nurse blog

Madelung's Disease (multiple symmetrical lipomatosis) is a rare lipid metabolic disorder characterised by often large, diffuse, unencapsulated adipose tissue (lipomas) typically in the maxillofacial region, neck, shoulders, limbs and trunk. The disease is most common in middle-aged men and although a difinitive cause has not been established, alcohol abuse appears to be a significant factor​1​ occuring in more than 90% of cases​2​. The disease is also known as Launois-Bensaude syndrome, multiple symmetrical lipomatosis, or…

Death is the inevitable conclusion of life, and we all experience death in a variety ways, but most of us try not to think about how and when we will die. End-of-life experiences are diverse and a deeply personal experience heavily influenced by the individuals culture, spirituality, and personal philosophy. This means that end-of-life care can be difficult to plan for the practicing nurse as each patient and family will have differing approaches to death. There are however many changes that develop leading up to death.…

Physiological death is simply defined as the complete cessation of all vital organs. This differs from the broader definition of death which is typically recognised when respiration and cardigan functions cease. At death, the pupils become fixed and dilated, and the skin on the face and extremities becomes cool to the touch. The time of death should be noted and documented, and the attending doctor or medical officer informed. Physiological death is not as clear-cut as the conventional definition of death as many…

Occurance of ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions within the intracranial vasculature leading to injury or death of brain tissue.

A peptic ulcer is a legion in the mucosa lining of the stomach or small intestine, allowing gastric juices to come into contact with, and damage underlying tissues. Untreated or severe peptic ulcers may lead to perforation of the stomach and spilling of gastric juices into the abdominal cavity. Peptic Ulcers are prevalent in approximately 4% of the population1, with an estimated 10% of the population experiencing a peptic ulcer at some point in their life. In 2015 alone, over 87 million new cases were reported, resulting in…

Malaria is a relatively common condition caused by parasitic infection by the Plasmodium protozoans, generally acquired from the bite of a mosquito. The disease is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, including much of Latin America and Asia, however, the vast majority of reported cases - approximately 90% - occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. The disease remains very prevalent in these regions with 216 million cases of malaria reported globally in 20161, resulting in an estimated 731,000…

The Trendelenburg Position is a position in which the patient is laid supine, with the head declined to an angle between 30-45 degrees. The Trendelenburg position is most often used in surgical procedures of the lower abdomen, pelvis and genitourinary system as it allows gravity to pull the abdominal contents away from the pelvis. The position is also very effective in reducing and preventing the exacerbation of both abdominal and inguinal hernias. This is because it avoids putting downward pressure on the…

The Cytokine Cascade or cytokine storm is a relatively recently described autoimmune response in which the body's immune system gets caught in a positive feedback loop leading to a runaway and potentially fatal autoimmune response. A cytokine cascade can be particularly troublesome treat as it is the normal response of a healthy immune system, and so treatment usually focusses on the active interference of the immune processes rather than treatment of the underlying infection. Cytokine cascades have been implicated in…

Sometimes the best way to learn is to observe. The popular perception of a cardioversion is that it's this high intensity, dramatic event with doctors and nurses running around like crazy. The reality is however that they are an almost relaxed affair, which is a testament to the teams experience and professionalism. remaining calm and focussed under pressure is a hallmark of health care professionals in the emergency setting. The list below depicts interesting cases I've come across during my travels through…