Postgraduate medical journal
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Metformin is contraindicated in patients with renal failure because of the risk of lactic acidosis. This study assessed the complications of metformin treatment in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitis with normal and raised serum creatinine. Subjects using metformin with serum creatinine above the upper reference range (120 mu mol/l) were identified (n = 17) from a hospital diabetes register; those with abnormal liver function, cardiac failure, peripheral vascular disease or recent severe illness were excluded. ⋯ The mean plasma lactate in subjects with serum creatinine 80-120 mu mol/l (2.640 mmol/l (SD 1.434) p < 0.02) was higher than non-diabetic control levels while diabetic subjects with serum creatinine 120-160 mumol/l had a mean of 2.272 mmol/l (SD 0.763) p < 0.05. There was no significant difference between the two groups taking metformin, nor any significant difference in the reporting of gastrointestinal symptoms between the groups on metformin (11.76% vs 12.5%). Plasma lactic acid levels are higher in diabetic subjects taking metformin compared with healthy volunteers but, within the diabetic groups, the small elevation of serum creatinine was not associated with higher plasma lactate levels.
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In the light of the recent Calman Report and the Royal College of Anaesthetists document 'Specialist training in anaesthesia, supervision and assessment', there is currently much debate concerning the future of anaesthesia training in the UK. We present a description of anaesthesia training in the US for discussion and comparison. ⋯ It is highly structured, but retains a capacity for specialisation. It may offer ideas for the future direction of training in the UK.