Resuscitation orders in acute hospitals: A point prevalence study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of resuscitation orders and Advance Care Plans, and the relationship with Medical Emergency Team (MET) calls.

Methods: A point prevalence review of patient records at five Victorian hospital services.

Results: One thousand nine hundred and thirty-four patient records were reviewed, and 230 resuscitation orders and 15 Advance Care Plans found.

Death: a foe to be conquered? Questioning the paradigm.

There are few certainties in life-death is one of them. Yet death is often thought of today as the 'loss of the battle' against illness, where in traditional societies it was the natural, meaningful, end to life. Medical knowledge and technologies have extended the possibilities of medical care and increased our life span.

A focus group study investigating medical decision making in octogenarians of high socioeconomic status with successful outcomes following cardiac surgery.

Aim: To explore medical decision making in octogenarians having cardiac surgery.

Methods: Five focus groups conducted in a private hospital setting with octogenarians of high socioeconomic status who had successful cardiac surgery in the previous 3-13 months.

Results: Octogenarian's motivations for having cardiac surgery include survival, relief of symptoms, convenience and improving quality of life.

Sacroiliitis secondary to isotretinoin.

Reported is the case of a 17-year old male with sacroiliitis confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while undergoing isotretinoin treatment for acne vulgaris. The cessation of isotretinoin and symptomatic treatment resolved the symptoms within 6 weeks, with no signs of sacroiliitis on repeat MRI 10 months later. The temporal association of disease onset and commencement of isotretinoin along with rapid recovery on withdrawal supports the role of isotretinoin in this case.