Acute medical definition
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Summary
4 papers analyzed
These studies suggest that "acute" in a medical context refers to conditions or units that require immediate and focused care, often with standardized management to improve outcomes and reduce complications.
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Acute Medical Definition: Understanding Acute Conditions in Medicine
Acute Medicine: Immediate and Early Specialist Management
Acute Medicine is a branch of hospital medicine focused on the immediate and early specialist management of adult patients with a wide range of medical conditions requiring urgent or emergency care. This field has evolved significantly, particularly in the United Kingdom, where the establishment of Acute Medical Units (AMUs) has been pivotal. AMUs are designed to centralize the care of acutely unwell patients, improving coordination of investigations and therapy, and reducing the burden on junior doctors. The development of acute medicine was driven by the need to improve clinical governance standards and manage the increasing complexity of an aging population.
Acute Injuries in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
In the context of orthopaedic sports injuries, the terms "acute" and "chronic" are often used but seldom explicitly defined. A systematic review of literature on common sports injuries such as Achilles tendon rupture, ACL tear, and shoulder instability revealed that "acute" typically refers to injuries occurring within a few weeks of the incident, while "chronic" refers to injuries persisting beyond several weeks to months. For instance, an Achilles tendon rupture is considered acute if it occurs within one week and chronic if it persists beyond four weeks. Clear definitions are crucial for clinical relevance, particularly in tendon injuries where the timing can affect the surgical approach and treatment outcomes.
Acute Kidney Injury: A Heterogeneous Condition
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is characterized by a sudden decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and an increase in serum creatinine concentration or oliguria. AKI can occur in the setting of acute or chronic illness and affects approximately 20% of hospitalized patients, with 10% requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT). The condition is classified according to severity and cause, which influence prognosis and management. Major complications of AKI include volume overload, electrolyte disorders, and drug toxicity. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, the mortality rate for patients requiring KRT remains high at around 50%.
Standardizing Definitions in Acute Kidney Injury
The definition of AKI has evolved with the introduction of the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage renal disease (RIFLE), AKI Network (AKIN), and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classifications. These classifications have standardized the criteria for AKI, facilitating better clinical care and research. Small rises in serum creatinine are now recognized as significant and are incorporated into the current definitions. The KDIGO guidelines, which merge RIFLE and AKIN criteria, are widely used and have enabled the development of electronic alerts to warn clinicians of possible AKI.
Conclusion
Acute medical conditions encompass a wide range of urgent and emergency scenarios across various medical fields. From the immediate management of acutely ill patients in hospital settings to the specific definitions of acute injuries in sports medicine and the standardized criteria for acute kidney injury, understanding and defining "acute" is crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes. The evolution of definitions and classifications in acute medicine highlights the importance of clarity and standardization in medical practice.
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8
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120 Citations
1991