American journal of therapeutics
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One of the most fascinating drugs in the anesthesiologist's armament is ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist with a myriad of uses. The drug is a dissociative anesthetic and has been used more often as an analgesic in numerous hospital units, outpatient pain clinics, and in the prehospital realm. It has been used to treat postoperative pain, chronic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, phantom limb pain, and other neuropathic conditions requiring analgesia. ⋯ Such effects make it necessary for the clinician to use the drug only in situations where it will provide the greatest benefit with the fewest adverse effects. To the best of our knowledge, none of the reviews regarding ketamine have taken a comprehensive look at the drug's uses in all territories of medicine. This review will serve to touch on its chemical data, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, medical uses, and adverse effects while focusing specifically on the drugs usage in anesthesia and analgesia.
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Review Case Reports
Sertraline-Induced Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report and Literature Review.
The objective of this study is to report a case of sertraline-induced rhabdomyolysis in a female patient with a history of depression. A 25-year-old Hispanic woman with a history of depression reported to the emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of muscle swelling and soreness and dark urine. The patient's creatine phosphokinase was 15,103 U/L. ⋯ Unlike the majority of previous reports, our patient was not taking other medications with documented association to rhabdomyolysis and had performed routine exercise before presenting with rhabdomyolysis. Although the mechanism of SSRI-induced rhabdomyolysis is not known, a theory posits that sertraline may have a role in muscle contraction and relaxation, leading to shorter time to contracture and longer time of contraction. The use of sertraline and other SSRIs may be associated with development of rhabdomyolysis, especially in the presence of strenuous exercise.
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Meta Analysis
Different Doses of Clazosentan for Aneurismal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Clazosentan therapy has been found to be effective in reducing the incidence of vasospasm after aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine whether different doses of clazosentan treatment significantly reduced the incidence of delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DINDs) and new cerebral infarction (NCI). We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library and Medline from inception until October, 2015. ⋯ In addition, a high dose of clazosentan (15 mg/h) had no more effect on the incidence of adverse events than that of a low dose (1-5 mg/h). The results of the present meta-analysis show that a high dose of clazosentan significantly reduced the incidence of the vasospasm-related DINDs and NCI. Further study is required to fully understand the potential usefulness of clazosentan in patients with aSAH.
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The Coflex is one of the representatives of posterior dynamic interspinous process device, but no study with the application of Coflex interlaminar stabilization in L5/S1 level has been performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and validity of the Coflex interlaminar stabilization in the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases on L5/S1 level. A retrospective study was conducted for a consecutive series of 33 patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis or lumbar disc herniation located in L5/S1 between November 2007 and September 2010. ⋯ Radiological evaluation revealed that dorsal intervertebral space height and intervertebral foramen height of target level increased significantly in all cases postoperatively and maintained well to final follow-up. In addition, the sagittal range of motion of operated level was restricted (P < 0.05), and the range of motion of adjacent segment did not change much (P > 0.05). The Coflex is an efficacious dynamic interspinous process device for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases that can apply to L5/S1.
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Letter Case Reports
Intranasal Ketamine in Subdissociative Doses for a 2-Year-Old.