Thrombophlebitis. Prevention, recognition, and management.

Thrombophlebitis is a common disease entity with characteristic features of edema, inflammation, and tenderness. If the disease process is extensive, the postphlebitic syndrome, which is characterized by persistent edema, pigmentation, dermatitis, ulceration, and varicose veins, invariably occurs.     

Esophageal cancer. Facts, figures, and screening.

Over the last 25 years, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus has increased 350%, faster than any other malignancy in the western world. This increase is largely due to gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus. While the current incidence of esophageal cancer is relatively low in comparison to other cancers in the United States, this may rapidly change. A cost-effective screening technique is needed for populations at risk for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Using unsedated esophagoscopy, gastroenterology nurses may be in the best position to coordinate and perform esophageal cancer screening for the U.S. population. This article provides an overview of esophageal cancer, including types, etiology, symptoms, and diagnosis. In addition to an overview of esophageal cancer, this article provides a look at non-physician, unsedated esophagoscopy as a future direction for esophageal cancer screening.     

Hyperkalemic emergencies. Mechanisms, manifestations, and management.

Care of the patient with hyperkalemia provides the critical care nurse with a challenging opportunity to use clinical knowledge, skills, and critical thinking. What is the cause of the hyperkalemia? What are the patient's signs and symptoms? What clues do the patient's history and physical assessment hold? What treatments are necessary and how will their effectiveness be measured? Finally, how can subsequent episodes of hyperkalemia be prevented in this patient? Knowledge about potassium, its functions and its regulatory mechanisms provides the critical care nurse with the opportunity to identify patients at risk and employ early, often life-saving, interventions.     

Analysis, processes, and techniques. Case study.

The case studies will represent a wide variety of scenarios encountered in the field of healthcare information system technology implementation. We hope that the series will be of value to readers of Computers in Nursing. We encourage feedback so that subsequent cases within the series can be tailored to meet the needs of readers.     

Psychoactive drugs. Uses, misuses, and abuses.

The source of knowledge about the use of psychoactive drugs is often biased--being the representative or literature of the pharmaceutical company. Psychotropic drugs and their appropriate usage are discussed, and the basic ingredients of good prescribing habits are examined by focusing on the nonchemical factors that can help determine outcome.     

Stress and the heart. Mechanisms, measurement, and management.

Unrelieved physical or mental stress and repeated episodic stress are ultimately harmful to the cardiovascular system and thus can be life-threatening. In this article, Dr Eliot describes efforts to quantify the psychophysiologic responses to stress and to identify the components of stress and its clinical consequences. He also explains the importance of controlling the real-life episodic fluctuations in blood pressure that occur daily in response to stress.