Intravitreal Injection Therapy: Current Techniques and Supplemental Services

Purpose: Intravitreal injection is the most frequently performed eye procedure in the world and is an essential component in the management of sight-threating retinal diseases and conditions. Given the seriousness and range of diseases treated and the risks of the procedure, retina specialists must weigh the pros and cons of each individual treatment. Complexities guiding injection treatment are multifaceted and involve patient-history review, careful examination, diagnostic testing selection and interpretation, customized medical decision-making, and follow-up considerations. Methods: This article by the Intravitreal Injection Task Force Committee of the American Society of Retina Specialists documents the intricacies and necessary components of the intravitreal injection procedure. Results: By expert consensus, the task force further recommends ancillary services and decision-making that may accompany intravitreal injection visits, when appropriate, to monitor response to treatment, adjust treatment, and manage additional considerations in the same or fellow eye. Conclusions: Retina specialists can optimize safety and therapeutic outcomes with individualized consideration and customization of intravitreal injection treatment for each patient.

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Dual Processing Model for Medical Decision-Making: An Extension to Diagnostic Testing

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0134800 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. e0134800 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Athanasios Tsalatsanis ◽

Iztok Hozo ◽

Ambuj Kumar ◽

Benjamin Djulbegovic

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Medical Decision Making ◽

Diagnostic Testing ◽

Medical Decision ◽

Dual Processing ◽

Dual Processing Model

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A survey of doctors reveals that few laboratory tests are of primary importance at the Emergency Department

Diagnosis ◽

10.1515/dx-2014-0025 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 239-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Dennis J. van de Wijngaart ◽

Jolanda Scherrenburg ◽

Lisette van den Broek ◽

Nadine van Dijk ◽

Pim M.W. Janssens

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Laboratory Tests ◽

Medical Decision Making ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Diagnostic Testing ◽

Medical Decision ◽

Optimal Decision ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Optimal Decision Making

AbstractLaboratory tests in hospitals are among the most important diagnostic tools for medical decision making at the Emergency Department. They are often ordered as part of extended test panels, which, although helpful and convenient for doctors, may lead to overuse of tests and overdiagnosis. To improve the ordering process, we investigated which laboratory tests are essential for optimal decision making at the Emergency Department of our hospital.Forty-nine doctors regularly involved with the Emergency Department filled in a questionnaire asking for their opinions on laboratory test ordering and use.A limited number of laboratory tests are considered indispensable for the Emergency Department: CRP and leukocytes, urea and creatinin, sodium and potassium, and haemoglobin. Glucose and troponin should probably also be included in this list, but were not mentioned as glucose is measured using portable point-of-care devices in our hospital, while cardiac patients are referred directly to the cardiac care unit.Only a limited number of laboratory tests are essential for early medical decision making at the Emergency Department. Ordering facilities should be arranged such that these tests are permanently available, easy to order, and performed with short turnaround times. Test panels for the ED should incorporate these essential tests, with additional other tests so as to prevent essential tests from being forgotten, maintain convenience for doctors and promote sensible and effective use of diagnostic testing. The outcome of these conflicting aims is a compromise, as is discussed.

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