Ugeskrift for laeger
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Aug 1994
Comparative Study[Disposable transducers for invasive blood pressure measurement. A test of the dynamic characteristics].
The accuracy of intra-arterial blood pressure measurement is dependent on the dynamic characteristics of the transducer. Specifications made by the manufacturers are often misleading. Four different transducers are tested in a clinically relevant setting. The resonance frequencies of all the transducers were found to be acceptable.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Aug 1994
[Are ambulances manned by physicians used in a sufficient extent for trauma patients?].
The aim of the study was to investigate, how often a hospital-based ambulance manned by medical doctors from the intensive care unit took part in prehospital treatment and transportation of severely injured patients in the Holstebro area. The design was a retrospective investigation based on reports concerning all trauma patients admitted by ambulance to Holstebro Central Hospital during the period 1.1.1990 to 31.12.1990 (171 admissions). All cases were classified according to the AIS-scale (1990 version) and the ISS-score was calculated for all patients. ⋯ Median ISS in the group of patients that was transported by a standard ambulance was 8.6 (1-18), and 12.7 (1-43) in the group of patients that was transported by the special ambulance manned by medical doctors. Fifteen patients (68.2%) out of the group of patients with an ISS-score > 12 were transported by standard ambulance. We thus conclude that the activation of the hospital-based ambulance manned with medical doctors to trauma patients has to be improved, so that all severely traumatised patients are transported by this kind of ambulance instead of by a standard ambulance.
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The hospital records of 99 children with foreign bodies in the airways (n = 51) or oesophagus (n = 48) were reviewed with respect to occurrence, course of disease and mortality. Childhood death records in Denmark over a ten year period due to asphyxiation by food were surveyed. A third of the patients with oesophageal foreign bodies had respiratory symptoms. ⋯ The estimated death rate due to airway foreign bodies is 0.9 per 100,000 children in Denmark per year. Rigid oesophagoscopy and bronchoscopy should be performed promptly on suspicion of foreign bodies located in the oesophagus or airways to ensure fast recovery. Nuts, tablets and other small items should not be within reach of small children.
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Smoking during pregnancy is harmful to the health of the fetus and the newborn. Smoking increases the risk of low birthweight, preterm delivery and perinatal death. ⋯ The intervention studies were classified according to the method of intervention namely antismoking advice, self-help manuals, measurements of smoking dependent chemical factors and multifactorial methods. We conclude that it is possible to reduce smoking during pregnancy only by an efficient and personal effort performed by a committed person towards each pregnant woman.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Jul 1994
[Did the distribution of trauma treatment by general practitioners and emergency departments in the county of Ringkøbing change after the introduction of the on-call coverage for general practitioners?].
The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in minor trauma treatment structure after a reduction in the number of general practitioners on call in a county, where minor trauma treatment is supposed to be carried out by general practitioners and only major trauma is supposed to be treated at the hospital Accident and Emergency Department. The design was a cross-sectional analysis of trauma treatment in Ringkøbing County before and after the reduction in the number of general practitioners on call. Over a four week period before and after the reduction in the number of general practitioners on call all trauma treatment at the Accident and Emergency Departments was registered together with trauma treatment by general practitioners. ⋯ Analysis showed that there was a minor reduction in the total number of trauma treatments after the reduction in the number of general practitioners on call was made. The percentage of patients that were treated at the Accident and Emergency Departments at hospital directly without being referred from general practitioners was reduced from 30% to 21%. The population's behaviour and attitude towards minor trauma was unchanged.