Scot Med J
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We describe a 64-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with a two-day history of left perioral and hand numbness. Examination revealed impaired sensation of the left corner of the mouth and ipsilateral fingers. Neuroimaging showed an acute right thalamic lacunar infarct consistent with the diagnosis of cheiro-oral syndrome. In this report, we discuss the importance of recognising this syndrome and instituting appropriate management to prevent further cerebrovascular events.
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Conducting a literature search can be a daunting prospect if you have not done it before. This article aims to provide a beginner's guide to searching the medical education literature, by describing how to construct an effective search strategy, the resources that are available and the basics of how searching works.
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Background and aim Non-urgent Emergency Department presentations contribute to overcrowding, which can adversely affect patient care. Redirecting patients to a more appropriate service is an option to help address this. We conducted a prospective evaluation of a major Scottish hospital's Emergency Department redirection policy to assess its safety. ⋯ Twenty-two patients were subsequently admitted, with one case of sub-optimal care (incidence 0.23%) and no cases of harm. Conclusions Our redirection policy provides a safe and effective means of directing patients to more appropriate care. The authors believe this to be in the patient s best interest as Emergency Department clinicians are not specifically trained to manage primary care issues.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Sublingual glyceryl trinitrate during colonoscopy and terminal ileal intubation: a randomized controlled trial.
Background and aims Sublingual glyceryl trinitrate has been used as an aid to cannulate the Sphincter of Oddi during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Its role in terminal ileal intubation during colonoscopy is unknown. This study examines the role of sublingual glyceryl trinitrate in terminal ileal intubation during colonoscopy. ⋯ Conclusions Terminal ileal intubation rates and timing were very good in both groups. Routine sublingual glyceryl trinitrate was not proven to be beneficial in improving terminal ileal intubation or intubation success rates in the hands of experienced colonoscopists. However, trends in this small study might suggest that glyceryl trinitrate could be useful in the hands of less experienced colonoscopists or in difficult terminal ileal intubation cases.
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Case Reports
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome as a complication of Henoch-Schönlein purpura in a seven-year-old girl.
Introduction Henoch-Schönlein purpura is a multisystem small vessel vasculitis. Neurologic manifestations are uncommon. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare complication of Henoch-Schönlein purpura with typical clinical and neuroimaging findings that occurs most commonly in the setting of severe hypertension and renal injury. ⋯ Conclusion Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a severe complication of Henoch-Schönlein purpura. If promptly diagnosed and treated, children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura presenting with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome usually have a good prognosis. Clinicians should be familiar with the characteristic presentation of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and be aware that hypertension and renal injury may predispose Henoch-Schönlein purpura patients to developing this complication.