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Biomedical subjects

J Brosnan

Publications and source records attributed to J Brosnan.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Perioperative thirst: a patient perspective.

Many institutions continue to require surgery patients to take nothing by mouth after midnight despite current research that supports allowing most patients to drink fluids up to 3 hours before surgery. This study of 50 elective surgery patients describes their perceptions of discomfort caused by thirst. Results show that thirst caused significantly more discomfort to the patient than not being able to eat or sleep or worrying about the surgery itself. Given these results, nurses are urged to work within their institutions to change the current practice regarding preoperative fluid restriction.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Heparin-induced skin necrosis: nurses beware.

As the prophylactic use of heparin continues to increase, nurses must be aware that heparin use may cause heparin-induced skin necrosis--a rare but serious complication. Although even more severe complications may occur from heparin use, this discussion will focus on skin necrosis caused by subcutaneous heparin. Should heparin-induced skin necrosis develop, heparin therapy must be discontinued immediately. This case presentation illustrates one patient's reaction to this complication.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1997

The reality of political ethical conflicts. Nurse manager dilemmas.

Losing sleep and deciding your administrative job is not worth the pressures you feel could be symptoms that you are struggling with a political ethical conflict. The authors describe a variety of political ethical conflicts and how they can arise, giving examples of dilemmas experienced by nurse managers and offering suggestions for developing successful coping strategies.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

A patient-focused pathway for ambulatory anticoagulation care.

Careful monitoring of ambulatory patients on anticoagulation medication is essential to prevent serious complications such as hemorrhages or blood clots. Nurse-run clinics developed in the 1980s provided some of the assistance necessary for chronic maintenance. These clinics had systems problems, however, that were frustrating for both the nurse and the patient. The article describes how multidisciplinary involvement at one medical center helped develop an anticoagulation pathway that improved service to patients and clarified and strengthened the nurse's role in the pathway.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1991

Skeletal muscle metabolism in heart failure in rats.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to examine the metabolism of skeletal muscle in rats 6-8 wk after myocardial infarction (MI). These in vivo measurements were supplemented by measurement of creatine, phosphocreatine (PCr), and ATP in freeze-clamped muscle using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and assays of key muscle enzymes to better define the muscle abnormality observed in heart failure. Resting PCr/(PCr + Pi) and pH were similar in MI rats and controls. Rats with MI had lower pH and PCr/(PCr + Pi) than controls during sciatic nerve stimulation at 1 and 2 Hz. These changes were more severe in rats with large (greater than or equal to 46%) infarcts, and changes in pH and PCr/(PCr + Pi) were correlated with infarct size. Free [ADP] in vivo was estimated from the NMR and HPLC measurements. [ADP] was increased in rats with large infarcts during nerve stimulation, implying a defect in oxidative metabolism. Citrate synthase, a mitochondrial enzyme, was reduced in rats with large MI. Citrate synthase levels were correlated with changes in PCr/(PCr + Pi) at 2 Hz. The NMR changes in skeletal muscle can be explained by reduced oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle, and this proposition is supported by the demonstration of reduced citrate synthase levels in skeletal muscle of rats with large infarcts.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1980

Squamous cell carcinoma of the proximal bile duct--a case report.

A 56-year-old white male with abdominal pain, vomiting, and jaundice was found on exploration to have squamous cell carcinoma of the hepatic ducts with metastasis to the liver. He was treated with palliative procedure consisting of dilation of tumor and placement of T-tube past the lesion. After recovering from surgery, patient was begun on radiation therapy to the liver and hilum, but his postoperative course was of progressive liver failure. This first necessitated cessation of radiation therapy and finally ended with the death of the patient three months after diagnosis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗