Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of the curved blade size on the outcomes of tracheal intubation performed by incoming interns: A randomized controlled manikin study.
Novice clinicians who have little or no clinical experience in tracheal intubation occasionally need a long time to perform the procedure when using a large curved blade. They also have a lower tracheal intubation success rate, especially in emergency situations, such as cardiac arrest, than experienced practitioners. This study aimed to investigate whether the size of the curved laryngoscope blade affects the outcomes of tracheal intubation performed by incoming interns on a manikin model. ⋯ The outcomes of direct orotracheal intubation performed by novice practitioners may be influenced by the blade's size. Significant emphasis should be given on key anatomical landmarks and progressive visualization for tracheal intubation during airway management training for novice clinicians.
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To describe the characteristics of patients visiting a Hospital Emergency Department (HED) due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation (AECOPD) and to evaluate their management. A cross-sectional study of the first 219 patients with AECOPD visiting the HED of the University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain, was performed from January to May 2016. The data collected included the following: main patient characteristics, diagnostic tests, applied treatments, response times, discharge destination, need for hospital admission, and re-admissions and deaths at 90 days. ⋯ Overall, the following areas of improvement were identified: use of sputum culture (performed in 3% of patients); documentation of variables; patient care times; and reduction in the time until first medical check-up. The overall quality of care provided to AECOPD patients was satisfactory and consistent with current clinical guidelines. Nevertheless, improving the quality of care at the HED requires establishing protocols that ensure that the necessary diagnostic tests are performed, optimize response times and guarantee that all relevant information is collected.
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Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a rare lateral femoral cutaneous nerve-(LFCN)-mononeuropathy. Treatment for this disorder includes conservative and operative approaches; the latter is considered if conservative therapy fails. The most commonly used surgical approaches are decompression/neurolysis and avulsion/neurectomy. ⋯ Patient satisfaction was high, with 86% reporting complete satisfaction, and 14% reporting partial satisfaction. Previous studies favor either avulsion/neurectomy as the preferred procedure for MP treatment, or provide no recommendation. Our findings instead confirm the decompression/neurolysis approach as the primary surgical procedure of choice for the treatment of MP, if conservative treatment fails.
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Clear cell sarcoma of tendon and aponeurosis (CCSTA) or soft parts is a rare malignant melanin producing tumor entity that is derived from the neural crest cells originating from soft tissues displaying melanocytic differentiation. Diagnosis of CCSTA is difficult as it is dependent on age, size, location, necrosis, calcifications, cystic degeneration, and local to distant metastatic deposits. These tumors have very poor prognosis with a survival rate of 5-10 years because of local recurrence, early to late metastasis to lymph nodes, lungs, bones, and liver. ⋯ Our case emphasizes the importance of recognizing radiological characteristics of CCSTA, and its differentiation from other soft tissue tumors, when presenting atypically. MRI plays a significant role in the diagnosis supported by histopathology and immune-histochemistry. So, radiologists should be familiar about this presentation that could guide other personnel for early detection of soft tissue tumors while including CCSTA into differential diagnosis for evaluation.
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Colonoscopy has been used for screening and treatment of diseases worldwide. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has many major complications such as colon perforation and bleeding. However, cases of minor complications have also been reported. Here, we present a case of massive retroperitoneal hematoma, as a minor complication, after colonoscopy. ⋯ Although massive retroperitoneal hematoma is a minor complication after colonoscopy, it can be life threatening; thus, we need to know more about this complication. Dynamic CT may be useful in detecting whether the bleeding occurs from the artery or not.