Duodecim; lääketieteellinen aikakauskirja
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Review Case Reports
[Luxatio erecta: two case reports and review of the literature].
Luxatio erecta, inferior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint, is a rare type of injury (1% of shoulder dislocations). In most cases the injury is caused by falling while the upper extremity is hyperabducted. ⋯ According to the literature, the most frequently used method for the reduction of inferior shoulder dislocation is tractioncountertraction under sedation. If the patient has no other reason to be under general anesthesia or sedation, we recommend, however, administration of local anesthetics and using a less traumatic two-step manoeuvre to reduce inferior shoulder dislocation--luxatio erecta.
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Currently a large proportion of patients with severe burn injuries survive. This gives increasing challenges also for psychological recovery after the trauma. ⋯ Only a small proportion of burn patients receive appropriate psychiatric care although psychosocial interventions specifically planned for burn victims exist. More frequent screening of symtoms of mental disorders and psychiatric consultation, also after acute care in hospital, could lead to better management of post-burn psychiatric care as well as better management of the burn treatment and rehabilitation itself.
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Glycocalyx consisting of proteins and carbohydrates is lining the complete healthy vascular endothelium. Being in continuous interaction with plasma proteins and other plasma components, the glycocalyx forms an endothelial surface layer playing an important role as protective mechanism of the vascular wall, in blood coagulation and regulation of permeability. ⋯ The extent of tissue swelling is also connected with morbidity and mortality. The question about the volume effect of infusion solutions and, on the other hand, prevention of permeability disturbance still remains highly actual.
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease causing degeneration of motor neurons, without any curative treatment. The most common cause of death is respiratory arrest due to atrophy of the respiratory musculature. ALS-associated respiratory insufficiency differs in mechanism from the more common causes of dyspnea, such as diseases of pulmonary or cardiac origin. ⋯ It should be possible to predict the development of respiratory insufficiency in order to avoid leaving the treatment decisions concerning respiratory insufficiency to emergency services. Noninvasive ventilatory support can be used to alleviate the patient's dyspnea. It is actually recommended as the first-line treatment of ALS-associated respiratory insufficiency.
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Although anesthetic monitoring has rapidly developed over the past few years, accidental awareness during general anesthesia still remains a significant clinical problem. It occurs in one out of thousand surgical patients. In addition to conventional clinical signs, the adequacy of anesthesia can be assessed for instance by monitoring the changes occurring in the electroencephalogram (EEG). The EEG effects of different anesthetics are, however, highly varied, and attempts to develop an unequivocal neurophysiological measure or quantity for human consciousness or unconsciousness have so far been unsuccessful.