Ugeskrift for laeger
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The new version of the GOLD document on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), introduces a profound change in the stratification of the patients. In addition to the level of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), the new stratification also includes the level of daily symptoms, in particular dyspnoea, and the history of exacerbations. This review describes this stratification and the treatment of stable COPD according to the GOLD document. It focuses on early diagnosis, smoking cessation, rehabilitation and medical treatment.
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Genetic haemochromatosis is a complex disorder/disease, which can be caused by a multiplicity of mutations in genes involved in iron metabolism being located on different chromosomes. In Caucasians, mutations in the HFE-gene account for the most common form of haemochromatosis (type 1). Non-HFE-haemochromatoses are less frequent and consist of juvenile haemochromatosis (type 2A and 2B) and TRF2-related haemochromatosis (type 3), which all respond to phlebotomies. The others comprise ferroportin disease (type 4A) atypical ferroportin disease (type 4B), acoeruloplasminaemia, atransferrinaemia and DMT1-associated haemochromatosis.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Apr 2013
Review[Central venous oxygen saturation as a resuscitation goal for patients with severe sepsis should be examined closely].
Fluids, vasopressors and inotropics are mainstays in the initial treatment of sepsis. Consensus guidelines recommend a central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO(2)) larger than 69% as a resuscitation goal for sepsis treatment. Several studies demonstrate that many patients with sepsis have normal or higher ScvO(2) and this may lead to inappropriate use of vasopressors or inotropics when the patient is still in need of fluid. We discuss the (patho)physiology of ScvO(2) in sepsis and propose individualized fluid therapy based on optimization of cardiac preload, e.g. by establishing a maximal ScvO(2).
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Apr 2013
Review[Diagnostics and treatment of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome patients with an alcohol abuse].
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a condition with high morbidity and mortality and occurs as a consequence of thiamine deficiency. Clinical symptoms are often ambiguous and post-mortem examinations show that the syndrome is underdiagnosed and probably undertreated. There is sparse clinical evidence concerning optimal dosage and duration of treatment. This article reviews the current literature and concludes that all patients with a history of alcohol abuse should be treated with high dosage IV thiamine for an extended period of time, albeit further research is needed.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Mar 2013
Review[Training of health-care employees in crisis resource management].
Studies show that human errors contribute to up to 70% of mistakes and mishaps in health care. Crisis resource management, CRM, is a conceptual framework for analysing and training individual and team skills in order to prevent and manage errors. ⋯ CRM training has an effect on skill improvement, but few studies have shown an effect on patient outcome. However, these studies show great variability of quality.