with doxycycline (200 mg) twice a day for 21 days. After the seventh dose, the mean level of doxycycline in serum was 5.8 micrograms/ml, with a mean drug level in cerebrospinal fluid of 1.3 micrograms/ml. The mean penetration into cerebrospinal fluid was 26%. These preliminary findings suggest that doxycycline, administered orally at a dose of 200 mg twice a day, reaches a sufficient concentration in cerebrospinal fluid to be worthy of further evaluation as an alternative regimen to penicillin therapy for latent or neurosyphilis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1983

The comatose patient. A systematic diagnostic approach for you to follow.

Coma is a frightening state requiring immediate medical attention. Because the patient's history may be unavailable and the possible causes of coma are numerous, the physician must concurrently support and protect the patient and evaluate the cause of coma. A systematic, orderly approach to diagnosis, using modern diagnostic tools to complement thorough physical examination, can help illuminate and alleviate this often perplexing problem.

Coma↗
PubMed1982

Accidental hypothermia: a report of 22 cases and review of the literature.

Most of our 22 patients with hypothermia were alcoholics, with a variety of serious complications of their disease. The prevalence of hypoglycemia (41%), sepsis (41%), and pulmonary complications (36%) was surprisingly high in this group of hypothermia victims, and the death rate (36%) relatively low. All patients in our series were passively rewarmed and given conservative drug and fluid management under close monitor.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Malaria: a modern dilemma.

Malaria remains endemic in large areas of the world, from many of which the United States is receiving more and more immigrants. Because of this, and rapid intercontinental travel, American physicians are likely to again encounter this relatively unfamiliar and potentially rapidly fatal disease. Accurate diagnosis and quick intervention depend upon physician awareness of the pleomorphic clinical manifestations of malaria, its laboratory identification and therapeutic approaches.

Antimalarials↗
PubMed1982

The bedside Sherlock Holmes.

There are a multitude of diagnostic clues contained in clothing, jewelry, possessions and other extracorporeal attachments that each patient brings with him or her to a physician. Because of the emphasis of classic physical diagnosis on the body of a patient solely, and because of modern practices that may have patients stripped of these articles before the first encounter with their physician, these interesting and enlightening findings are often ignored or unavailable. Incorporation of these observations into the panoply of data obtained from the history and physical examination will enhance both the accuracy and adventure of differential diagnosis. Such exercises in observation, moreover, may increase general physical diagnostic skills as well as enliven bedside rounds.

Clinical Competence↗