Scot Med J
-
The number of patients and procedures considered suitable for day-case anaesthesia and surgery continues to grow and it is hoped that 50-60% of all operations in the UK will eventually be performed on a day-patient basis. However, minor but troublesome post-operative side effects remain common. We have examined the incidence of the most common causes of minor morbidity, namely headache, nausea/vomiting and pain occurring after a wide variety of day-case surgical and diagnostic procedures. ⋯ A total of 92 patients (17%) would have preferred treatment as an in-patient. Analysis of the anaesthetic drugs and techniques suggested that the commonly used anti-emetics droperidol and metoclopramide had little effect on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Intubation was associated with a significantly higher incidence of minor morbidity although this may be related to surgical factors.
-
An outline is given of the discovery of chloroform in 1847 by Professor James Young Simpson. Simpson's career and his wide range of interests and achievements are described.
-
Measurement of outcome and quality of health care is currently a subject of great interest, as clinicians aim to improve the service they provide to patients, and purchasers try to allocate resources wisely. Measurement of outcome and quality of health care is currently a subject of great interest, as clinicians aim to improve the service they provide to patients and purchasers try to allocate resources wisely. Details of outcomes from a Medicine for the Elderly service are presented and their relevance discussed.
-
This retrospective observational study aimed to assess factors affecting acute referral and subsequent admission to hospital by general practitioners. Data concerning 2,303 consecutive acute referrals to hospital from all GPs in a defined study area were collected over one month. ⋯ A telephone call accompanying referral dramatically increased the chance of hospital admission (p < 0.001). Referral to hospital was more likely the more socially deprived the patient (p < 0.001) but had no subsequent bearing on admission.