Articles: outcome.
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We analyzed the causes and results of utilization of critical care services in the special care unit in patients after surgical procedures performed by the hepatobiliary surgical service during a 23-month period. ⋯ Respiratory failure was the predominant component of all complications after hepatobiliary surgery. No clinically useful predictors of eventual outcome could be identified.
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Chin. J. Traumatol. · Nov 1998
The effects of mild hypothermia on patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
To investigate the protective effects of mild hypothermia (33-35 degrees C) on the outcome of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (GCS<8). ⋯ Our clinical data have demonstrated that mild hypothermia is a useful method for management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 1998
Operative obstetric mortality at Harare Central Hospital 1992-1994: an anaesthetic view.
A prospective review of anaesthetic-associated deaths (AAD) was undertaken at the maternity unit of Harare Central Hospital, Zimbabwe, for the triennium 1992-1994. AAD was defined as death within 24 h of anaesthesia or failure to regain consciousness. Three groups of avoidable factors (obstetric, anaesthetic and administrative) were considered, and a scoring system used to allocate one avoidability point for each death with avoidable factors. ⋯ The problems are discussed and also viewed in the context of overall maternal mortality (outcome period 42 days). The mortality data are compared with those from the UK and some hospitals in South Africa. It is concluded that improvements in resources, education, guidelines and monitoring are necessary if the mortality rate is to be reduced.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 1998
Anaesthesia for caesarean section in a patient with systemic amyloidosis secondary to familial Mediterranean fever.
The anaesthetic management of a 33-year-old primigravid woman at 29 + 5 weeks' gestation with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), secondary amyloidosis, renal allograft with deteriorating renal function and cardiac impairment for emergency caesarean section is described. Pathophysiology and management options are discussed. Cautious induction of epidural anaesthesia together with continuous invasive monitoring produced a good outcome for mother and baby.
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Objective. This study examines, in a retrospective fashion, the effects of intraspinal infusion therapy in 36 patients with pain of non-cancer origin. In those cases where pain was recalcitrant to the infused opiate and/or had a neuropathic component, a local anesthetic, tetracaine, was added. ⋯ Conclusion. The results support the potential utility of infusion therapy in the treatment of non-cancer pain. This treatment, however, is not without problems and should be applied judiciously and in the context of evolving guidelines.