Comments on: Medical instincts – the denouement http://www.medrants.com/archives/2598 Internal medicine, American health care, and especially medical education Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:15:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sjm http://www.medrants.com/archives/2598/comment-page-1#comment-99351 sjm Wed, 07 Dec 2005 15:42:46 +0000 http://medrants.com/?p=2598#comment-99351 What is the patient's apnea-hypopnea index? Judging from your description of him it is likely above 60. If this is the case, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty alone is unlikely to turn the disease process around. As harsh as it may sound, the best option might be tracheostomy. This certainly would eliminate his obstructive events and may even improve his energy level to the point where weight loss is possible. What is the patient’s apnea-hypopnea index? Judging from your description of him it is likely above 60. If this is the case, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty alone is unlikely to turn the disease process around. As harsh as it may sound, the best option might be tracheostomy. This certainly would eliminate his obstructive events and may even improve his energy level to the point where weight loss is possible.

]]> By: Jared Solomon http://www.medrants.com/archives/2598/comment-page-1#comment-97353 Jared Solomon Fri, 02 Dec 2005 01:49:57 +0000 http://medrants.com/?p=2598#comment-97353 I, too, was not immediately familiar with the labs. As an Army medic, and an applicant to medical school, I understand a lot of the chemistry and biochemistry behind them, but I don't immediately know the normal ranges. However, some quick Google searches were able to get me up to speed on what the ranges should be. I do really appreciate the academic exercise these offer. Thank you, very much, DB. I, too, was not immediately familiar with the labs. As an Army medic, and an applicant to medical school, I understand a lot of the chemistry and biochemistry behind them, but I don’t immediately know the normal ranges.

However, some quick Google searches were able to get me up to speed on what the ranges should be.

I do really appreciate the academic exercise these offer. Thank you, very much, DB.

]]> By: Steve Lucas http://www.medrants.com/archives/2598/comment-page-1#comment-97299 Steve Lucas Thu, 01 Dec 2005 14:52:00 +0000 http://medrants.com/?p=2598#comment-97299 As a non-medical type I did not understand the labs. This does give us a talking point with friends who are over weight and have sleep apnea to offer some positive reinforcement to loose weight and exercise. As a non-medical type I did not understand the labs. This does give us a talking point with friends who are over weight and have sleep apnea to offer some positive reinforcement to loose weight and exercise.

]]> By: Clinical Cases and Images http://www.medrants.com/archives/2598/comment-page-1#comment-97126 Clinical Cases and Images Wed, 30 Nov 2005 21:04:27 +0000 http://medrants.com/?p=2598#comment-97126 There is another case of <a HREF="http://clinicalcases.blogspot.com/2004/02/acrocyanosis-in-pickwickian-syndrome.html" rel="nofollow">Pickwickian syndrome</a> with ABGs and other labs on the Clinical Cases and Images website. The best teaching is through practice, so your idea is definitely worth repeating or even becoming a regular feature. There is another case of Pickwickian syndrome with ABGs and other labs on the Clinical Cases and Images website.

The best teaching is through practice, so your idea is definitely worth repeating or even becoming a regular feature.

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