Latest Articles
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Acute tonsillitis is a common illness that affects patients of all ages but the risk of complication increases with the young. Tonsillitis commonly presents with a sore throat and difficulty swallowing and will often have swelling of the tonsils with exudate on physical examination. Although acute tonsillitis secondary to group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus should be considered so that antibiotic therapy can be initiated in a timely fashion to prevent complications such as a retropharyngeal abscess or acute rheumatic fever, the most common etiology of tonsillitis is viral. The treatment of viral tonsillitis is supportive with analgesia and hydration.
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Vocal cord disorders present with a variety of symptoms including dysphonia, respiratory symptoms, and stridor. When evaluating symptoms, a complete history and through head, neck, and neurologic examinations are necessary. ⋯ Most masses of the vocal folds are benign and resolve with voice hygiene and speech therapy. Surgery is reserved for persistent symptomatic nodules and cancerous lesions.
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Status epilepticus is a time-sensitive neuro-emergency, linked to poor functional outcomes and higher mortality rates. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to reduce its morbidity and mortality. ⋯ A standardized treatment protocol should include prompt and adequately dosed first benzodiazepines as line therapy. Treatment approaches for second-line and third-line management continue to evolve as new anti-seizure medications become available.
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Tinnitus is considered a symptom and not a diagnosis. It varies in its presentation from unilateral to bilateral and intermittent to constant. ⋯ Management includes helping the patient cope with their tinnitus using tools such as cognitive behavioral therapy among others. Education is also crucial to help patients understand and overcome the challenges associated with this symptom.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Mar 2025
Review Meta AnalysisHigh-dose glucocorticoids in the treatment of postoperative pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery-protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is widely used in lung cancer surgery, as this technique causes less pain and faster recovery than open thoracotomy. However, significant postoperative pain persists in a number of patients, often leading to increased opioid use and opioid-related adverse events in addition to prolonged admission times. Perioperatively administered glucocorticoids have been demonstrated effective in reducing pain after other types of surgeries, but the effect in VATS remains unclear. ⋯ This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide an overview of the current evidence of how glucocorticoids affect postoperative pain and recovery in adult patients undergoing VATS.