Kaohsiung J Med Sci
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Kaohsiung J Med Sci · Aug 2010
Characteristics of undiagnosed liver abscesses on initial presentation at an emergency department.
Liver abscesses often present with nonspecific symptoms and laboratory examination abnormalities, resulting in missed diagnoses at emergency departments (ED). The purpose of this study was to determine if there are differences in presentation and prognosis between patients in whom liver abscess is diagnosed at an ED or once the patient has been transferred to a ward. Patients with a liver abscess who were discharged from our hospital between 2005 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ Undiagnosed liver abscess presented less abdominal pain and more symptoms or examination abnormalities related to infection of the respiratory and urinary tracts. Abdominal sonography should be performed more frequently at EDs to exclude liver abscess from differential diagnosis. However, further diagnosis and treatment while the patient with liver abscess is attending a ward does not affect prognosis.
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Kaohsiung J Med Sci · Aug 2010
Effect of low-flow anesthesia education on knowledge, attitude and behavior of the anesthesia team.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of education on the knowledge, attitude and behavior of anesthesiology staff and residents towards low-flow anesthesia. The staff and residents in the Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, Zonguldak Karaelmas University were given theoretical and practical training in delivering low-flow anesthesia. To evaluate their attitudes and behaviors toward low-flow anesthesia, we collected data during the 6 months before training, during the first 3 months after training, and at 4-6 months after training. ⋯ The mean fresh gas flow was significantly lower at the two post-training assessments than before training (p < 0.05). In conclusion, low-flow anesthesia may be used more frequently if educational seminars are provided to anesthetists. The use of low-flow anesthesia may increase further by allocating more time to this technique in anesthesia training programs provided at regular intervals.