Scot Med J
-
The history of artificial ventilation and the development of the iron lung in the USA by Drinker and his colleagues is discussed. The building and use of an iron lung by Dr R G Henderson in Aberdeen in 1933 is described. The development of other types of ventilator in the UK is recorded and the circumstances whereby positive pressure ventilation was introduced in Denmark in 1952 is outlined.
-
This paper describes how medical cover was provided for a large music festival attended by 70,000 people. The organisational structure of the team and the workload encountered are related. As well as illustrating the value of on-site medical cover in minimising the workload for local health services, some specific hazards of such events are discussed.
-
To describe the relationship between risk factors, risk behaviours, symptoms and mortality from cardiorespiratory diseases in an urban area with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation. A cohort study of 15,411 men and women aged 45-64, comprising 80% of the general population of Paisley and Renfrew, Scotland. ⋯ A similar pattern of relationship between risk factor levels and mortality rates exists in men and women in Renfrew and Paisley. Respiratory impairment as measured by FEV1% predicted appears to be the most likely explanation of the observed high all cause mortality rates in this population.
-
A case is described of Tunga penetrans infection in the feet of a tourist returning from South America to Scotland. The condition had initially mimicked verrucae vulgaris, but microscopic examination of the lesions together with the travel history allowed the diagnosis of tungiasis to be made. This is the first case reported in Scotland.
-
In order to assess the availability of appropriate resources for a programme of in-theatre teaching of airway skills using anaesthetised patients, two surveys of airway management on anaesthetised patients with identification of those suitable for teaching airway care; and a questionnaire to senior anaesthetists assessing attitudes to such teaching were performed. The results demonstrated that, of all patients undergoing general anaesthesia 45% were intubated and of these 29% were regarded as suitable for teaching intubation. ⋯ In our survey 16% had a Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) placed for airway securement and of these 29% would have been intubated had the LMA not been available. Finally, amongst anaesthetists in our survey there is a wide variety of attitudes to teaching airway skills using anaesthetised patients.