Research by staff affiliated to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda

Recent Submissions

  • R0 Resection Margin, A New Quality Measure in the Era of National Bowel Screening?

    Parihar, V; Sopena-Falco, J; Leung, E; Benz, E; Cooney, A; Keohane, J; Sengupta, S (2020-01-16)
  • Stress level assessment among health care workers involved in the management of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

    Aisa, Tharwat; Diviney, Dara; Thomas, Jubil; Al Qadheeb, Nada; Abdelbaky, Moamen; Afify, Hosam; Yasawy, Mustafa; Mahmoud, Mohamad; Abdallah, Ahmed; Bashir, Asma; et al. (2021-07-31)
    Background: Intensive care health care workers (HCWs) are frontlines of this crisis as they deal with critically ill COVID-19 patients which can potentially affect their mental well-being and causes different levels of stress. Aim: To determine the prevalence of stress among HCWs involved in the management of critically ill COVID-19 patient, identify the factors associated with stress, and highlight the availability of psychological support provided to HCWs. Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter, international study using a web-based questionnaire of 27 questions including the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) for assessment of stress level. Questions to identify factors associated with stress, the psychological support provided, and the sociodemographic characteristics were included. Results: We received a total 1649 responses from 59 countries: 550 (34%) were from Europe, 525 (32.36%) from Asia, 283 (17.44%) from Africa, 177 (11%) from America, and 88 (5.42%) from Australia. The average stress level was 22 points on the PSS denoting moderate stress in 1327 (81.8%) respondents, while 239 (14.73%) respondents had a severe level of stress. Female gender, working in high capacity units and remote areas in addition to lack of psychological support, was significantly associated with stress in our study. Conclusion: Stress level was moderate to severe among intensive care HCWs during this pandemic, and many factors were associated with stress emphasizing the importance of psychological support during that unprecedented pandemic.
  • New Roles for Vitamin D Superagonists: From COVID to Cancer.

    Easty, David J; Farr, Christine J; Hennessy, Bryan T (2021-03-31)
    Vitamin D is a potent steroid hormone that induces widespread changes in gene expression and controls key biological pathways. Here we review pathophysiology of vitamin D with particular reference to COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer. Utility as a therapeutic agent is limited by hypercalcemic effects and attempts to circumvent this problem have used vitamin D superagonists, with increased efficacy and reduced calcemic effect. A further caveat is that vitamin D mediates multiple diverse effects. Some of these (anti-fibrosis) are likely beneficial in patients with COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer, whereas others (reduced immunity), may be beneficial through attenuation of the cytokine storm in patients with advanced COVID-19, but detrimental in pancreatic cancer. Vitamin D superagonists represent an untapped resource for development of effective therapeutic agents. However, to be successful this approach will require agonists with high cell-tissue specificity.
  • Point of Care Echocardiography in an Irish Critical Care Unit

    Kuriakose, D; O’Mahony, R; Rooplalsingh, R; McCanny, P; Colreavy, F; 1. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda 2. Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin 3. The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, Aus 4. Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, Aus 5. Mater Misercordiae University Hospital, Dublin (Irish Medical Journal, 2018-10)
    We sought to evaluate the clinical impact of a 6 month transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) teaching programme in a critical care unit.
  • Point of Care Echocardiography in an Irish Critical Care Unit

    Kuriakose, D; O’Mahony, R; Rooplalsingh, R; McCanny, P; Colreavy, F; Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD AUS, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales 2170, Australia, Consultant Intensivist, Mater Misercordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7 (Irish Medical Journal, 2018-09)
    Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has become an established component of critical care monitoring1-5 .Traditionally performed by Cardiology Services, either cardiac physiologists or cardiology doctors, a major limitation has been availability of these personnel on a 24 hour /7 day per week basis to the critical care area. As a result performance of TTE examinations has moved beyond the traditional users and now involves critical care doctors. Definition of the competencies required for basic level critical care echocardiography has provided a practical roadmap to Intensivists involved in echocardiography training. We introduced a basic level echocardiography training course into our critical care unit and it was the aim of this study to evaluate the impact of echocardiography training on clinical practice.
  • Evaluating the impact of ISO 15189 on an Irish histopathology laboratory

    O’Connor, Linda; Malkin, Alison; Carroll, Breffnie (THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST, 2016-09)
    Accreditation is the acknowledgement that the laboratory has reached and maintains a certain standard of quality. Pre-accreditation, quality standards in hospital laboratories were perceived to exist but were undocumented. The difference post-accreditation is having to prove that this standard of quality actually exists and is maintained. An Irish hospital laboratory is recognised as accredited when an accreditation body such as the Irish National Accreditation Body (INAB) inspects or audits the hospital laboratory and grants it accreditation status.
  • A Quality Improvement Approach to Reducing the Caesarean section Surgical Site Infection Rate in a Regional Hospital

    O’ Hanlon, M; McKenna C; Carton, E; Diviney, D; Costello, MR; O’Sullivan, L; Fitzsimons, J; Toland, L; Dornikova, G; Curran, R; et al. (Irish Medical Journal, 2016-09)
    Surgical site infection (SSI) rates are used extensively by hospitals as a basis for quality improvement. A 30-day post-discharge SSI programme for Caesarean section operations has been implemented in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital since 2011. It has been shown that skin antisepsis and antibiotic prophylaxis are key factors in the prevention of SSI. Using quality improvement methodology, an infection prevention bundle was introduced to address these two factors. Skin antisepsis was changed from povidone-iodine to chlorhexidine-alcohol. Compliance with choice of antibiotic prophylaxis increased from 89.6% in 2014 to 98.5% in 2015. Compliance with timing also improved. The SSI rate of 7.5% was the lowest recorded to date, with the majority of SSIs (64%) diagnosed after hospital discharge. The level of variation was also reduced. However, the continued presence of variation and possibility of lower infection rates from the literature imply that further improvements are required.
  • A quality improvement approach to reducing the caesarean section surgical site infection rate in a regional hospital

    O’ Hanlon, M; McKenna, C; Carton, E; Diviney, D; Costello, MR; O’Sullivan, L; Fitzsimons, J; Toland, L; Dornikova, G; Curran, R; et al. (Iris Medical Journal, 2016-09)
    Surgical site infection (SSI) rates are used extensively by hospitals as a basis for quality improvement. A 30 day post-discharge SSI programme for caesarean section operations has been implemented in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital since 2011. It has been shown that skin antisepsis and antibiotic prophylaxis are key factors in the prevention of SSI. Using quality improvement methodology, an infection prevention bundle was introduced to address these two factors. Skin antisepsis was changed from povidone-iodine to chlorhexidine-alcohol. Compliance with choice of antibiotic prophylaxis increased from 89.6% in 2014 to 98.5% in 2015. Compliance with timing also improved. The SSI rate of 7.5% was the lowest recorded to date, with the majority of SSIs (64%) diagnosed after hospital discharge. The level of variation was also reduced, however the continued presence of variation and possibility of lower infection rates from the literature imply that further improvements are required.
  • Simultaneous bilateral Mason type IIb radial head fractures in a young female: Was an increased carrying angle the cause?

    Raval, Pradyumna; Ni Fhoghlu, Cliodhna; Narayan Mahapatra, Anant; Department of Orthopaedics, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, County Louth, Ireland (Wolters Kluwer Health, 2015)
    Radial head fracture is the most common type of elbow fracture in adults. It results from a fall on an outstretched hand. However, simultaneous bilateral radial head fractures are extremely rare. We report a case of simultaneous bilateral mason type IIb radial head fractures in a young female, which was treated nonoperatively with excellent results
  • Incidence of central line related/associated bloodstream infections in an acute hospital

    O’Hanlon, M; Dornikova, G; Curran, R; Staunton, M; Woolhead, A; Kennedy, M; Tinsley, A; Shepherd, E; Doherty, T (Irish Medical Journal, 2014-09)
    Bloodstream infection related to a central venous catheter in the intensive care unit is a substantial clinical and economic problem. The aim of the study was to examine the incidence of central line related bloodstream infections and central line associated bloodstream infections in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, during a six month period, using an active patient based prospective surveillance method. CLRBSI rate in ICU/HDU was 0.93/1000 central line days. There was no CLABSI identified in the studied time period. However, further interventions are needed, particularly with CVC care bundle. Also, the implementation of 2% chlorhexidin in 70% isopropylalcohol use for skin asepsis, which is recommended by the Irish national guidelines, would be beneficial.
  • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia surveillance

    Chukwu, J; Cunney, R; Molloy, E (Irish Medical Journal, 2014-09)
    Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a rare congenital disorder as a result of deficient development of the diaphragm with resultant herniation of abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity, mal-development of the alveoli and pulmonary vessels 1,2 . The incidence of CDH â ranges from 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 15,000 births 3 . Due to the legislation in Ireland against termination of pregnancy it was suggested that there may be an increased incidence of CDH. There is no mandatory reporting of CDH cases in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI). Voluntary case reporting to the Irish Paediatric Surveillance Unit (IPSU) started in January 2010.
  • Atraumatic bilateral inferior pubic rami fractures in a young female: a rare case

    Raval, Pradyumna; Khan, Khalid S.; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland (Springer-Verlag, 2014-06)
  • Bite injuries to the hand - review of the literature.

    Raval, Pradyumna; Khan, Wasim; Haddad, Behrooz; Narayan Mahapatra, Anant; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. University College London Institute of Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal Sciences, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK (2014-04)
    Patients presenting to the emergency department with bite injuries to the hand sustain them through a number of causes including domesticated as well as stray animal bites, and human bites commonly sustained as a result of violence. The nature of the injuries sustained can be very deceptive. A small tooth mark on the exterior can be a fulminant infection in the tissues deeper down. Tendon injuri es, fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges and management of the wound are critical issues faced by a surgeon in dealing with such patients. Similarly the less common bite injuries to the hand, often with disastrous and sometimes fatal complications, d o also present to the emergency department. A high incidence of suspicion is needed in dealing with these injuries effectively. In our article we discuss the common as well as uncommon causes of bite injuries to the hand and their management. In addition to reviewing the literature to ascertain the management of such injuries, we also discuss interesting and rare case reports.
  • Review of CPD in medical laboratory science profession [presentation]

    Regan, Irene; Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Crumlin (Health Service Executive (HSE), 2014-02-28)
  • Dual diagnosis of sarcoidosis and lymphoma.

    Brady, B; Kamel, D; Kiely, J; Hennessy, B; Department of Medical Oncology, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. bernadettebrady@gmail.com (2013-06)
    Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown origin with pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations. Worldwide it is most often diagnosed in the third and fourth decades and most often affects Swedish, Danish and black patients. The association between malignancy and sarcoidosis has not been conclusively proven. Cancer can eventually occur in patients who have an established diagnosis of sarcoidosis for example, in sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome. Sarcoidosis can also subsequently develop in an oncology patient. There are multiple obstacles to confirming epidemiologically the linkage between sarcoidosis and malignancy. Histological verification and clinical acumen are needed to avoid misdiagnosis. The 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18-FDG) PET has failed to provide a non invasive diagnostic method to differentiate neoplasia from benign sarcoid lesions and tissue diagnosis is essential before commencing a new therapeutic intervention in patients with lymphoma.
  • Proteomic classification of breast cancer.

    Kamel, Dalia; Brady, Bernadette; Tabchy, Adel; Mills, Gordon B; Hennessy, Bryan; Department of Medical Oncology, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Ireland. dsskamel@hotmail.com (2012-11)
    Being a significant health problem that affects patients in various age groups, breast cancer has been extensively studied to date. Recently, molecular breast cancer classification has advanced significantly with the availability of genomic profiling technologies. Proteomic technologies have also advanced from traditional protein assays including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry to more comprehensive approaches including mass spectrometry and reverse phase protein lysate arrays (RPPA). The purpose of this manuscript is to review the current protein markers that influence breast cancer prediction and prognosis and to focus on novel advances in proteomic classification of breast cancer.
  • Fixation of ankle syndesmotic injuries: comparison of tightrope fixation and syndesmotic screw fixation for accuracy of syndesmotic reduction.

    Naqvi, Gohar A; Cunningham, Patricia; Lynch, Bernadette; Galvin, Rose; Awan, Nasir; Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Ireland. drgoharabbas@hotmail.com (2012-12)
    Ankle syndesmotic injuries are complex and require anatomic reduction and fixation to restore the normal biomechanics of the ankle joint and prevent long-term complications.
  • Isolated dislocation of pisiform in an 11-year-old, following a horse bite: a rare injury

    Raval, Pradyumna; Saeed, Nauman; Narayan Mahapatra, Anant; Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Springer, 2013-01)

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