Driving Patient Safety Improvements

This article discusses the problems that arise from inadequate information regarding a patient’s history and examination, leading to the patient dealing with complications of sepsis due to the delay in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis after an initial diagnosis of gastroenteritis.

This article discusses the problems that may arise from severe vitamin D deficiency and the international guidelines that highly recommend that all adults should supplement to avoid complications that may be caused by this deficiency.

Jaundice in new-born babies is a common occurrence (60% of term babies and 80% of preterm infants) and is usually not harmful. Jaundice is caused by a build-up of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow/orange pigment produced following the breakdown of red blood cells and as babies have…

Tumour growth is conventionally understood to follow exponential kinetics in many medico-legal courts and summaries. According to this model, the time required for one cell to divide into two is equivalent to that required for two to form four, four to form eight, and so forth. As such, people from…

Strep A (group A streptococcus) is a highly contagious bacteria that can cause different infections ranging from minor illness to death in a very small number of cases. Often people can carry the bacteria without developing any illness. Strep A can be prevented though good hygiene but there is no…

Patients who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee experience excessive wearing of the meniscus and articular cartilage. This is measured in grades from I-IV, from soft cartilage to cartilage worn down to the bone. This cartilage provides shock absorption and allows the bones to slide over each other. This damage…

Intestinal obstruction occurs when food and stool are not able to move freely along the gut. There are many possible reasons for intestinal obstruction including hernias, tumours, abdominal adhesions, volvulus (intestine twists around itself) and foreign objects.

Intestinal obstruction is a common problem with a high mortality rate unless treated…

Fibroids are benign tumours or growths of the uterus (myomas or leiomyomas) which are very common in women of reproductive age and tend to reduce in size after the menopause. They usually do not require treatment unless they cause symptoms. Symptoms of fibroids include prolonged heavy periods, abdominal distention, lower…