The relationship between maternal needs and priorities in a neonatal intensive care environment

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the nature and organization of maternal needs and priorities in a neonatal unit. BACKGROUND: The relationship between maternal needs and priorities appears to be an under studied area in neonatal nursing. METHODS: A quantitative survey was carried out based on 209 mothers with premature infants. Two self-assessment schedules were used: critical care maternal needs inventory (J. Leske, Heart and Lung 15, 27-42) and a ranking scale. The data were analysed with multivariate analysis. FINDINGS: Data analysis revealed clear priorities in maternal needs. In particular the need for accurate infant related information was a priority for 93% of the mothers. Good communication practices with professionals were also valued. The mothers displayed altruistic behaviour, and self-related needs took second place. It is proposed that maternal needs demonstrate a hierarchical organization. CONCLUSION: It is important for nurses to consider the individual needs of the mothers, simply because the satisfaction of these needs is essential for maternal well-being.     

Pre-operative assessment of anal fistulas using endoanal ultrasound

Objective To study the accuracy of endoanal ultrasound in pre‐operative assessment of cryptoglandular anal fistulas, with respect to the site of the internal opening, type and depth of the fistula tract. Patients and methods A consecutive series of 151 patients with anal sepsis underwent pre‐operative endoanal ultrasound assessment of a suspected anal fistula. Hydrogen peroxide was used to define the tract when there was doubt as to the course of the fistula. All patients subsequently had surgical exploration under anaesthesia, irrespective of findings at sonography. The site of the internal opening, depth and type of fistula were recorded at surgery, and concordance with the ultrasound was assessed. Results One hundred and forty‐five patients were subsequently shown to have a fistula at surgical exploration. Type of fistula: Two thirds were transsphincteric (63%) and one third were inter sphincteric (32%), with a few submucosal, and supra sphincteric fistulas. Ultrasound correctly predicted surgical findings in 82% of patients (124/151). Concordance was highest for transsphincteric fistulas (87%). Internal opening: Accuracy of predicting the site of the internal opening was 93% (140/151). The commonest site for the internal opening was the midline posteriorly (49%), followed by the midline anteriorly (25%), the rest lay laterally. Fistula depth: Ultrasound and surgical assessment of the depth of fistulas was concordant in 120 of 145 patients (83%). Conclusions Endoanal ultrasound has a high accuracy of predicting the site of internal opening of an anal fistula. Endoanal ultrasound is able to assess the type and depth of a fistula. This information is useful for pre‐operative planning of fistula treatment.     

Immature Megakaryocytes in the Mouse: Morphology and quantitation by acetylcholinesterase staining

Three types of immature megakaryocytes, detected by their morphological properties, have been characterized in bone marrow of normal C57BL/6 mice. Morphological classification of these cells was carried out by determining (1) presence and relative amount of acetylcholinesterase, (2) cell size, (3) nuclear/cytoplasm ratio, and (4) nuclear shape. The immature megakaryocytes were classified as: (A) cells distinguished by a round nucleus (10.6 +/- 1.1 mu diameter; mean +/- SEM), which had the highest nucleus / cytoplasm ratio and lowest content of acetylcholinesterase; (B) cells with an indented nucleus (13.0 +/- 1.9 mu diameter), which had increased acetylcholinesterase content and reduced nucleus/cytoplasm ratio compared to the round-nucleus cell type; and (C) lobed-nucleus cells (14.5 +/- 2.9 mu diameter), which showed further increase in acetylcholinesterase content and reduction in nucleus/cytoplasm ratio. Increased numbers of immature megakaryocytes were detected, indicating that a proportion of these cells are undetected using conventional staining techniques. Based on the observed alterations in size, acetylcholinesterase content, and nuclear complexity, it was concluded that these cells constitute part of a progressive maturation sequence intermediate between the progenitor cell (CFU-Mk) and mature easily recognizable megakaryocytes.     

Do symptoms reflect a change in left ventricular function after aortocoronary bypass grafting in patients with depressed left ventricular function?

Seventy-nine patients with moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction who underwent aortocoronary bypass grafting between 1971 and 1977 had follow-up heart catheterization at a mean interval of 3 years. Thirty-three patients (42%) had angiographic improvement in left ventricular function at follow-up and 18 (25%) had a decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Fifty-eight patients (73%) had improvement in angina of at least one New York Heart Association class at follow-up. There was no correlation between late improvement in left ventricular function and improvement in angina. Improvement in left ventricular function did not correlate with preoperative indices of severity of coronary disease or with indices of completeness of surgical repair.     

Development and testing of the Assessment of Living Skills and Resources (ALSAR) in elderly community-dwelling veterans

The Assessment of Living Skills and Resources (ALSAR), an innovative instrumental activities of daily living tool, systematically evaluates the accomplishment of 11 tasks by separately rating patient skill and resource levels for each task and combining these levels to determine risk. The ALSAR was administered to 75 elderly veterans in a home care program. It predicted change to more supportive living arrangements and a more structured living environment, nursing home placement, hospitalization, and death during the 6-month study period. The ALSAR has proven useful for interdisciplinary problem solving and treatment planning.     

Modified orthodontic treatment goals in a patient with multiple complicating factors

This paper reviews orthodontic care in patients who are in non-traditional categories. Specific orthodontic management of a patient who had severe hemophilia, seropositivity for anti-HIV Ab, and Hepatitis B surface antigen is reviewed. The Importance of defining acceptable treatment goals in these patients is of paramount Importance.     

Trabeculodialysis for inflammatory glaucoma: a review of 25 cases.

We reviewed the results following trabeculodialysis in 25 eyes of 22 patients with secondary glaucoma due to chronic anterior uveitis. After 1 year, intraocular pressure (IOP) was uncontrolled (greater than 21 mm Hg) in 11 eyes (44%). Trabeculodialysis controlled IOP (less than 21 mm Hg) in 14 eyes (56%), with an average follow up of 52 months (range, 12 to 151 months). Sixteen eyes (64%) were aphakic, but did no worse than the phakic eyes. One eye developed a subchoroidal hemorrhage 3 days postoperatively which required drainage. No other serious complications were encountered. Trabeculodialysis is a safe procedure which can achieve pressure control in these difficult eyes.