Articles: cations.
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Wounded soldiers often experience substantial pain, which must be addressed before returning to active duty or civilian life. The United States (US) military has instituted several guidelines and initiatives aimed at improving pain management by providing rapid access to medical care, and developing interdisciplinary multimodal pain management strategies based on outcomes observed both in combat and hospital settings. ⋯ The application of US military pain management guidelines has been shown to improve pain monitoring, education and relief. In addition, the US military has instituted the development of programs and guidelines to ensure proper use and discourage aberrant behaviours with regard to opioid use, because opioids are regarded as a critical part of acute and chronic pain management schemes. Inadequate pain management, particularly inadequate chronic pain management, remains a major problem for the general population in the US. Application of military strategies for pain management to the general US population may lead to more effective pain management and improved long-term patient outcomes.
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Review Meta Analysis
Diagnostic Value and Safety of Brain Biopsy in Patients With Cryptogenic Neurological Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 831 Cases.
The role of brain biopsy in patients with cryptogenic neurological disease is uncertain. ⋯ Brain biopsy in cryptogenic neurological disease was associated with the highest diagnostic yield in patients with suspected PACNS. The greatest clinical impact was seen in children with cryptogenic neurological disease. The presence of a radiological target was associated with a higher diagnostic yield.
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This systematic review describes effects of body temperature alterations defined as fever, controlled normothermia, and spontaneous or induced hypothermia on outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults. ⋯ Setting a goal of normothermia, avoiding fever, and aggressively treating fever may be most important after TBI. Further research is needed to characterize the magnitude and duration of temperature alteration after TBI, determine if temperature alteration influences or predicts neurologic outcome, determine if rate of temperature change influences or predicts neurologic outcome, and compare controlled normothermia versus standard practice or hypothermia.
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The liver transplant allocation system has evolved to a ranking system of “sickest-first” system based on objective criteria. Yet, organs continue to be distributed first within OPOs and regions that are largely based on historical practice patterns related to kidney transplantation and were never designed to minimize waitlist death or equalize opportunity for liver transplant. ⋯ Like MELDbased allocation, it will never be perfect and should be continually evaluated and revised. However, the disparity in access, which favors those residing in or able to travel to privileged areas, to the detriment of the patients dying on the list in underserved areas, is simply not defensible in 2015.
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Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech · Aug 2015
ReviewMuscle Relaxation in Laparoscopic Surgery: What is the Evidence for Improved Operating Conditions and Patient Outcome? A Brief Review of the Literature.
When neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) were introduced into clinical practice in 1942, the event was called the "second revolution in anesthesia." Despite some significant side effects, NMBAs have remained in the anesthetists' repertoire, not at least because muscle relaxation has been claimed to allow or facilitate many surgical procedures. Aim of this literature review was to investigate the evidence for the use of NMBA as well as the optimum depth of neuromuscular blockade during laparoscopic surgery. ⋯ However, the decision to utilize deeper than standard muscle relaxation should currently be based on a risk-benefit analysis for each individual patient. Thus good communication between surgeon and anesthetist remains crucial to achieve best outcomes.