European journal of anaesthesiology
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Editorial Historical Article
History of anaesthesia: why did professional anaesthetists appear in Britain first?
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As people live longer, the burden of cognitive impairment to elderly patients, their families and society becomes increasingly common and important. The loss of independence, a reduction in the quality of life and increased mortality are possible correlates to the mental disintegration. Cognitive dysfunction following major surgery on the elderly is a significant problem which adds to other cognitive impairments caused by neurodegeneration, cerebrovascular impairments and other causes. ⋯ There is no standard definition; the diagnosis is made only by the results of neuropsychological tests which are not standardised for this purpose; test results are analysed by different statistical methods (some of them inappropriate); controls are often absent or poorly matched; and pre-existing mild cognitive impairment, which affects 10 to 20% of people older than 65 years and is similar to the subtle cognitive impairment following surgery, is not sought for and recognised. Reviews of the subject have varied from descriptions such as 'a well recognised and significant problem' to 'a hypothetical phenomenon for which there is no International Statistical Classification of Disease (ICD-9) code, and no Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) code'. This article examines both sides of the spectrum in a detailed review which explains the necessary psychological 'jargon', discusses the methods used and points to areas of future research.
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Standardised drug syringe labelling may reduce drug errors, but data on drug syringe labelling use in European anaesthesiology departments are lacking. ⋯ A majority of European anaesthesiology departments used standardised drug syringe labelling, with regional differences and mostly without following an international standard. Thus, there are options for quality improvement in drug syringe labelling.
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Historical Article
Why have a history section in a modern anaesthesia journal?