Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Hurley

Publications and source records attributed to J Hurley.

101 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The first 20 years of heart transplantation in Ireland.

BACKGROUND: The first Irish heart transplant was performed on the 10th of September 1985. Over the next 20 years, 229 transplants were performed in 228 recipients. AIMS: To evaluate the success of the first generation of cardiac transplantation in Ireland. METHODS: Analysis of clinical outcomes and survival statistics for patients undergoing heart transplantation in Ireland and comparison with international standards. RESULTS: There has been a steady improvement in transplant outcome over this time and survival figures for recipients between 2000 and 2004 show a hospital, 1-year and 5-year survival rate of 85.7%, 84.1% and 76.8% respectively. Thirty-eight of the 99 heart transplants performed between 1985 and 1994 are still alive more than 10 years later and the longest survivor is now 19 years post transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The results compare favourably with international figures. Heart transplantation offers excellent longterm survival and quality of life but remains challenged by a shortage of suitable donor organs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Modified Stryker frame for intraoperative positioning of the patient with burns.

Positioning large patients with burns for prone burn procedures can be very difficult, requiring operating room personnel to use a gang-lift technique. We have used the upper portion of a Stryker frame mounted to a standard operating room table base in more than 200 burn procedures in adults to move patients from the supine to the prone position, and back, without complication.

Burns↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Burn depth estimation by use of indocyanine green fluorescence: initial human trial.

Indocyanine green dye (ICG) fluoresces when illuminated by infrared light. After successful trials in a porcine model and with approval of the Massachusetts General Hospital's human studies committee, 10 adult patients with burn injuries were given 0.2 mg/kg ICG intravenously, and 825 nm fluorescence images were obtained with 780 nm excitation at 5 minutes after injection in the initial five patients and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 minutes in the subsequent five patients. Fluorescence intensities at burned and unburned sites were determined and images were correlated with burn depth as determined by healing or intraoperative assessment. In the latter five patients, seven sites were imaged (six that were of partial thickness and one that was of full thickness). The burn/normal skin fluorescence ratio was greater than 1 for superficial burns and less than 1 for deep burns. Imaging within 5 minutes of injection resulted in optimal contrast between injured and uninjured tissue. In this initial pilot trial it is apparent that ICG fluorescence has potential value as an aid in the early estimation of burn depth. In subsequent trials we will attempt to refine our ability to correlate ICG fluorescence images with burn depth.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is small really beautiful? Some thoughts on the 1995 federal budget.

The 1995 federal budget meets the financial markets' expectations by proposing deep funding cuts and defining a smaller federal presence in several sectors of Canadian society. The most significant aspect of the budget for health care is the creation of the Canada Health and Social Transfer, which merges federal funding for health, post-secondary education and social assistance into one block grant. Provinces will be free to shift funds among these programs.

Budgets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Queen Elizabeth Behavioural Assessment Graphical System.

The Queen Elizabeth Behavioural Assessment Graphical Scale (QEBAGS) is presented as a new, descriptive rating method for documenting behavioural disturbances in a variety of clinical settings. The scale utilises three categories of behavioural disturbances which may occur in isolation or may co-exist. These are documented on a graphical plot across a 24 hours' time span. Neither diagnostic information nor severity of a particular behavioural disturbance needs to be interpreted before a rating on each parameter can be made, thus allowing its use by any intelligent observer, including a carer at home. Documenting of behavioural disturbance across day and night, by intermittent or regular observations, provides valuable information on the time, course and pattern of behavioural disturbance, from which diagnostic and therapeutic directions can be inferred. In preliminary clinical use, the scale has improved documentation of behavioural disturbance and communication between health professionals about such behaviour and its management. The scale also has the potential to provide supportive documentation for the Resident Classification Index in Nursing Homes and Personal Care Assessment Index in Hostels. The scale is most effective in situations where moderate to severe disturbance of behaviour is present. Where there is little or no disturbance, the system is unlikely to be of benefit. Clinical examples of its utility are presented.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Heart transplant candidates: factors influencing waiting list mortality.

Cardiac transplantation is a successful treatment for end-stage heart disease. However the number of potential candidates is significantly greater then number of suitable organ donors. We reviewed the characteristics of new transplant candidates presenting for assessment for cardiac transplantation to the Irish Heart & Lung Transplant programme over a one year period. Of 44 patients referred for assessment, 24 (54.5%) were listed for cardiac transplantation. Six have died while awaiting transplantation, seven have been transplanted and eleven remain on the active transplant list. The six month survival rate on the transplant waiting list is 74%. Although the Irish system of organ donation has traditionally provided high organ donation rates in comparison with other countries, the demand for suitable heart donors exceeds supply. Newer methods of promoting and facilitating organ donation may prove beneficial in improving the number of donations and addressing the long waiting time for cardiac transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cervical screening.

Jane Hurley presents the results of a study that set out to establish women's attitudes towards a cervical screening programme and whether this affected their use of the service. The majority of women participating had used the service, but a clear need for improvement was identified. The need for more information about the purpose of cervical screening was highlighted, as was the need for health professionals to improve their communication skills.

Attitude to Health↗