Palliative care in advanced systemic rheumatic diseases: an integrated approach.

Despite rapid advances in the field of rheumatology, many patients with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from chronic and debilitating systemic disease, with a high symptom burden and limited life expectancy. In this paper, we demonstrate an approach to managing a patient with rheumatoid arthritis with life-limiting illness for the palliative care physician. In particular, we focus on the systemic nature of rheumatoid arthritis and nuances around medication management towards the end of life.

Development and validation of open-source deep neural networks for comprehensive chest x-ray reading: a retrospective, multicentre study.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) systems for automated chest x-ray interpretation hold promise for standardising reporting and reducing delays in health systems with shortages of trained radiologists. Yet, there are few freely accessible AI systems trained on large datasets for practitioners to use with their own data with a view to accelerating clinical deployment of AI systems in radiology. We aimed to contribute an AI system for comprehensive chest x-ray abnormality detection.

Bedside open tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients - a safe and swift approach.

Background: Tracheostomy can be performed as an open surgical procedure, percutaneous, or hybrid and forms an important step in the management of patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring weaning from mechanical ventilation. The purpose of this article is to share our experience to performing bedside surgical tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients in a safe and effective manner, whilst minimising the risk of viral transmission, to optimise patient outcomes and reduce risk to healthcare professionals.

Material And Methods: As recommended by ENT UK, we prospectively established a COVID Airway Team within the ENT department at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, consisting of four head and neck consultant surgeons to perform either open-bedside, open-theatre or percutaneous tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients.

Rigid bronchoscopy: a consultant survey.

Introduction: Inhalation of foreign bodies represents a potentially fatal emergency in both adults and children. Chest x-ray, in isolation, is neither sensitive nor specific. Rigid bronchoscopy represents the gold standard to diagnose and retrieve paediatric foreign bodies.