The New Zealand medical journal
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This study examines clinical experience with methanol poisoning during a one-year period. ⋯ The overall mortality was high and ethanol was given to most of the patients for up to several days. Some patients did not show any toxicity and some of those were not given ethanol. It is recommended that chronic meths drinkers, who are not acidaemic and are generally well, do not require ethanol treatment. Only the complete removal of methanol from methylated spirits will reduce the morbidity of this condition.
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Comparative Study
Elderly trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit are different from the younger population.
This study was undertaken to investigate the demographic profile of elderly (65 years old and over) patients with severe trauma admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Auckland Hospital and to compare their characteristics with those of the younger (under 65 years) trauma patients. A further aim was to see if specific areas of potential injury prevention could be identified. ⋯ Elderly trauma patients in the Intensive Care Unit are a group with distinctive demographics, mechanisms of injury, injury types and outcomes. This information needs to be considered for the future planning of trauma and prevention services in New Zealand.