Irish journal of medical science
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In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ireland, the government implemented a nationwide stay-at-home order, with the closure of all non-essential businesses. During this period, there was a significant increase in supermarket expenditure. It has been shown that stress, anxiety and boredom are triggers for unhealthy eating habits. Fat consumption is a risk factor for both the development of gallstones and, additionally, the development of acute calculous cholecystitis. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of acute calculous cholecystitis during the nationwide lockdown and compare it to the same period one year prior. ⋯ A statistically significant increase in cases of acute calculous cholecystitis was observed during a nationwide lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hypothesised that this is due to increased consumption of fatty foods during this period due to stress, anxiety and boredom.
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This paper deals with the analysis and interpretation of data relating to mortality and survival in the first year of operation of the Erne MICCU study in Co. Fermanagh. ⋯ There was no evidence of a direct, statistically significant, beneficial MICCU effect in either of the multi-factor mortality or survival models. However, the performance of the MICCU, measured in terms of crude survival, resulted from an adverse case-mix, which, when controlled for, suggested a small MICCU benefit. The findings relate to the first year of operation of the Erne MICCU study and may improve in later years.
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Although the lung is seen as the main target organ affected by SARS-CoV-2, other organs are also damaged. ⋯ Autopsies play an important role in systematically examining the damage caused by the virus in all organs in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and contribute to the clinical management of infected patients.
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Emergency front of neck access (eFONA) is a critical step in oxygenation in cases of unrelieved airway obstruction. Multiple techniques are used in clinical practice without agreement regarding the optimal approach. We evaluated a novel device, the Cric-Guide (CG), a channelled bougie introducer that enters the airway in a single action and compared it with a scalpel-bougie-tube (SBT) technique in laboratory benchtop model. ⋯ The Cric-Guide device was more successful than the standard SBT technique in airway cannulation in an obese neck model and with equivalent frequency and distribution of injury but performed equivalently in the non-obese model.