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Moshe Sonnenblick

Publications and source records attributed to Moshe Sonnenblick.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Urinary retention: a cause of hyponatremia?

BACKGROUND: Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is the most common cause of hyponatremia in elderly hospitalized patients; however in many patients the etiology remains unclear even after routine investigations. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of the association of hyponatremia and urinary retention in elderly hospitalized patients. PATIENTS: Six patients with hyponatremia and urinary retention who were admitted to the geriatric department in our hospital during a four-year period (2001-2004). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 85 years. The mean serum sodium level was 120 mEq/l, average volume of retained urine was 933 ml (range 500-1,500 ml). All patients underwent a comprehensive work-up seeking a possible cause for the hyponatremia. The diagnostic work-up was negative. In 5 of the patients the laboratory findings fulfilled the criteria for SIADH. In all patients hyponatremia resolved following urinary catheterization and fluid restriction. All patients made a complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Potentially, urinary retention by itself may cause hyponatremia. The possible mechanism for this is SIADH, triggered by bladder distention or pain due to bladder distention. Urinary catheterization may be the key to treatment in these cases of hyponatremia.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Low-dose aspirin and prevention of cranial ischemic complications in giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: Cranial ischemic complications such as cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) and acute visual loss are among the leading causes of giant cell arteritis (GCA)-related morbidity. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the effect of treatment with low-dose aspirin on the incidence of cranial ischemic complications in GCA. METHODS: Charts of 175 consecutive patients in whom GCA was diagnosed between 1980 and 2000 were reviewed for medical data. Data for 166 patients who were followed up for at least 3 months were also available. RESULTS: At the time of the diagnosis of GCA, 36 patients (21%) had already been receiving low-dose aspirin (100 mg/day). In all cases, the indication for this treatment was ischemic heart disease. There were no significant differences between the aspirin-treated and non-aspirin-treated groups regarding the mean age of patients, the male-to-female ratio, duration of GCA-related symptoms, rates of headaches, systemic symptoms, and jaw claudication, and the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin count, and platelet count. Cerebrovascular risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes mellitus) were more common in the aspirin-treated group (38.9% versus 20%; P= 0.03). Cranial ischemic complications were diagnosed in 43 patients at presentation: 30 patients had acute visual loss, 11 had CVAs, and 2 had both conditions simultaneously. Only 3 of the aspirin-treated patients (8%) presented with cranial ischemic complications, compared with 40 (29%) of the non-aspirin-treated patients (P = 0.01). Despite the use of steroid therapy, cranial ischemic complications developed in 14 of the 166 patients followed up for 3 months or longer. However, cranial ischemic complications developed in only 3% of the aspirin-treated patients, compared with 13% of the patients treated with prednisone only (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that low-dose aspirin decreases the rate of visual loss and CVAs in patients with GCA.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Risk factors for cranial ischemic complications in giant cell arteritis.

Cranial ischemic complications (CICs) are among the presenting manifestations of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Yet patients with GCA may develop CICs at a later stage, despite steroid therapy. In the current report we delineate risk factors for CICs, both at presentation and during follow-up, and review the relevant literature. We reviewed charts of 175 patients with GCA. Follow-up data were available for 166 patients. CICs at presentation or developing within 2 weeks of GCA diagnosis were considered GCA related. CICs developing later were considered GCA related only when associated with other GCA-related manifestations or acute-phase reactions. Associations between CICs and other variables were tested by multivariate analysis. At presentation, 43 patients (24.6%) had CICs. Risk factors were transient cerebro-ophthalmic ischemic episodes (COIEs) (odds ratio [OR] 4.3) and male sex (OR 2.5), while the presence of systemic symptoms was "protective" (OR 0.3). During follow-up 8.4% of patients with GCA developed new CICs. Risk factors in these cases were previous CICs at presentation (OR 5.6) and transient COIEs developing during follow-up (OR 14.8). The use of low-dose aspirin was protective (OR 0.2). These data, together with data from the literature review, suggest that GCA patients with transient COIEs and without fever or other systemic symptoms are at increased risk of presenting with CICs. Risk factors for late-developing CICs were CICs at presentation and late-developing transient COIEs.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

[The geriatric department in a general hospital].

Geriatric medicine encompasses different aspects including geriatric evaluation, geriatric rehabilitation, chronic institutional care and acute geriatric care. In the last few years, the place of the geriatric department in the realm of the general hospital has come under discussion. In Israel, most general hospitals have a geriatric department, but its characteristics vary from one hospital to another. It would seem that a geriatric department in a general hospital is obligatory, but it can only be complementary to the internal medicine department, not replace it. The geriatric department should provide services for elderly patients with special needs such as multi-faceted illness, acute illness combined with a loss in general and cognitive function and facilitate services for elderly patients with expectations of extended stay and/or chronic hospitalization, etc. In addition, integration should be encouraged between the department and chronic care institutions and it should act as an "umbrella consulting firm" to the different hospital departments that provide treatment for most of the patients that are 65 years old and above. Among the important functions of the geriatric department is the training of interns and the teaching of geriatrics in nursing schools. The existence of geriatric departments in general hospitals will help in preserving the status of internal medicine.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Pernicious anemia and malignancy].

Pernicious anemia is a common finding is the elderly as is malignancy. The associated malignancy in patients with pernicious anemia was previously reported and recently confirmed. In addition to the various malignancies, polyp in the stomach and carcinoid of the stomach were reported in patients with pernicious anemia. We present a patient with pernicious anemia associated with the finding of a giant polyp in the stomach. The relevant literature is reviewed. It seems that periodic screening for early diagnosis of cancer is not recommended. However, it is recommended to have a gastroscopy immediately after the diagnosis of pernicious anemia.

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PubMed2003

The use of accepted preventive medicine practice among elderly patients in community clinics in the Jerusalem area.

BACKGROUND: With the aging of the population and the increase in the number of elderly patients under the care of primary care physicians in the community, it is essential that the physician be aware of the preventive medicine recommendations for this group of patients. Accepted evidence-based guidelines have been developed for the older patient and adherence to these guidelines may play a significant role in decreasing morbidity and mortality in the elderly. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether elderly patients in community clinics are aware of the preventive medicine practices that are relevant and available to them, and to assess which factors influence their decision to use such interventions. Of particular interest was to evaluate the role of the doctor-patient relationship on the degree of patient compliance with preventive procedures. METHODS: Patients attending community clinics of the Clalit Health Services in Jerusalem were interviewed. Background information was obtained and the patients were questioned regarding the use of the following preventive medicine recommendations: screening for occult blood in the stool, testing of vision and hearing, influenza and pneumococcal immunization, thyroid-stimulating hormone testing, digital rectal examination for prostate cancer, and calcium supplementation. The patients were questioned regarding the use of aspirin or oral anticoagulation where relevant. Factors influencing their level of compliance were examined. RESULTS: The study group comprised 205 patients with an average age of 74.5 years. Overall the rates of compliance were high, with 78% undergoing visual assessment, 87% fecal occult blood testing, and 81% influenza immunization. Pneumococcal immunization had been administered to 49% of those interviewed and 56% had their hearing tested. Digital rectal examination had been performed in 45% of patients. Calcium supplementation was used in 60% of patients. Almost all the patients (91-100%) noted that the physician had initiated the procedure and that non-compliance was due to patient preferences. Of the 172 patients who were assumed to benefit from aspirin use, 153 (89%) used the medication, and 87% of 23 patients with atrial fibrillation were on chronic anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: A high level of compliance with preventive medicine recommendations was found among this group of elderly patients. The doctor-patient relationship had a positive effect on the patients' compliance.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

[Epidemiology of decision on life-sustaining treatment in the general internal medicine division].

In the state of Israel there are no clear guidelines of decision-making for terminally ill patients. However, physicians do make decisions concerning life sustaining treatment. The rate of these decisions in medical wards in Israel is not known. The purpose of the study was to investigate prospectively, in a medical division, the rate of foregoing life-sustaining treatment. In addition, we wanted to find out whether or not senior physicians and families were involved in the decision-making process. The relationship of the decisions to the patients demographic and clinical characteristics was evaluated. Of 1039 patients hospitalized in 3/01, 12/01 and 1/02, the decision to forego life-sustaining treatment was taken in 8.8% of the cases. The highest rate was observed in the acute geriatric ward (23%) and the lowest in the Department of Cardiology (< 1%). Senior physicians were involved in 74% of the decision-making and the family was involved in only 29%. Age, marital status, dementia, functional state and the severity of sickness significantly affected the decision-making. However, on the basis of multi-regression analysis, only functional impairment prior to the hospitalization significantly affected the decision-making by the physician. The findings of this study support the essential need for accelerating legislation concerning decision-making for patients at the end of life. The adoption of the recommendations of the public committee on this subject, recently presented to the Minister of Health, provide legal validity to advance medical directives and may assist in ethical issues for end of life decision-making.

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PubMed2002

[Advance medical directives].

A patient's rights to autonomy and to participate in the decision making process is a fundamental ethical principle. However, for the non-competent patient, participation in decision-making is more problematic. A survey carried out in Israel found that less than half of the offspring of terminally ill elderly patients knew the request of their parents regarding life-supporting measures. A solution to this problem is the use of medical advance directives (MADs). In the U.S.A (in 1991) it was required by a federal law to inform every hospitalized patient of his right to use MADs. The experience from the use of MADs in the USA during the last 10 years show that: 1) Most lay persons as well as medical staff support the use of MADs 2) The rate of the use of MADs is about 20%, and among long term care hospitalized patients it is even higher. 3) Sex, age, level of education, morbidity and income were found to be significant factors. 4) Education on the use of the MADs raised the rate of use. 5) Most of the patients who had MADs did not discuss the issue of life supporting treatment with their physicians. 6) Patients who had MADs received less aggressive treatment with reduced medical cost. 7) There is a preference to write generic MADs. Arguments supporting the use of MADs state that they: extend patient autonomy; relieve patient anxiety regarding unwanted treatment; relieve physicians' anxiety concerning legal liability; reduce interfamily conflicts, and they also lower health care costs. Arguments opposing the use claim that they: violate sanctity of life; promote an adversarial physician-patient relationship; may lead to euthanasia; fail to express the patient's current wishes and may even counteract physicians' values. On the basis of experience in the USA and the positive attitude regarding MADs, it appears that MADs can also be applicable in Israel.

Advance Directives↗
PubMed2002

The predictive value of the halo sign in color Doppler ultrasonography of the temporal arteries for diagnosing giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) usually requires a temporal artery biopsy. Recently it has been reported that a periluminal dark halo, detected by color Doppler ultrasonography (US) of the temporal arteries, is a characteristic sign of GCA. We evaluated the predictive value of this dark halo sign in diagnosing GCA. METHODS: During a period of 2 years 69 patients suspected of having GCA were examined by US of both temporal arteries. Temporal artery biopsy was performed in 32 of these patients. The diagnosis of GCA was made if a patient had a biopsy showing arteritis, or met all the following criteria: (1) American College of Rheumatology GCA classification criteria were fulfilled; (2) there was a prompt clinical response to treatment with 40-60 mg/day of prednisone; and (3) no other diagnosis related to the patient's symptoms was made during 6 month followup. RESULTS: Periluminal dark halo was observed in 24 of 69 patients. GCA was diagnosed in 12 of them, giving a positive predictive value (PPV) of only 50%. No halo was detected in 45 cases of which only 2 had GCA, resulting in a high negative predictive value (NPV) of 96%. The sensitivity and specificity of the halo sign for diagnosing GCA were 86% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The PPV of the halo sign in US of the temporal arteries is unsatisfactory for diagnosing GCA. However, the NPV is very high. Thus the lack of a halo can practically serve to rule out a diagnosis of GCA, and precludes the need for a biopsy in most instances.

Biopsy, Needle↗