Ugeskrift for laeger
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Dec 1999
Case Reports[Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, a new central nervous system stimulant].
In the last months we have seen an increasing number of younger patients admitted to the emergency room in a deep coma, mostly without cardio-pulmonary symptoms. After a few hours they suddenly woke up without any after-effects. ⋯ We believe they had taken gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB). This drug has not previously been described in Danish scientific reports.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Dec 1999
Case Reports[Poisoning with gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Cases reported in connection with "cultural festivals" in August 1999 in Kolding].
Eight cases of poisoning with the relatively newly introduced synthetic drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) are reported. The abuse of GHB was in most cases mixed with alcohol intake but not any opiates. The condition of some of the victims was serious with bradycardia and depressed respiration. The antidote Naloxone appeared to have a beneficial effect on the combined intoxication with GHB and alcohol.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Dec 1999
[Knowledge about amd attitude to postoperative pain therapy of health personnel. A questionnaire survey].
From research results published over the last years it appears that many surgical patients are still undertreated for their postoperative pain. The study was performed in order to reveal the attitudes and knowledge of physicians and nurses towards postoperative pain therapy. Questionnaires were sent to physicians and nurses at the surgical and anaesthesiological wards at the hospital. ⋯ The house staff is still concerned about the risk of inducing dependency when using opioids. The knowledge of the analgesics used in the ward is not sufficient and inappropriate methods of administration of opioids are still used. Educational intervention to improve the staff's knowledge about pain management in postoperative care is strongly needed.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Dec 1999
Review[Incisional local anesthesia as postoperative pain control after abdominal surgery. A qualitative, systematic review].
A qualitative systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCT) of incisional local anaesthesia for the control of postoperative pain after open abdominal operations was performed. Twenty-six studies with data from 1211 patients were considered appropriate for analysis. RCT considered inguinal herniotomy, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy and a variety of surgical procedures. ⋯ Five of eight cholecystectomy trials showed significant differences but in three studies of questionable clinical importance and validity. In other procedures results were inconsistent and in some cases of minor clinical importance. Except for herniotomy there is a lack of evidence for effect of incisional local anaesthesia on postoperative pain and further standardized studies are needed before recommendations can be made.