Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
-
Mechanical ventilation is the primary method of supporting organ function in patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs). Lung damage from mechanical ventilation can be avoided by using the correct ventilation modes. This study was designed to assess the epidemiology and treatment strategies of patients receiving mechanical ventilation in ICUs in Poland. ⋯ Mechanical ventilation is commonly used in ICUs in Poland. Almost half of the ventilated patients had extrapulmonary indications. Patients were ventilated with low concentrations of oxygen, and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was commonly employed.
-
Multicenter Study
A prospective study of the incidence of agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia associated with the oral use of metamizole sodium in Poland.
Metamizole is a common analgesic and antipyretic drug. However, its use has been associated with a risk of side-effects involving agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia. These reactions are rare and unpredictable. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the risks of these complications in Poland, where this medication is available without prescription. ⋯ Considering the consumption of 112,300,094 tablets of metamizole in Poland a year, the figures obtained result in an incidence of 0.25 cases of aplastic anemia per 1 million persons per day of treatment; this value being less than that for other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nevertheless, caution is recommended in the application of metamizole, particularly over long periods and in large doses.