Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · May 1997
Case Reports[Malignant pleural mesothelioma in general practice; complex pain problems].
In three patients, men aged 67, 57 and 69 years, malignant pleural mesothelioma was diagnosed. All three had worked as coal miners and were presented with thoracic pain. They were among seven cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma diagnosed in a period of five years in one suburban general practice (adherence: 5600 patients) in the former mining area in the province of Limburg. ⋯ High doses of opioids and adjuvants were necessary to achieve acceptable pain relief. It is suggested that step one of the 'analgesic ladder for cancer pain management' of the WHO (non-opioids) should be followed soon by step three (strong opioids). Because the incidence of pleural mesothelioma is not yet decreasing, it is important to know that pain management remains a serious problem.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · May 1997
[Better postoperative pain management in children by introduction of guidelines; a prospective study].
To investigate the influence of recommendations on the quality of postoperative pain management in children. ⋯ Pain scores in children improved after the introduction of recommendations on postoperative pain. However, the improvement could not be attributed to factors like medication. Factors like a change in attitude towards pain could be responsible for this change.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · May 1997
Comparative Study[Reading children's temperatures with the tympanic infrared thermometer and the rectal mercury thermometer: equally good results in the emergency room].
To compare the results of reading body temperatures with a tympanic infrared thermometer and a rectal mercury thermometer in children in an emergency department. ⋯ The tympanic infrared measurement in children in an emergency department gave the same results as rectal measurement using a mercury thermometer.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · May 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial[Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: endoscopic or classical (open)? A prospective randomized trial].
To compare the results of open with endoscopic release of the carpal tunnel in patients with the carpal tunnel syndrome. ⋯ Endoscopic release of the carpal tunnel is as effective as the open release but it gives less postoperative pain. Because of the risk of complications and the additional costs, the endoscopic release is not the preferred method for treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome, however.