QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians
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Advances in paediatric critical care have resulted in increased survival of critically ill patients, many of whom require long-term ventilation as a means of life support. ⋯ The increasing trend of occupation of PICU bed and ventilator days by critically ill children may be related to the increasing trend for hospitalization of chronic care patients. Severity scoring systems were predictive of resource consumption, but not of the overall trend in mortality rate.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Management of tuberculous constrictive pericarditis and tuberculous pericardial effusion in Transkei: results at 10 years follow-up.
Tuberculous pericarditis is common in Transkei (Eastern Cape). Two randomized trials showed benefits at two years for prednisolone in patients with constrictive pericarditis, and open drainage plus prednisolone in patients with pericardial effusion. ⋯ In the absence of a clear contraindication, a corticosteroid should be used in addition to antituberculosis chemotherapy in the management of patients with tuberculous pericarditis.