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Biomedical subjects

D Narrigan

Publications and source records attributed to D Narrigan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Is there scientific support for the use of juice to facilitate the nonstress test?

In this article, a review of the literature is presented regarding the practice of administering fruit juice to facilitate the nonstress test (NST). Seven studies were found that investigated the relationship between the administration of natural or artificial glucose and the NST. No support was found for the use of juice or glucose to facilitate the NST as commonly administered in practice or as noted in textbooks. Therefore, the practice and textbook references to it should be questioned. The use of rituals undermines the professionalism of nursing practice.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postcoital contraception. Has its day come?

Although postcoital contraception might aid in reducing the occurrence of some unintended pregnancies, it is seldom used. This review summarizes the development of postcoital methods, focusing on the Yuzpe regimen, the most widely used emergency contraceptive in the United States. The article discusses its mechanism of action, safety, side effects, and effectiveness. Reasons for its limited use are discussed, as are recent findings that RU 486 may be a superior postcoital agent. Finally, a protocol for integrating the Yuzpe method into nurse-midwifery practice is presented.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early abortion. Update and implications for midwifery practice.

Medical abortion using methotrexate and misoprostol and manual vacuum aspiration are two new methods for pregnancy termination during the first 8 weeks of gestation. Compared to the regimen of mifepristone (RU 486) and misoprostol, both methods offer high rates of complete abortion and acceptability to users. Limitations of the new two-drug regimen compared with mifepristone include a longer time to effect abortion, transient gastrointestinal side effects, and risk of potential teratogenicity from methotrexate's cytotoxicity. Compared to standard surgical abortion, both methods allow women to avoid surgery, are more privately performed, and may be more easily accessible. The safety of first-trimester abortion provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants has been established. Whether midwives and either new method to their practices depends on several factors. These include obtaining appropriate training, overcoming legal restrictions, and meeting professional and personal challenges inherent in providing early abortion care.

Abortifacient Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Newborn hearing screening update for midwifery practice.

Neonatal identification of congenital hearing impairment allows interventions during the first 3 years, the critical period for language and speech development. Two recently developed biophysical testing methods offer simple, accurate, and relatively inexpensive means to identify the one to three in 1,000 healthy newborns with hearing loss. Universal screening for auditory system integrity is advocated, because almost half of all newborns with hearing impairment have no risk factors associated with this impairment. Critics of universal screening cite the high rate of false positive tests (up to 7%), which increases program costs from follow-up and re-testing large numbers of infants to ensure identifying the few affected infants. As of early 2000, 24 states had introduced some type of auditory screening program, and the U.S. Congress had passed legislation with appropriations mandating state-based auditory screening for all newborns. Midwives practicing in states already mandating biophysical screening need to comply with their local requirements; those in other states may voluntarily incorporate new auditory test methods into practice.

Audiology↗