An Sist Sanit Navar
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Health research is consubstantial with clinical excellence, a fact that is also inherent in urgency and emergency medicine (UEM). Besides, the specific characteristics of the Spanish health CARE system and the organisation of hospital emergency CARE offer a probably unique scenario, offering unique opportunities for their scientific analysis and study. ⋯ To increase scientific production in UEM there is a need to solve some aspects that hinder this task, such as: the lack of a scientific culture, doubtless united to the lack of a recognised specialty; the limited training in research methodology; the lack of explicit recognition of scientific work; the limited scientific infrastructure; the practically 100% dedication to the work of care tasks; the scarce participation in national grants for research projects; and the absence in Spain of an indexed journal specialising in UEM. Besides, we believe that it is necessary to promote and interrelate the research groups of different hospitals and emergency medical systems, both locally and amongst the different autonomous communities, so that they work in a coordinated way and thus obtain the necessary critical mass that will enable the formation of a thematic network of cooperative research.
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Hyperammonemia causes several alterations, mainly in the central nervous system. If hepatic failure is not its etiology, other less frequent causes must be investigated in the search for a definitive diagnosis. ⋯ The complex management of hyperammonemia and the high morbidity and mortality involved require a multidisciplinary approach. Only early treatment and identification of the hyperammonemia's etiology can avoid high morbidity and mortality in these patients.
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Endotracheal intubation using direct laryngoscopy continues to be the "gold standard" amongst all the techniques for isolating the airway. Generally this is a secure manoeuvre, but it might become a situation of extreme emergency when dealing with an unexpected difficult airway. ⋯ Its advantages over the Macintosh laryngoscope have been demonstrated in patients with an airway that it is difficult to manage and in adverse situations outside the surgical setting, when endotracheal intubation has been achieved in a simple way following unsuccessful attempts with conventional laryngoscopes. The greatest benefits in using the Airtraq laryngoscope have been shown in patients with a pronounced limitation of cervical mobility, and in those where the airway is distorted for anatomical reasons, such as pregnant women and obese patients.
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An Sist Sanit Navar · Jan 2009
Case Reports[Persistent left superior vena cava. Implications in central venous catheterisation].
The placement of central catheters through the subclavian and jugular venous path can be complicated by the cannulation of an artery or an aberrant venous path. The most frequent anomaly of the embryological development of the caval vein is the persistence of the left superior vena cava (LSVC). ⋯ Diagnostic confirmation is obtained through angiography, echocardiography, computerised tomography or cardiac resonance. The doctor who regularly implants central venous catheters must be familiar with the anatomy of the venous system and its variants and anomalies, since their presence might influence the handling of the patient.
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Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) makes it possible to determine the status of neurological function during surgery. It guides the surgeon and minimises the risk of injury. This paper describes the different techniques available for IONM in spine surgery (somatosensory evoked potentials, motor evoked potentials, neurography, electromyography, reflexes and dermatomic evoked potentials), which neurophysiologists employ depending on the nerve structures at risk. ⋯ In the event of IONM registering alterations, the neurophysiologist must first check the integrity of the recording system. The anaesthetist should then assess blood pressure, oxygen levels, ventilation and haematocrit values, and revert recent anaesthetic changes. Finally, the surgeon must stop the procedure and try to determine the cause of the event, and correct it if possible.