Revue médicale de Liège
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Revue médicale de Liège · Jun 2001
[Euthanasia and other medical decisions concerning the end of life in Belgium: epidemiologic studies].
The study presented here is the first replica of the Dutch death certificate study on end of life decisions (ELDs). The main objective was to assess the incidence of euthanasia (the administration of drugs with the explicit intention to shorten the patient's life at the explicit request of the patient), physician assisted suicide (PAS), and other ELDs in medical practice in Belgium (Flanders). ⋯ ELDs are prominent in medical practice in Belgium (Flanders). The incidence of deaths preceded by an ELD is similar to the Netherlands, but greater than in Australia. However, in Belgium (Flanders) the incidence of ending of patient's life without the patient's explicit request (3.2%, 2.7-3.8% CI: 95) is similar to Australia (3.5%, 2.7-4.3% CI: 95), but significantly higher than in the Netherlands (0.7%, 0.5-0.9% CI: 95).
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Pneumomediastinum in children is diagnosed in two circumstances: cervical subcutaneous emphysema or radiological findings. The predominant symptoms are dyspnoea, stabbing chest pain, sore throat and dysphagia. Traumatic injuries and pulmonary diseases such as asthma are the most common causes of pneumomediastinum. ⋯ The treatment is directed towards the underlying cause, with conservative management being sufficient in most cases. However, the risk of surveying of pneumothorax or tension pneumomediastinum justifies close clinical follow-up in a specialised care unit. The onset of these pathologies necessitates a more aggressive therapy by aspiration through percutaneous catheter placed in the mediastinum.