Palliative Sedation at the End of Life: Patterns of Use in an Israeli Hospice.

Palliative sedation (PS) is indicated for refractory symptoms among dying patients. This retrospective descriptive study examines PS in an Israeli hospice. Palliative sedation was defined as PS to unconsciousness (PSU), PS proportionate to symptoms (proportional palliative sedation [PPS]), or intermittent PS (IPS).

Topical anesthesia using lidocaine gel for cataract surgery.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of topical anesthesia using lidocaine gel in cataract surgery.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel.

Methods: One hundred cataract procedures (48 manual extracapsular cataract extraction [ECCE] and 52 phacoemulsification) were performed using lidocaine 2% gel as the sole anesthetic agent.

Experimental studies on viscofluids for intraocular surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of using diluted viscofluids during intraocular surgery.

Setting: Laboratory for Intraocular Microsurgery and Implants, Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, and the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

Methods: Diluted hyaluronic acid (0.