Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2001
Clinical Trial[Spinal cord stimulation and quality of life in patients with refractory angina].
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a treatment that exploits the antalgic and vasodilatory effects on the microcirculation produced by a stimulating electrode positioned in the peridural space. This therapy has been used for years in the treatment of refractory angina pectoris. The aim of this study was to monitor the clinical effectiveness of the technique in terms of symptomatic benefits and, above all, improved quality of life in angina patients undergoing SCS. ⋯ The results of this study show that SCS is effective, safe, easy to use and well tolerated by patients with refractory angina who fail to respond to traditional revascularisation. This technique substantially improves the quality of life of patients suffering from refractory angina.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2001
Historical Article[The mandrake root and the Viennese Dioscorides].
Pedanius Dioscorides of Anazarba in Cilicia lived in the first century. He was a Greek physician who served as a surgeon in Neròs army. He wrote several books on materia medica. ⋯ If there were a true Anaesthetic of Antiquity it would have been mandragora. Dioscorides describes how the wine made from mandragora produces anaesthesia: Using a cyathus of it on those who cannot sleep, or are grievously pained, or are being cut, or cauterized they will not feel pain. Here Dioscorides used for the first time the word anaesthesia as absence of sensation as we mean it today.