Clin Med
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Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), or Ogilvie syndrome, is colonic bowel obstruction without a mechanical cause. Stroke is known to result in autonomic disturbance, which is one of the factors that can lead to ACPO, yet it has only rarely been described post stroke. There are several management options available, including conservative techniques, pharmacological therapies, endoscopic treatments and, finally, surgery. This case highlights effectively the refractory nature that this condition can take, and the different management options that can be used to help resolve it.
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People with spinal cord injury (SCI) suffer from the complications of paralysis in addition to the diseases of the general population. Spinal injury centres in the UK are tasked primarily with looking after newly injured patients and patients with established SCI must often turn to their local hospitals and general physicians for inpatient medical care. This paper outlines investigation and management of some of the common conditions which the physician on the general ward might expect to come across in patients with SCI and also how best to maintain the general health of the SCI patient in hospital.
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Comparative Study
Percentage prevalence of patient and visitor violence against staff in high-risk UK medical wards.
Patient and visitor violence adversely affects staff and organisations; however, there are few UK data about patient and visitor violence on medical wards. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study using a validated tool (Survey of Violence Experienced by Staff) in six medical wards in three North Wales district general hospitals to assess the prevalence of violence against healthcare staff. A total of 158 staff responded (12 men, 144 women, two not stated). ⋯ Direct patient contact positively correlated with more overall incidents. There was no correlation between training in aggression management and the experience of incidents. Healthcare support workers and nurses reported a higher prevalence of patient and visitor violence compared with other groups of health worker.