Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the LTC setting has major consequences in terms of mortality, morbidity, and increased healthcare costs. Complications include pain, chronic skin ulceration, gangrene, amputation, infection, and death. In recent years, medical-legal liability for providers caring for residents with this disease has increased. PAD is complex and involves inflammation and accumulation of lipids in the vascular intima, causing occlusion of blood flow. Chronic occlusive disease causes trophic changes in the extremity that renders skin more fragile and difficult to heal when min

author affiliations:

Dr. Nusbaum is Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois.

Discussion about geriatrician workforce issues, such as a recent symposium of the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs,1-5 routinely begins from the premise that the number of geriatricians is clearly inadequate to meet the needs of the expanding number of older Americans. A recent Institute of Medicine report notes that in 2007 there were 7128 doctors certified in geriatric medicine and 1596 certified in geriatric psychiatry. It cites projections that these numbers may incre

There were more questions than answers about the extent and pace of healthcare reform and potential changes to Medicare as President-Elect Barack Obama’s inauguration neared and this issue of Annals of Long-Term Care went to press in mid-January.

Overhauling Medicare and Social Security will be a “central” part of his administration’s effort to contain federal spending, Mr. Obama told the press shortly before his January 20 inauguration. The president-elect didn’t offer details, however, but promised to have more to say about the matter when unveiling his budget plan in February.

San Francisco, CA, October 24-29, 2008

Denosumab Associated With Significant Increases in Bone Mineral Density in Patients With Osteoporosis Previously Treated With Alendronate

Poster

San Francisco— In patients with osteoporosis previously treated with alendronate, switching to denosumab is associated with a significant increase in bone mineral density (BMD) as well as a rapid and significant reduction in serum CTX, report investigators at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rhematology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP) Annual Scientific M

Excellent Early and Late Outcomes of Aortic Valve Replacement in People Aged 80 and Older

Farzan Filsoufi, MD, Parwis B. Rahmanian, MD, Javier G. Castillo, MD, Joanna Chikwe, MD, George Silvay, MD, PhD, and David H. Adams, MD

OBJECTIVES: To investigate early and late outcome of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in a large cohort of patients aged 80 and older.

DESIGN: Retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing AVR using a computerized database based on the New York State Department of Health registry. Data collection was performed prospectively.