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BACKGROUND Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) results in a double superior vena cava (SVC), and although it is rare, this is the most common venous anomaly of the thorax. PSLVC arises from the junction of the left subclavian and internal jugular veins. It is identified on the left side of the mediastinum adjacent to the aortic arch, and it usually drains into the right atrium through the coronary sinus. This report presents the case of a 40-year-old man with an incidental finding of double SVC due to PSLVC identified on hospital admission following a motor vehicle collision. CASE REPORT A 40-year-old man was found to have a double SVC due to PLSVC upon chest radiography during hospital admission for injuries related to motor vehicle trauma. The discovery was made following placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) down the left-sided SVC and into the coronary sinus. The patient suffered no harm as a result. The diagnosis was made by chest radiography and confirmed by computed tomography angiography. CONCLUSIONS PSLVC is an uncommon condition that can complicate common procedures and therefore must be well-understood by physicians across many medical and surgical specialties. Although PLSVC may be asymptomatic, as in this case, in some patients PLSVC presents as atrial fibrillation or with nonspecific cardiac symptoms. Therefore, all patients identified with PLSVC should be investigated to exclude associated cardiac abnormalities and arrythmias, and before the placement of central venous access devices.
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Cateterismo Venoso Central , Cateteres Venosos Centrais , Veia Cava Superior Esquerda Persistente , Masculino , Humanos , Adulto , Veia Cava Superior/diagnóstico por imagem , Cateterismo Venoso Central/efeitos adversos , Tórax , Cateteres Venosos Centrais/efeitos adversosAssuntos
Golfe , Queimadura Solar , Humanos , Luz Solar , Protetores Solares/uso terapêutico , Raios UltravioletaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: While it is known that psoriasis patients have poor adherence to both topical and systemic medications, adherence to methotrexate is not well-characterized, and ways to improve methotrexate adherence have not been addressed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a digital intervention improved adherence to oral methotrexate as measured by electronic monitoring. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients were randomized to receive either weekly digital interventions assessing treatment adherence or no intervention for 24 weeks. Patients received medication bottles with electronic monitoring, and returned at weeks 4, 12, and 24 to evaluate disease severity. RESULTS: The intervention group took methotrexate correctly 77.1% of the weeks observed compared to the control group which averaged 64.5%. More intervention patients took methotrexate as directed compared to the control group (78.3% vs 64.2%, p < 0.0001). Patients were most adherent around follow-up visits, with 100% of digital intervention patients and 80% of control patients taking methotrexate correctly during the week of a follow-up visit (p = 0.02). The digital intervention did not significantly improve disease severity in the intervention group compared to the nonintervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Low cost, scalable digital interventions may have the potential to increase psoriasis patient adherence to methotrexate, although the mechanism for the improvement is not yet well defined.
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Metotrexato , Psoríase , Humanos , Metotrexato/uso terapêutico , Psoríase/tratamento farmacológico , Cooperação do Paciente , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Internet , Adesão à MedicaçãoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Anti-seizure medications are used to manage epilepsy and require long-term adherence to maintain therapeutic drug levels. We assessed adherence to levetiracetam and the use of a digital intervention to improve adherence in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: 30 participants with epilepsy were randomized 1:1 either to a digital email adherence intervention or control group. All patients were provided levetiracetam equipped with electronic monitoring caps to assess patient adherence to medication. Patients were followed for 6 months, with return visits at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. RESULTS: Subjects randomized to the control arm (n = 15) took 66% of the prescribed doses compared to the intervention group, who took 65% of prescribed doses (n = 15). Nine participants did not complete the study. Of the twenty-one participants that completed the study, the overall rate of adherence was 72% of prescribed doses taken. Two subjects in the control group and three subjects in the intervention group were adherent every month of the study-taking at least 80% of prescribed doses. Those randomized to the control group took the correct number of doses 44% of days in the study, and those in the intervention group took the correct number of doses 37% of days. DISCUSSION: Poor adherence to levetiracetam is common. An internet-based email survey intervention did not improve adherence to levetiracetam in epilepsy patients. Further advances in adherence are needed to help patients receive the maximum benefit of their medical treatments.
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Epilepsia , Eletrônica , Epilepsia/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Levetiracetam/uso terapêutico , Adesão à Medicação , Cooperação do Paciente , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
CONTEXT: Although the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated the use of telemedicine platforms across the country, medical students may lack confidence in their ability to conduct satisfactory patient encounters and practice clinical medicine through telemedicine. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of a standardized patient encounter on first year medical student confidence and satisfaction in using telemedicine. METHODS: One hundred and sixty two first year medical students recruited from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Carolinas campus were surveyed on their confidence and satisfaction with using telemedicine platforms before and after conducting a patient encounter. Participant confidence and satisfaction were assessed with a five point Likert scale: "not confident," "a little confident," "somewhat confident," "confident," and "extremely confident." RESULTS: Of 162 students, 103 (63.6%) completed the preencounter survey and 74 (45.7%) completed the postencounter survey. Before the standardized patient encounter, 37 participants (35.9%) reported that they were "a little confident" and 20 participants (19.4%) reported that they were "not confident" in their ability to conduct a patient interview using a telemedicine platform. Following the encounter, 24 students (32.4%) reported feeling "somewhat confident", and 32 (43.2%) reported feeling "confident" in their ability. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students' confidence and satisfaction with telemedicine improved after a standardized patient telemedicine experience in this study. This experience allowed students to practice the unique skills required for telemedicine. Medical schools might consider adding a telemedicine curriculum and standardized patient experiences in the undergraduate medical setting.
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COVID-19 , Estudantes de Medicina , Telemedicina , Humanos , Satisfação do Paciente , Satisfação Pessoal , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Research shows that individuals consume more calories when provided with a larger portion size. It is unclear if similar behavior translates to topical medication use. The impact of container size and provider instructions on patient usage of topical medications has yet to be assessed. METHODS: Data was collected from 128 participants in an IRB randomized, controlled trial. To a marked 3cmx8cm rectangle on the forearm, patients applied petroleum jelly from either a large container or a small tube. Pre and post application container weights were measured. RESULTS: Patients applied more topical medication from the large container compared to the small tube. CONCLUSION: Topical medication usage is influenced by the size of the container provided. It is beneficial to consider container size when prescribing topical medications and greater application is desired.
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Administração Tópica , Embalagem de Medicamentos , Vaselina/administração & dosagem , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Método Simples-CegoRESUMO
The original article was published on February 15, 2019 and corrected on April 15, 2019. The third pair of panes of Figure 2 were reversed, such that the pane previously depicted on the left was after phototherapy. The corrected sequence is now before phototherapy, on the left, and after, on the right. This change appears in the revised online PDF copy of this article.
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OBJECTIVE: To measure adherence using a novel home UVB phototherapy system designed to promote adherence. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, observational study conducted to evaluate patients' adherence to a prescribed three-times-per-week treatment protocol using a novel home phototherapy system with integrated features designed to improve adherence. METHODS: Data was collected from 18 psoriasis patients, 27 vitiligo patients, and three atopic dermatitis patients using a novel home phototherapy system under normal use conditions. Adherence was also calculated using two alternative methods to allow for comparison between published phototherapy adherence studies. RESULTS: The median patient adherence (N= 48) to treatment with the home phototherapy system was 80%. There were no significant differences in adherence between different ages, genders, or diseases (P>0.05). Early adherence (N=48) to the home phototherapy system was 90% and dichotomous adherence (N=32) was 71%. CONCLUSIONS: By implementing a smartphone application and web-based portal with the home phototherapy system, patients have multiple mechanisms in place to ensure adherence.
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Dermatite Atópica/radioterapia , Cooperação do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricos , Psoríase/radioterapia , Terapia Ultravioleta/métodos , Vitiligo/radioterapia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Aplicativos Móveis , Portais do Paciente , Fototerapia/métodos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Smartphone , Terapia Ultravioleta/instrumentaçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Phototherapy is effective in treating psoriasis and other skin conditions. However, clinic-based phototherapy can be time-consuming, expensive, and inconvenient. Conventional home phototherapy addresses many hurdles, but has other limitations. OBJECTIVE: Assess the treatment efficacy, adherence, and satisfaction of a novel ultraviolet B home phototherapy system. METHODS: Eight patients with stable plaque psoriasis completed a multicenter, prospective, open label, interventional study using a home phototherapy device designed to improve treatment control and adherence. Matched control and study lesions were assessed on each subject. A dosing protocol based on American Academy of Dermatology guidelines for narrowband UVB phototherapy was managed by the phototherapy system. Responsiveness to the treatment was measured using the Psoriasis Severity Index (PSI) at 10 weeks versus control. Patient satisfaction was graded on a five-star Likert scale. RESULTS: At 10 weeks, all patients experienced improvement in the treated lesions, with a mean improvement of 57% in PSI (P<0.0001 compared to baseline and P<0.0002 compared to the control lesions). Patient treatment adherence was 96% and treatment satisfaction was 100% five-star rated. Control lesions did not significantly change in PSI over the 10-week period (P=0.1411). CONCLUSIONS: The home phototherapy system provided a safe and effective means to manage plaque psoriasis.
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Psoríase/radioterapia , Autocuidado , Terapia Ultravioleta/métodos , Humanos , Aplicativos Móveis , Cooperação do Paciente , Satisfação do Paciente , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Smartphone , Terapia Ultravioleta/efeitos adversos , Terapia Ultravioleta/instrumentaçãoRESUMO
Background: Caregivers are often apprehensive about treating their child's atopic dermatitis with a topical corticosteroid. Typical concerns include anxiety regarding side effects and the perceived burden of treatment. The perception of burden may be modifiable through anchoring. Objective: To evaluate caregivers willingness to treat their child's atopic dermatitis with a topical corticosteroid once-daily if initially anchored to the idea of a four-times-daily treatment regimen. Methods: A prospective survey study was performed in 100 caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis. Scores were treated as ordinal data and evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test. Results: Of the 100 recruited participants, 97 were eligible and returned completed surveys. Subjects anchored to a four-times-daily treatment regimen were more willing to treat their child's atopic dermatitis once-daily (mean, 8.7) than those not anchored (mean, 7.9), however the difference between these groups was not statistically significant (p = .173). Conclusion: Caregivers reported being generally quite willing to apply topical corticosteroids once-daily. Anchoring was associated with a slightly higher score, though it was not statistically significant. For most patients with atopic dermatitis, anchoring may not be helpful, but for patients whose main barrier is perceived burdensomeness of treatment, anchoring may be of some benefit.
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Anti-Inflamatórios/administração & dosagem , Cuidadores/psicologia , Dermatite Atópica/tratamento farmacológico , Adesão à Medicação/psicologia , Administração Tópica , Corticosteroides/administração & dosagem , Adulto , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Although topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), these medications may lose efficacy over time, a phenomenon known as tachyphylaxis. However, the underlying mechanism for tachyphylaxis may be due to lack of treatment adherence rather than loss of efficacy of topical corticosteroids. In this study, we aimed to determine if AD patients who were previously unsuccessfully treated with topical corticosteroids would respond to desoximetasone spray 0.25% under conditions designed to promote good adherence over a 7-day period. At baseline, patients were randomized to receive either twice-daily telephone calls to discuss treatment adherence (intervention group) or no telephone calls (control group) during the study period. The patients improved rapidly. In most patients, treatment-resistant AD is most likely due to poor adherence to treatment rather than loss of drug responsiveness.