JNMA; journal of the Nepal Medical Association
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JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Jul 2008
Family burden in opioid dependence syndrome in tertiary care centre.
This is a cross-sectional, hospital based study conducted in De-Addiction centre under department of psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi, India. Patients and their spouses fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study after taking informed consent. A diagnosis of Opioid Dependence Syndrome (ODS) was made based on ICD-10 criteria and the assessment of severity of ODS was determined by Addiction Severity Index (Hindi version). ⋯ Both subjective and objective family burden was perceived as "severe" by subjects' spouses. The relationship between spouses' perceived burden and socio-demographic variables including duration of substance abuse were not correlated. Hence it was found that opioid dependent subjects cause considerable amount of distress to their care providers.
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JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Apr 2008
Comparative StudyThe efficacy and safety of low dose epidural butorphanol on postoperative analgesia following cesarean delivery.
Butorphanol is considered an effective and safe analgesic after cesarean delivery but is associated with profound dose-dependent sedation. Somnolence may cause hindrance in early mother-baby interaction. This study was designed to assess the analgesic efficacy and to monitor side-effects of low doses (0.5 mg and 0.75 mg) of epidural butorphanol with bupivacaine compared to bupivacaine alone in parturients following cesarean delivery. ⋯ The quality of analgesia in terms of time to first independent movement and satisfactory VAS were statistically better (P<0.01) in group 2 (3.9+/-0.3 hour and 8.1+/-0.1 mm) and group 3 (3.8+/-0.4 hour and 8.1+/-0.9 mm) than in group 1 (5.2+/-0.4 hour and 6.3+/-1.3 mm). The incidence of sedation was 5% in all the three groups. A lower dose of epidural butorphanol with bupivacaine produces a significantly earlier onset, longer duration and better quality of analgesia than bupivacaine does.
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The objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of neck pain, shoulder pain and back pain among dentists and to assess the risk factors affecting them. Sixty-eight dentists from Dharan and Biratnagar were interviewed using pretested questionnaires in January 2006. Back pain was the most common complaint affecting almost 80% of the study population, followed by neck pain (58.8%) and shoulder pain (47%). ⋯ The mean days of neck pain among males was significantly higher as compared to females (P=0.048). The study suggests that musculoskeletal complaints are common among dentists, though they are not of severe nature. There is a scope for further decreasing the prevalence and severity of these disorders by performing regular specific exercises.
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JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Apr 2008
Outcome of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children treated by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning.
Supracondylar fractures of humerus in children are common injuries. Displaced fractures are inherently unstable. Conservative treatment results in malunion. ⋯ In lateral K-wire group (N=23) 70% had excellent, 21.7% good, 4.3% fair and 4.3% had poor result at eighth week which was improved to 91.3% excellent, 4.3% good, 4.3% fair and no poor result at 14th week follow up. Eight patients got superficial pin tract infection and seven patients sustained ulnar nerve injury post operatively. We recommend this procedure for displaced supracondylar fractures in children as it is safe and cost effective procedure with acceptable complication rates.
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JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Apr 2008
Correlation of serum cholinesterase level, clinical score at presentation and severity of organophosphorous poisoning.
The aim of the study was to correlate between the clinical score described by Peradenya Organophosphorus Poisoning (POP) scale, serum cholinesterase level at presentation and severity of poisoning. Consecutive patients of organophosphorous poisoning attending Bir Hospital from August 2004 to September 2005 were studied. Patients were grouped into mild, moderate and severe poisoning groups according to the POP scale. ⋯ The POP scale and serum cholinesterase at presentation appeared useful to assess the severity of poisoning, particularly in terms of higher amount of atropine and prolonged duration of hospital stay. The patients with evidence of moderate and severe degrees of poisoning need close monitoring. Further studies to evaluate the factors likely to cause deaths, particularly by closely monitoring of moderate and severe organophosphorous poisoning in intensive care units, are required to clarify the correlation with mortality.