Postingan

Menampilkan postingan dari Juli, 2008

Indications for Anticoagulation in Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves

All patients with mechanical valves require warfarin therapy. The risk of embolism is greater with a valve in the mitral position (mechanical or biological) than in the aortic position. With either type of prosthesis or valve location, the risk of emboli is higher in the first few days and months after valve insertion. Low-dose aspirin is recommended for all patients with prosthetic valves (see Table 1. For patients with mechanical valves, the addition of low-dose aspirin (80 to 100 mg/d) to warfarin therapy (INR 2.0 to 3.5) not only further decreases the risk thromboembolism but also decreases mortality due to other cardiovascular diseases. A slight increase in risk of bleeding with this combination should be kept in mind. Recommendations for Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves Class I 1.First 3 months after valve replacement: Warfarin- INR 2.5 to 3.5 2.3 or more months after valve replacement: A. Mechanical valve AVR and no risk factor*: Bileaflet valve or...

Symptom and Sign Diabetes

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS Type 1 diabetes Increased urination is a consequence of osmotic diuresis secondary to sustained hyperglycemia. This results in a loss of glucose as well as free water and electrolytes in the urine. Thirst is a consequence of the hyperosmolar state, as is blurred vision, which often develops as the lenses are exposed to hyperosmolar fluids. Weight loss despite normal or increased appetite is a common feature of type 1 when it develops subacutely. The weight loss is initially due to depletion of water, glycogen, and triglycerides; thereafter, reduced muscle mass occurs as amino acids are diverted to form glucose and ketone bodies. Lowered plasma volume produces symptoms of postural hypotension. Total body potassium loss and the general catabolism of muscle protein contribute to the weakness. Paresthesias may be present at the time of diagnosis, particularly when the onset is subacute. They reflect a temporary dysfunction of peripheral sensory nerves, which clears as in...

PATHOLOGY OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS

PATHOLOGY Detailed histological studies of pancreatic tissue are available from a limited number of cases of human acute pancreatitis. A histological spectrum of acute pancreatitis is recognized ranging from mild, interstitial disease to coagulation necrosis. 3 Interstitial pancreatitis may lead to local and systemic complications but is rarely fatal; necrotizing pancreatitis may be fatal in up to 30% of cases. Interstitial In interstitial pancreatitis the gland is edematous, but its gross architecture is preserved. Parenchymal inflammatory cells are present together with interstitial edema. Disruption of the normal acinar cell architecture is common and may contribute to the reduced enzyme secretion characteristic of acute pancreatitis. Zymogen granules are displaced from their fusion site in the apical domain of the cell and become dispersed throughout the cell, and the apical membrane appears contracted and microvilli disappear. 4 Zymogen granules fuse with each other instead of the...