Ugeskrift for laeger
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Kodimagnyl is a widely used analgesic agent, particularly in outpatient practice. It is a combination of morphine and acetylsalicylic acid. ⋯ The acetylsalicylic acid component may in all probability be the cause of the hypokalaemia. Kodimagnyl is generally not included in a standard toxicology screen but should be considered in cases of hypokalaemia.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Jan 2007
Review[Adjuvant antihormonal therapy for postmenopausal women with primary operable breast cancer].
Adjuvant hormonal therapy results in substantial improvements in disease-free and overall survival for women with operable breast cancer. Many randomised trials of adjuvant tamoxifen have been published, and an updated overview of their results is presented in this paper. ⋯ These studies are also reviewed in this paper. The Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group recommends adjuvant hormonal therapy consisting of tamoxifen for 2.5 years followed by the aromatase inhibitor for 2.5 years, or 5 years of the aromatase inhibitor for women with contraindications to tamoxifen.
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Infusion pumps are important clinical tools where controlled and precise infusions are needed. However, there are a number of potential risks for patient safety in their use: There is a risk of free-flow, i.e. an uncontrolled infusion that may have fatal consequences to the patient; staff is often poorly trained to use these devices, and often the devices themselves do not offer much support in this regard. ⋯ Centralising the decision process for procurement and establishing a central library of standardised equipment might well reduce patient safety risks and any under-use of equipment. Usability testing prior to procurement decisions is vital; such testing should be performed by validated methods and not simply by putting the pumps to test in a clinical setting. More knowledge about user-friendly designs of medical equipment is needed.
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Modern neuroimaging techniques are continuously improving the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of patients with traumatic brain injury. The rapid developments within the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in particular provide several complementary tools for evaluating structural and functional changes in the injured brain. This article summarizes the current clinical use and future potential of the main structural and functional MRI techniques in the evaluation of severe non-missile head injury in the subacute phase.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Jan 2007
[Traumatic brain injury--pathophysiology and clinic seen from a neurosurgical point of view].
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be divided into primary and secondary brain damage. The primary damage occurs at the time of impact, induces neuronal death and is refractory to treatment. ⋯ Initially, TBI should be treated by the principles of ATLS. Space-occupying haematomas should be evacuated and neuro-intensive monitoring and treatment of intracranial pathology are mandatory in severe TBI.