Splenic sequestration

A couple of days back, I was doing a GI file wherein the doctor was able to palpate the spleen of the patient and I heard him saying "splenic sequestration" a couple of times in the note.  Please visit here for details about this condition.

MT week in US

May 20-26 is celebrated as MT week in US and Jay Vance, a veteran MT, CMT, and MT consultant, has come up with these songs composed and sung by himself.....they are wonderful, just click here.

Types of fractures

I had jotted this way back in 2006 and had forgotten about it, just now came across it and thought of posting here...:-).

TYPE OF FRACTURES

Open:  Visible by eyes.                         Simple:  Only 1 break.

Closed:  Not visible by eyes.                 Compound:  More than 1 break.

KIDS

Greenstick

Growth plate

ADULTS

Pathogenic

Stress

Compression:  In old, weak and fragile people.

Osteoporotic fracture:

Joint

Spiral:  Does not break, only cracks.

Comminuted

Occult

Avulsion:  Occurs in joints, at bones covered by tendons.

How to calculate age

It is difficult to always depend upon our ears to hear out the age as dictated by the doctors.  The 50s and 60s always sound same except for those doctors who are very very clear.  To avoid this confusion, it is better to always cross check with the date of birth.  This is how I do it....suppose the patient's date of birth is July 4, 1980.  Current date or date of dictation is May 10, 2011.  To calculate the age of this patient, just subtract 1980 from 2010.  If the patient is born on a day before date of dictation or current date, for eg say March 4, 1980, then subtract 1980 from 2011.  So a patient who was born on July 4, 1980 would be (2010-1980) 30 years old today, whereas patient who was born on March 4, 1980, would be (2011-1980) 31 years old.

Glossomegaly

I was searching for reference for "glossomegaly" when I came across this website explaining medical terminology  for enlarged as well as small organs.  Please go through it, I found it informative.

Trim sulfa

Trim sulfa is not there in Quick Look as it is a combination drug.


It is a combination antimicrobrial drug, which by two consecutive steps blocks protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria.


When used alone the sulfonamides are bacteriostatic, and the trimethoprim is bactericidal, but when used in combination form the potentiated sulfas are bactericidal.


This combination drug has broad-spectrum activity. It is effective against Gram-positive bacteria such as streptococci and some strains of staphylococcus. Gram-negative organisms of the enterobacteriaceae are also susceptible to this drug. However, it does not appear to be effective against either mycoplasma, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


Trimethoprim sulfa is able to penetrate into exudate and abscessed tissue, as well as, penetrate the blood-brain-eye-placenta barrier. It is well absorbed orally with minimal effect on flora of the GI tract.


Trimethoprim sulfa is metabolized by the liver, and excreted during glomerular filtration and tubular secretion.


source:  http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/trimethoprim_sulfa.php

COMPANION trial

Comparison of Medical Therapy, Pacing, and Defibrillation in Heart Failure (COMPANION) Trial

The COMPANION trial is the largest heart failure device trial to date. The trial shows that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT),
used in combination with optimal pharmacologic therapy (OPT), can significantly improve both the quality and duration of life for a large group
of heart failure patients.

The COMPANION trial followed more than 1500 heart failure patients from 128 US center.

source:  http://www.bostonscientific-international.com