Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Feb 2004
[Factors influencing duration of hospitalization after stroke in Germany].
In Germany up-to-date data within community settings about factors influencing length of stay in acute hospitals are lacking. We, therefore, identified predictors for length of stay in acute hospital after ischemic stroke in a pooled analysis of large German stroke registers. ⋯ In addition to patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, length of stay in hospital was influenced by the hospitals' characteristics. Especially the volume of treated patients and the organisation of services within the hospital may play the key role.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Feb 2004
Case Reports[Repeated improper intravenous injection of fentanyl from a transdermal system].
We report on a 30 year-old male who misused transdermal fentanyl. He injected the contents of transdermal patches intravenously. Suffering from chronic pain following total hip replacement, he had received a prescription for this drug formulation from his general practitioner. ⋯ The contents may be ingested orally, or they can be inhaled. Aspirated with a syringe the content of fentanyl patches can also be injected intravenously, sometimes resulting in exit-us. Prescribers must be aware of the potential for abuse of fentanyl patches which can be stolen, sold or even removed from dead bodies.