Articles: postoperative-complications.
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Retroperitoneal space abscesses are unusual clinical problems encountered by general surgeons, internists, and surgical subspecialists. An insidious, occult illness marked by diagnostic delay, inadequate drainage, and considerable morbidity and mortality is common. Anatomic reviews detailing the complex extraperitoneal spaces have been published, but less attention has been focused on diagnostic and drainage techniques useful to the practicing surgeon. ⋯ A strikingly high mortality was associated with positive blood cultures and persistent fever within 48 hours of drainage (75% and 71%, respectively). Computed tomography has greatly enhanced the diagnosis of extraperitoneal abscesses, and radiologic drainage in selected cases appears to be a useful initial approach. A simplified anatomic classification and treatment plan is proposed to facilitate comparison between clinical series.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Post-operative morbidity associated with the use of atracurium and vecuronium in day-case laparoscopy.
Patients were randomly allocated to receive either vecuronium or atracurium as the sole muscle relaxant for day-case gynaecological laparoscopy to determine if either agent was superior with respect to post-operative morbidity during the 48 h after operation. Intubating conditions and cardiovascular stability were similar in both groups. ⋯ There was no statistical difference in specific morbidity during the 48 h after laparoscopy, but a greater number of patients in the vecuronium group was able to resume normal activity 24 h after laparoscopy. Both agents are very suitable for day-case laparoscopies and other short surgical procedures.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Magill versus Mallinckrodt tracheal tubes. A comparative study of postoperative sore throat.
An attempt to assess the relative merits of Magill and Mallinckrodt tracheal tubes is described. One hundred patients scheduled for routine gynaecological operations were randomly allocated to one of two groups of 50; in one, Magill red rubber tubes were used and in the other, Mallinckrodt tubes. ⋯ Fifty percent of those intubated with Magill tubes suffered sore throats, compared with 28% with Mallinckrodt (p less than 0.05). In both groups, sore throat was more frequent in younger patients undergoing short operations: smokers intubated with Magill tubes had significantly more sore throat than smokers in whom Mallinckrodt tubes were used.