Irish journal of medical science
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Patient knowledge of perioperative care, particularly the role of the anaesthetist, appears limited. ⋯ Patients' knowledge of perioperative care is limited, with very little change during hospital stay. Novel educational approaches may be required to increase basic medical knowledge.
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Concern about delay in the treatment of serious head injury may result in unnecessary transfer to neurosurgical units for scanning and neurosurgical assessment. ⋯ A CT scan and image-link facility permitting remote neurosurgical advice allows the majority of patients with head injury to be safely managed in well-equipped regional units without onsite neurosurgical expertise.
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Most patients with acute stroke are admitted to hospital. If stroke services in this country are to be improved, we need accurate and reliable information about the types of stroke patients being admitted, their present management and outcome. ⋯ The results demonstrate the high mortality and prolonged hospital stay for stroke patients in this area and emphasise the need for co-ordinated stroke care and regular audit to ensure most effective use of hospital resources.
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Comparative Study
A comparison of papaveretum-promethazine with morphine-ondansetron for patient-controlled analgesia.
Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with intravenous morphine is commonplace. Antiemetics are often added to reduce side-effects. In our institution an unusual combination of papaveretum-promethazine is in use. ⋯ Papaveretum-promethazine appeared to be effective for PCA. This combination is also much less expensive than morphine-ondansetron. A previously described synergistic interaction between promethazine and opiates may be a factor in its success. Further evaluation of these drugs in PCA is warranted.
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Comparative Study
A national model of care service for professionals dealing with sudden infant death.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is any death occurring in an infant or young child which is unexpected by history and in which a thorough post mortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause of death. The National Sudden Infant Death Register collects information on all sudden unexpected deaths in infants and young children occurring in Ireland. In this study, a comparison was made between parent's experience of professional services in the aftermath of their child's death both before and after the implementation of a National Model of Care for professionals in 1995. ⋯ Specifically, we need to address the fact that 16 per cent of parents still report a difficulty in obtaining post-mortem information. Almost 40 per cent said they had little input into how their child was dressed or laid out at this highly emotive time. Over one-third of parents stated they were concerned about how few of their primary health providers, namely general practitioners and public health nurses called to visit them in the aftermath of this tragic event.