Ugeskrift for laeger
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The decline of tuberculosis in many western countries has faded off in many countries in recent years because of migration of people from high-prevalence to low-prevalence areas. Tuberculosis in immigrants mirrors tuberculosis in the country of origin with a predominance of young people with a high incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. ⋯ In Denmark the incidence of tuberculosis in immigrants now outnumbers the incidence in Danes. Screening for tuberculosis in immigrants is not obligatory and is only offered to asylum seekers under the care of the Danish Red Cross but could be considered in all immigrants from high-prevalence countries.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · May 1999
Review[Mild intraoperative hypothermia. Another risk factor for postoperative complications].
Intraoperative mild hypothermia (core temperature 35-36 degrees) is common during major surgical procedures. Recent studies have shown that hypothermia may be related to the development of postoperative serious complications such as impaired platelet function with increased blood loss and transfusion requirements, postoperative morbid cardiac events, impaired wound healing, and prolonged hospitalization. ⋯ The most effective prevention of intraoperative hypothermia is forced air warming combined with the infusion of warm fluids. The paper gives clinical guidelines for monitoring and prevention of intraoperative core hypothermia.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · May 1999
[Side-effects of N-acetylcysteine treatment in patients with paracetamol poisoning].
Treatment of paracetamol intoxication with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is standard in Denmark. NAC is considered safe with relatively few side effects. It is recommended that all patients be treated irrespective of paracetamol dose or time from intoxication to treatment start. ⋯ In all cases the recommended treatment with antihistamine or steroids against adverse effects was administered. We conclude that treatment with NAC is safe. Accordingly we find no reason to change the recommendation for treatment of paracetamol intoxication in Denmark.
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Fourty-five cases of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) performed in the intensive care unit, Kolding Hospital, are reported in a retrospective study. All patients (mean age 60.8 years) had been on a ventilator due to critical diseases and had been subjected to translaryngeal intubation for an average of 6.1 days (range 1-12). PDT was uncomplicated in 41 cases (91%). ⋯ Nineteen patients (42%) died due to progression of their underlying diseases with the tracheostomy functioning well, the mean cannulation time being 23.3 days. Twenty-six patients (58%) lived to decannulation with a mean length of cannulation of 13.7 days. The PDT procedure has the advantage of being bedside, thus avoiding transportation of a critically ill patient to the operating theatre.