• Podcast - Understanding low sodium: further assessment and management
    Sep 26 2024
    The video version of this podcast can be found here: · https://youtu.be/j1mnA-jOi1AThis episode makes reference to guidelines produced by North Bristol NHS Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. The content on this channel reflects my professional interpretation/summary of the guidance and I am in no way affiliated with, employed by or funded/sponsored by them.My name is Fernando Florido and I am a General Practitioner in the United Kingdom. In this episode I go through the guidelines on hyponatraemia produced by North Bristol NHS Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, focusing on what is relevant to Primary Care only. Other guidance has also been consulted and links to all of them can be found below I am not giving medical advice; this video is intended for health care professionals; it is only my summary and my interpretation of the guidelines and you must use your clinical judgement. There is a podcast version of this and other videos that you can access here: Primary Care guidelines podcast: · Redcircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/primary-care-guidelines· Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5BmqS0Ol16oQ7Kr1WYzupK· Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/primary-care-guidelines/id1608821148 There is a YouTube version of this and other videos that you can access here: · The Practical GP YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@practicalgp?si=ecJGF5QCuMLQ6hrk The links to the Hyponatraemia guidelines consulted can be found here:North Bristol NHS Trust · https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/Hyponatraemia%20in%20Primary%20Care.pdfRoyal United Hospitals Bath:· https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/pathology/documents/clinical_guidelines/PATH-019_hyponatraemia_in_primary_care.pdfRoyal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trust:· https://doclibrary-rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk/DocumentsLibrary/RoyalCornwallHospitalsTrust/Clinical/EndocrineAndDiabetes/ManagementOfHyponatraemiaClinicalGuideline.pdfGreater Glasgow and Clyde:· https://handbook.ggcmedicines.org.uk/media/1099/195-hyponatraemia-flowchart-1-final-200717e.pdfGloucestershire hospitals NHS Trust · https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/media/documents/Hyponatraemia.pdfIntro / outro music: Track: Halfway Through — Broke In Summer [Audio Library Release] · Music provided by Audio Library Plus · Watch: https://youtu.be/aBGk6aJM3IU · Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/halfway-through TranscriptIf you are listening to this podcast on YouTube, for a better experience, switch to the video version. The link is in the top right corner of the video and in the episode description.Hello and welcome, I am Fernando, a GP in the UK. Today, we are looking at the further assessment and management of hyponatraemia, I have looked at the guidelines produced by North Bristol NHS Trust, and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust, as well as other guidance, focusing on what is relevant to Primary Care only. The links to the sources consulted are in the episode description. If you have not already done so, I recommend that you look at the previous episode on hyponatraemia, its classification, clinical presentation, pathophysiology and causes, which will give you a good introduction. Right, without further ado, let’s get started. Let’s have a look at the management of hyponatraemia. · As we have know, acute or severe hyponatraemia can be a medical emergency and we should admit for hospital treatment anyone with either symptoms or severe hyponatraemia, understood to be a sodium below 125. · People with asymptomatic mild hyponatraemia, that is, a sodium of between 130 and 135, can be investigated and initially managed in Primary Care. · But, what do we do with people who are asymptomatic and who have moderate hyponatraemia, that is, a sodium of between 125 and 129? Well, these people need careful assessment because there may be a risk of the sodium falling quickly. So, in these cases, we should seek specialist advice in respect of admission or referral. Let’s now look at the management in Primary Care. And as a precaution, all patients with new onset hyponatraemia should have a repeat sodium checked after one week to exclude a rapidly decreasing level. We should then assess the volume status to see if there is fluid overload or hypovolaemia. We will look at a useful flowchart later which will give us more information in that respect. We should then review the medication and, if it could be the cause, if possible, we will stop it and repeat the sodium levels in 1-2 weeks. If the sodium level remains low after stopping the medication, we should seek specialist advice. Of course, if the medication cannot safely be stopped, then we will discuss with the prescribing consultant....
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    10 mins
  • Podcast - Understanding low sodium—causes, symptoms and classification
    Sep 18 2024
    The video version of this podcast can be found here: · https://youtu.be/JxNOCJZP10MThis episode makes reference to guidelines produced by North Bristol NHS Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. The content on this channel reflects my professional interpretation/summary of the guidance and I am in no way affiliated with, employed by or funded/sponsored by them.My name is Fernando Florido and I am a General Practitioner in the United Kingdom. In this episode I look at hyponatraemia, its classification, clinical presentation, pathophysiology and causes. I have looked at the guidelines produced by North Bristol NHS Trust, and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust, as well as other guidance, focusing on what is relevant to Primary Care only. The links to the sources consulted can be found below. I am not giving medical advice; this video is intended for health care professionals; it is only my summary and my interpretation of the guidelines and you must use your clinical judgement. There is a podcast version of this and other videos that you can access here:Primary Care guidelines podcast: · Redcircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/primary-care-guidelines· Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5BmqS0Ol16oQ7Kr1WYzupK· Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/primary-care-guidelines/id1608821148 There is a YouTube version of this and other videos that you can access here: · The Practical GP YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@practicalgp?si=ecJGF5QCuMLQ6hrk The links to the Hyponatraemia guidelines consulted can be found:North Bristol NHS Trust · https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/Hyponatraemia%20in%20Primary%20Care.pdfRoyal United Hospitals Bath:· https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/pathology/documents/clinical_guidelines/PATH-019_hyponatraemia_in_primary_care.pdfRoyal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trust:· https://doclibrary-rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk/DocumentsLibrary/RoyalCornwallHospitalsTrust/Clinical/EndocrineAndDiabetes/ManagementOfHyponatraemiaClinicalGuideline.pdfGreater Glasgow and Clyde:· https://handbook.ggcmedicines.org.uk/media/1099/195-hyponatraemia-flowchart-1-final-200717e.pdfGloucestershire hospitals NHS Trust · https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/media/documents/Hyponatraemia.pdfIntro / outro music: Track: Halfway Through — Broke In Summer [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/aBGk6aJM3IU Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/halfway-through TranscriptIf you are listening to this podcast on YouTube, for a better experience, switch to the video version. The link is in the top right corner of the video and in the episode description.Hello and welcome, I am Fernando, a GP in the UK. Today, we are looking at hyponatraemia, its classification, clinical presentation, pathophysiology and causes. I have looked at the guidelines produced by North Bristol NHS Trust, and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust, as well as other guidance, focusing on what is relevant to Primary Care only. The links to the sources consulted are in the episode description. The next episode will be on the further assessment and management of hyponatraemia so make sure not to miss it.Right, without further ado, let’s get started.Hyponatraemia tends to be more common in the elderly, in patients admitted, in those with a history of alcohol excess and in patients treated with thiazide diuretics. It is associated with complications such as seizures and increased mortality and, the risk increases with the severity of hyponatraemia. So, starting with the basics, what is hyponatraemia? Well, the normal range of sodium is from 135 to 145 mmol/L so hyponatraemia, that is a low sodium, is when the sodium is below 135. However, guidelines in North Bristol and Bath define it as a sodium below 133 mmol/l, so we should always look at our local path lab reference range. The severity of hyponatraemia can be classified into mild, moderate and severe. NICE recommends the following thresholds:· Mild is when the sodium is between 130-135· Moderate is when the sodium is between 125-129 and· Severe is when the sodium is less than 125 However, other guidelines give different thresholds. For example, in Bath severe hyponatraemia is below 120 and in North Bristol is below 115. But, from a primary care perspective, it will be better to err on the side of caution so we will stick to 125. This is a very important for us because we are advised to admit to hospital patients with severe hyponatraemia, as well as those who are symptomatic, irrespective of the sodium levels. And what are the symptoms of hyponatraemia? The primary symptoms are due to cellular swelling, particularly in the brain, because of the osmotic movement of water into cells in response to low sodium levels. The brain is ...
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    11 mins
  • Podcast - NICE News - August 2024
    Sep 8 2024
    The video version of this podcast can be found here: · https://youtu.be/SA7pJQLlmvgThis episode makes reference to guidelines produced by the "National Institute for Health and Care Excellence" in the UK, also referred to as "NICE". The content on this channel reflects my professional interpretation/summary of the guidance and I am in no way affiliated with, employed by or funded/sponsored by NICE.My name is Fernando Florido and I am a General Practitioner in the United Kingdom. In this episode I go through new and updated recommendations published in August 2024 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), focusing on those that are relevant to Primary Care only. I am not giving medical advice; this video is intended for health care professionals, it is only my summary and my interpretation of the guidelines and you must use your clinical judgement. There is a podcast version of this and other videos that you can access here: Primary Care guidelines podcast: · Redcircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/primary-care-guidelines· Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5BmqS0Ol16oQ7Kr1WYzupK· Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/primary-care-guidelines/id1608821148 There is a YouTube version of this and other videos that you can access here: The Practical GP YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@practicalgp?si=ecJGF5QCuMLQ6hrk The Full NICE News bulletin for August 2024 can be found here:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/published?from=2024-08-01&to=2024-08-31&ndt=Guidance&ndt=Quality+standard The links to the current guidance can be found here:Diabetic retinopathy: Management and monitoring:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng242Abaloparatide for treating osteoporosis after menopause:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta991National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis:· https://www.nogg.org.uk/full-guidelineIntro / outro music: Track: Halfway Through — Broke In Summer [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/aBGk6aJM3IU Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/halfway-through TranscriptIf you are listening to this podcast on YouTube, for a better experience, switch to the video version. The link is in the top right corner of the video and in the episode description.Hello and welcome, I am Fernando, a GP in the UK. Today, we are looking at the NICE updates published in August 2024, focusing on what is relevant to Primary Care only. We are going to cover just two areas, the treatment of osteoporosis and the management of diabetic retinopathy, so it is a brief episode. Let’s jump into it. The first area is a technology appraisal on Abaloparatide for treating osteoporosis after the menopause.And you may be thinking, Abaloparatide, is this really something that we need to know about in Primary Care?And the answer is yes. And let’s see why.And we will start by saying that treatments of osteoporosis can be broadly divided into 2 types:· antiresorptive treatments (which slow the rate of bone breakdown), such as our usual bisphosphonates and· anabolic (or bone-forming) treatments.Treatment with anabolic skeletal agents result in rapid and greater fracture risk reductions than bisphosphonates. So, if we are used to prescribing bisphosphonates for the majority of our patients, who should be getting anabolic agents instead? And the guidelines stipulate that people with a very high fracture risk should be referred for the consideration of these agents. According to the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group, 'very high risk' is defined as a FRAX-based fracture probability that exceeds the intervention threshold by 60%. So, looking at this diagram based on FRAX, we can see how patients can fall into the different risk categories depending on their scores. Apart from the patients already in the very high risk of fractures, we should also consider additional clinical risk factors for patients in the high-risk category, (e.g., frequent falls, or a very low spine Bone Mass Density) in case that they may move them from high to very high risk of fracture. So, in summary, we need to be aware that these anabolic drugs exist and that they are recommended for people with a very high risk of fractures so that when we see such patients, we refer them appropriately to get these drugs.Existing anabolic treatments are Romosozumab and Teriparatide and, following this technology appraisal, NICE recommends Abaloparatide too. These anabolic agents can only be taken for a limited time between 12 and 24 months depending on the drug, and afterwards patients will continue to receive an antiresorptive treatment (such as an oral bisphosphonate). Although abaloparatide is licensed for 'treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women', we must also include ...
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    7 mins
  • Podcast - Understanding low calcium: causes, symptoms and treatment
    Aug 31 2024
    The video version of this podcast can be found here: · https://youtu.be/pxOeszuHRsIThis episode makes reference to guidelines produced for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust. Please note that the content on this channel reflects my professional interpretation/summary of the guidance and that I am in no way affiliated with, employed by or funded/sponsored by them.My name is Fernando Florido and I am a General Practitioner in the United Kingdom. In this episode, I go through the management of hypocalcaemia, in particular, we will look at the guidance on the management of hypocalcaemia in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and in Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust, always focusing on what is relevant in Primary Care only. I am not giving medical advice; this episode is intended for health care professionals; it is only my summary and my interpretation of the guidelines and you must use your clinical judgement. There is a podcast version of this and other videos that you can access here:Primary Care guidelines podcast: ● Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/primary-care-guidelines/id1608821148● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2kmGZkt1ssZ9Ei8n8mMaE0?si=9d30d1993449494e● Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0edb5fd8-affb-4c5a-9a6d-6962c1b7f0a1/primary-care-guidelines?ref=dm_sh_NnjF2h4UuQxyX0X3Lb3WQtR5P● Google Podcast: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5yZWRjaXJjbGUuY29tLzI1ODdhZDc4LTc3MzAtNDhmNi04OTRlLWYxZjQxNzhlMzdjMw%3D%3D● Redcircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/2587ad78-7730-48f6-894e-f1f4178e37c3 There is a YouTube version of this and other videos that you can access here: ● The Practical GP YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@practicalgp?si=ecJGF5QCuMLQ6hrk The resources consulted can be found here:The guidance on the management of hypocalcaemia by Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust can be found here:· https://pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/Guideline%20for%20Treating%20and%20Monitoring%20Hypocalcaemia%20for%20non-critical%20areas%20of%20Trust.pdfThe guidance on the management of hypocalcaemia by the Adult Therapeutics Handbook for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde can be found here:· https://handbook.ggcmedicines.org.uk/guidelines/electrolyte-disturbances/management-of-hypocalcaemia/Calcium – The Lancet - Bushinksy DA, Monk RD. Calcium. Lancet 1998; 352 (9124): 306-311:· https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(97)12331-5/abstract Intro / outro music: Track: Halfway Through — Broke In Summer [Audio Library Release] ● Music provided by Audio Library Plus ● Watch: https://youtu.be/aBGk6aJM3IU ● Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/halfway-through TranscriptIf you are listening to this podcast on YouTube, for a better experience, switch to the video version. The link is in the top right corner of the video and in the episode description. Hello and welcome, I’m Fernando, a GP in the UK. Today we are going to go through the management of hypocalcaemia, in particular, we will look at the guidance on the management of hypocalcaemia in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and in Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust, always focusing on what is relevant in Primary Care only. The links to their guidelines and the other sources consulted are in the episode description. Right, without further ado, let’s jump into it. As a quick overview of calcium metabolism, I will simply say that it is tightly regulated by vitamin D and the parathyroid hormone or PTH. Active vitamin D or calcitriol enhances intestinal calcium absorption and PTH both enhances calcium reabsorption in the kidneys, and releases calcium from the bones by increasing osteoclast activity and bone resorption. Both phosphate and magnesium can also affect calcium levels. For example, a low magnesium can impair PTH secretion and action, resulting in hypocalcaemia. On the other hand, a high phosphate, like seen in CKD, can lead to the precipitation of calcium with phosphate and the consequent reduction in serum calcium and hypocalcaemia. Right, now that we have done this review, let’s now look at hypocalcaemia itself. The reference range for adjusted serum calcium is 2.2 - 2.6mmol/L. Symptoms of hypocalcaemia, typically develop when serum adjusted calcium falls below 1.9mmol/L. However, this threshold varies and symptoms also depend on the rate of fall. So, we will talk of hypocalcaemia when we have an adjusted serum calcium less than 2.2 mmol/L, although you should always take into account your local path lab reference range. The cause of hypocalcaemia may be varied depending on whether we are talking about acute or chronic hypocalcaemia. And we must remember that hypocalcaemia is far less common than hypercalcaemia because of the ...
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    13 mins
  • Podcast - The calcium puzzle: how to handle high levels
    Aug 23 2024
    The video version of this podcast can be found here: · https://youtu.be/2scjC_NoKfc This episode makes reference to guidelines produced for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Please note that the content on this channel reflects my professional interpretation/summary of the guidance and that I am in no way affiliated with, employed by or funded/sponsored by them. My name is Fernando Florido and I am a General Practitioner in the United Kingdom. In this episode, I go through the guidance on hypercalcaemia produced by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, and the guidance in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, always focusing on what is relevant in Primary Care only. I am not giving medical advice; this episode is intended for health care professionals; it is only my summary and my interpretation of the guidelines and you must use your clinical judgement. There is a podcast version of this and other videos that you can access here: Primary Care guidelines podcast: ● Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/primary-care-guidelines/id1608821148● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2kmGZkt1ssZ9Ei8n8mMaE0?si=9d30d1993449494e● Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0edb5fd8-affb-4c5a-9a6d-6962c1b7f0a1/primary-care-guidelines?ref=dm_sh_NnjF2h4UuQxyX0X3Lb3WQtR5P● Google Podcast: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5yZWRjaXJjbGUuY29tLzI1ODdhZDc4LTc3MzAtNDhmNi04OTRlLWYxZjQxNzhlMzdjMw%3D%3D● Redcircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/2587ad78-7730-48f6-894e-f1f4178e37c3 There is a YouTube version of this and other videos that you can access here: ● The Practical GP YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@practicalgp?si=ecJGF5QCuMLQ6hrk The resources consulted can be found here:The guidance on the treatment of hypercalcaemia in adults by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust can be found here:· https://www.formularywkccgmtw.co.uk/media/1629/treatment-of-acute-hypercalcaemia-in-adults.pdf The guidance on the management of hypercalcaemia by the Adult Therapeutics Handbook for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde can be found here: · https://handbook.ggcmedicines.org.uk/guidelines/electrolyte-disturbances/management-of-hypercalcaemia/ Other guidance can be found here: Joshi D, Center JR, Eisman JA. Investigation of incidental hypercalcaemia. BMJ. 2009;339:b4613· http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19933303 Carroll MF, Schade DS. A practical approach to hypercalcemia. Am Fam Physician. 2003;67(9):1959-66· http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12751658 Smellie WS et al. Best practice in primary care pathology: review 11. J Clin Pathol. 2008;61(4):410-8· http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17965216 Intro / outro music: Track: Halfway Through — Broke In Summer [Audio Library Release] ● Music provided by Audio Library Plus ● Watch: https://youtu.be/aBGk6aJM3IU ● Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/halfway-through TranscriptIf you are listening to this podcast on YouTube, for a better experience, switch to the video version. The link is in the top right corner of the video and in the episode description. Hello and welcome, I’m Fernando, a GP in the UK. Today we are going to go through the guidance on hypercalcaemia produced by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, as well as other general guidance on the subject, always focusing on what is relevant in Primary Care only. The links to the information consulted can be found in the episode description. Right, let’s not waste any more time so let’s jump into it. Before we start, let’s quickly have an overview of calcium metabolism. Calcium is one of the most abundant electrolytes in the body, and levels are tightly controlled by parathyroid hormone and vitamin D. Serum calcium is bound to albumin, and measurements should be adjusted for it, so we should be primarily concerned about corrected calcium levels. Calcium is mostly absorbed in the small intestine and active vitamin D (or calcitriol) enhances calcium absorption. Parathyroid Hormone (or PTH) is also important. When blood calcium levels drop, PTH is secreted, which enhances calcium reabsorption in the kidneys, and also stimulates osteoclasts in the bones, breaking down bone tissue and releasing calcium into the blood stream. This is precisely the opposite effect of calcitonin, which inhibits osteoclast and reduces bone resorption and calcium levels. So, from a pathophysiological perspective, a high calcium or hypercalcemia can be seen in, for example, hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, or excessive vitamin D intake. There are also pathophysiological interactions between calcium and levels of phosphate and magnesium. For example, a high calcium can suppress magnesium renal ...
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    14 mins
  • Podcast - The TFTs challenge: NICE guidance on thyroid disease
    Aug 15 2024
    The video version of this podcast can be found here:· https://youtu.be/1Cwvoflk3LQ This episode makes reference to guidelines produced by the "National Institute for Health and Care Excellence" in the UK, also referred to as "NICE". Please note that the content on this channel reflects my professional interpretation/summary of the guidance and that I am in no way affiliated with, employed by or funded/sponsored by NICE. My name is Fernando Florido and I am a General Practitioner in the United Kingdom. In this episode, I go through the NICE guideline on Thyroid disease: assessment and management [NG145], always focusing on what is relevant in Primary Care only. I am not giving medical advice; this episode is intended for health care professionals; it is only my summary and my interpretation of the guidelines and you must use your clinical judgement. There is a podcast version of this and other videos that you can access here: Primary Care guidelines podcast: ● Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/primary-care-guidelines/id1608821148● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2kmGZkt1ssZ9Ei8n8mMaE0?si=9d30d1993449494e● Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0edb5fd8-affb-4c5a-9a6d-6962c1b7f0a1/primary-care-guidelines?ref=dm_sh_NnjF2h4UuQxyX0X3Lb3WQtR5P● Google Podcast: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5yZWRjaXJjbGUuY29tLzI1ODdhZDc4LTc3MzAtNDhmNi04OTRlLWYxZjQxNzhlMzdjMw%3D%3D● Redcircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/2587ad78-7730-48f6-894e-f1f4178e37c3There is a YouTube version of this and other videos that you can access here: ● The Practical GP YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@practicalgp?si=ecJGF5QCuMLQ6hrk The resources consulted can be found here:Thyroid disease: assessment and management -NICE guideline [NG145] can be found here:● https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG145 Intro / outro music: Track: Halfway Through — Broke In Summer [Audio Library Release] ● Music provided by Audio Library Plus ● Watch: https://youtu.be/aBGk6aJM3IU ● Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/halfway-through TranscriptIf you are listening to this podcast on YouTube, for a better experience, switch to the video version. The link is in the top right corner of the video and in the episode description.Hello and welcome, I’m Fernando, a GP in the UK. Today we are going to go through the NICE guideline on Thyroid disease, always focusing on what is relevant in Primary Care only.Right, we are not going to waste any time so let’s jump into it.We will check TFTs if there is:● a clinical suspicion of thyroid disease, bearing in mind that 1 symptom alone may not be indicative of thyroid disease● type 1 diabetes or other autoimmune diseases, (but we will not offer testing only because of type 2 diabetes).● new-onset AF● depression or unexplained anxiety● abnormal growth in children and young people, or with an unexplained change in behaviour or school performance.● And we will be aware that in menopausal women symptoms of thyroid dysfunction may be mistaken for menopauseWe will not test for TFTs during an acute illness unless we suspect the acute illness is due to thyroid dysfunction, because it may affect the test results.So, what tests do we do as initial screening when thyroid dysfunction is suspected?This will depend on whether we suspect a primary cause, that is, a cause arising from the thyroid gland, or a secondary cause, that is, a cause arising from the pituitary gland. Although the path lab will have processes to decide what tests are included when we request TFTs, it is important for us to understand what tests results we should expect according to the clinical presentation.So, we will always measure TSH. Then, if a primary cause is suspected in an adult:● if the TSH is high, that is, suggestive of hypothyroidism, we will need the free thyroxine (FT4) level● if the TSH is low, that is, suggestive of hyperthyroidism, we will need FT4 and free tri-iodothyronine (FT3) However, if we suspect a secondary cause, that is, pituitary disease, or if we are testing a child or young person, we will need results for both TSH and FT4 and:● If the TSH is low, that is, suggestive of hyperthyroidism, we will need FT3 So, in summary, we test TSH and T4 in hypothyroidism but in hyperthyroidism we need to add FT3 too. We can repeat these tests if symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop (but no sooner than 6 weeks from the most recent test).We will also ask patients about their biotin intake because a high consumption of biotin from dietary supplements may lead to falsely high or low test results. Looking at the management, and monitoring different rules may apply to children and young people and given that we are likely...
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    14 mins
  • Podcast - NICE News - July 2024
    Aug 7 2024
    The video version of this podcast can be found here: · https://youtu.be/kYcJ3Ym3C0AThis episode makes reference to guidelines produced by the "National Institute for Health and Care Excellence" in the UK, also referred to as "NICE". The content on this channel reflects my professional interpretation/summary of the guidance and I am in no way affiliated with, employed by or funded/sponsored by NICE.My name is Fernando Florido and I am a General Practitioner in the United Kingdom. In this episode I go through new and updated recommendations published in July 2024 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), focusing on those that are relevant to Primary Care only. There were no updated guidelines or quality standards but, apart from some radiotherapy treatments, there were five technology appraisals, none of which were really relevant to Primary care. However, I give them a very quick overview I am not giving medical advice; this video is intended for health care professionals, it is only my summary and my interpretation of the guidelines and you must use your clinical judgement. There is a podcast version of this and other videos that you can access here: Primary Care guidelines podcast: · Redcircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/primary-care-guidelines· Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5BmqS0Ol16oQ7Kr1WYzupK· Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/primary-care-guidelines/id1608821148 There is a YouTube version of this and other videos that you can access here: The Practical GP YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@practicalgp?si=ecJGF5QCuMLQ6hrk The Full NICE News bulletin for July 2024 can be found here:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/published?from=2024-07-01&to=2024-07-31&ndt=Guidance&ndt=Quality+standard The links to the current consultations can be found here:Lebrikizumab for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in people 12 years and over:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta986/chapter/1-RecommendationsTenecteplase for treating acute ischaemic stroke:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta990/chapter/1-RecommendationsIvacaftor–tezacaftor–elexacaftor, tezacaftor–ivacaftor and lumacaftor–ivacaftor for treating cystic fibrosis:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta988/chapter/1-RecommendationsEtranacogene dezaparvovec for treating moderately severe or severe haemophilia B:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta989/chapter/1-RecommendationTrastuzumab deruxtecan for treating HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer after chemotherapy:· https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta992/chapter/1-RecommendationsIntro / outro music: Track: Halfway Through — Broke In Summer [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/aBGk6aJM3IU Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/halfway-through TranscriptIf you are listening to this podcast on YouTube, for a better experience, switch to the video version. The link is in the top right corner of the video and in the episode description.Hello and welcome, I am Fernando, a GP in the UK. Today, we are looking at the NICE updates published in July 2024. This month we have not had any new guidelines or quality standards but we have had a few new technology appraisals, that is, when NICE reviews new treatments to decide whether they should be recommended on the NHS. Apart from some radiotherapy recommendations, there were 5 other new treatments. Although none of them were really relevant to Primary care, I will give you a very quick overview so that we understand where new therapies are coming from and so that we have some knowledge if we come across them. But do not worry, it is a real summary, and today will be a very brief episode. So, let’s jump into it. The first area refers to the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis or eczema.We know that standard treatment includes the topical use of emollients and steroids. If these treatments are not effective, systemic immunosuppressant treatments such as ciclosporin and methotrexate can be added. If there is an inadequate response or they are unsuitable, other agents such as a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor or a biological medicine (such as dupilumab or tralokinumab) can be used.NICE has evaluated a new biological medicine alternative, lebrikizumab and indirect comparisons with Janus Kinase inhibitors and other biological treatments suggest that it is equally effective at an acceptable cost.The biological treatments lebrikizumab, dupilumab, and tralokinumab are monoclonal antibodies that inhibit interleukin processes, thus reducing inflammation and modulating the immune response in conditions such as eczema and asthma. They are administered via subcutaneous injection and they can now all be used as treatment options.The next area covers the treatment of acute ischaemic ...
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    5 mins
  • Podcast - NICE on Cardiac Chest Pain: A Quick Guide for Primary Care
    Jul 30 2024
    The video version of this podcast can be found here: https://youtu.be/so97zARpmME This episode makes reference to guidelines produced by the "National Institute for Health and Care Excellence" in the UK, also referred to as "NICE". Please note that the content on this channel reflects my professional interpretation/summary of the guidance and that I am in no way affiliated with, employed by or funded/sponsored by NICE. My name is Fernando Florido and I am a General Practitioner in the United Kingdom. In this episode, I go through the NICE guideline on recent onset cardiac chest pain [CG95], always focusing on what is relevant in Primary Care only. I am not giving medical advice; this episode is intended for health care professionals; it is only my summary and my interpretation of the guidelines and you must use your clinical judgement. There is a podcast version of this and other videos that you can access here: Primary Care guidelines podcast: · Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/primary-care-guidelines/id1608821148· Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2kmGZkt1ssZ9Ei8n8mMaE0?si=9d30d1993449494e· Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0edb5fd8-affb-4c5a-9a6d-6962c1b7f0a1/primary-care-guidelines?ref=dm_sh_NnjF2h4UuQxyX0X3Lb3WQtR5P· Google Podcast: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5yZWRjaXJjbGUuY29tLzI1ODdhZDc4LTc3MzAtNDhmNi04OTRlLWYxZjQxNzhlMzdjMw%3D%3D· Redcircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/2587ad78-7730-48f6-894e-f1f4178e37c3 There is a YouTube version of this and other videos that you can access here: ● The Practical GP YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@practicalgp?si=ecJGF5QCuMLQ6hrk The resources consulted can be found here:Recent-onset chest pain of suspected cardiac origin: assessment and diagnosis guideline [CG95] can be found here:● https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg95/chapter/recommendationsIntro / outro music: Track: Halfway Through — Broke In Summer [Audio Library Release] ● Music provided by Audio Library Plus ● Watch: https://youtu.be/aBGk6aJM3IU ● Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/halfway-through TranscriptIf you are listening to this podcast on YouTube, for a better experience, switch to the video version. The link is in the top right corner of the video and in the episode description.Hello and welcome, I’m Fernando, a GP in the UK. Today we are going to go through the NICE guideline on recent onset cardiac chest pain [CG95], always focusing on what is relevant in Primary Care only. Right, without any further ado, let’s jump into it.We are going to start by looking at the assessment and diagnosis of recent acute chest pain, suspected to be an acute coronary syndrome. The term ACS covers a range of conditions including unstable angina, ST‑segment-elevation myocardial infarction (or STEMI) and non‑ST‑segment-elevation myocardial infarction (or NSTEMI).We will not cover the management of these conditions, given that this would be done in the hospital setting.The first obvious thing is to check whether the patient has chest pain at the time of the consultation. If the patient is pain free, we will check when their last episode was, particularly if they have had pain in the last 12 hours. We will see the importance of this and the impact on the possible management later.In order to decide whether the chest pain is cardiac we will consider:· the history · the presence of cardiovascular risk factors· a history of ischaemic heart disease and · any previous treatment and investigations for chest pain. Symptoms suggestive of an ACS are:· pain in the chest and/or, for example, arms, back or jaw, lasting longer than 15 minutes· chest pain associated with nausea and vomiting, marked sweating, breathlessness, or particularly a combination of these· chest pain associated with haemodynamic instability and· new onset chest pain, or abrupt deterioration in previously stable angina, with frequent and recurrent chest pain on little or no exertion, and with episodes often lasting longer than 15 minutes. · But we will bear in mind that not all people with an ACS present with central chest pain as the predominant feature and that · we should not use response to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) to make a diagnosis of ACS. If we suspect an ACS, we will refer them to hospital. But NICE makes different recommendations as to who we should send to the emergency department and who we should send for urgent same-day hospital assessment. So, if we suspect an ACS, we will send the patient as an emergency to the emergency department if:· they currently have chest pain or· they are currently pain free, but had chest pain in the last 12 hours, and a...
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    13 mins