European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · Feb 2015
ReviewSmell and taste in palliative care: a systematic analysis of literature.
Little is known on the role of the senses smell and taste in end-of-life care. The presented systematic literature analysis investigates the significance of smell and taste in palliative care. The online databases PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Deutsche Nationalbibliothek and British National Library were searched for English and German literature published between 1970 and April 2013 containing any kind of original data on the impact of smell and taste in patients in a palliative care situation. ⋯ Prevalence of smell and taste alterations in palliative care is high. However, in palliative care literature concepts for the assessment and fostering of subjective significance of smell and taste and the individual impact of significant smells and tastes are predominantly neglected. Available instruments should be characterized, validated and adapted for the use for palliative care patients.
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · Feb 2015
Orbital compartment: effects of emergent canthotomy and cantholysis.
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of orbital decompression procedures on the intraocular pressure (IOP). The orbital compartment syndrome represents an emergency situation. Due to the elevated IOP vision loss may ensue. ⋯ Lateral canthotomy must be followed by an inferior cantholysis to successfully decompress an orbital compartment syndrome in the majority of cases. Occasionally, superior cantholysis may generate additional benefit. Additional inferior and superior septolysis were not shown to provide a beneficial effect when performed after canthotomy and cantholysis.