The New Zealand medical journal
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
The effect of a preanaesthetic information booklet on patient understanding and satisfaction.
To determine if a brief user friendly anaesthetic booklet compliments the anaesthetic service currently provided, in terms of greater patient understanding and satisfaction. ⋯ The value of the anaesthetic booklet is in providing detailed anaesthetic information to the patient. This will aid the preanaesthetic consultation with the anaesthetist and provide a focus for further discussion about the intended anaesthetic. Patient satisfaction with the anaesthetic service was high in both groups pre- and postoperatively and was not altered by the anaesthetic booklet.
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Recognition of heart failure may be difficult in patients presenting with acute dyspnoea, particularly in the presence of chronic airways obstruction or obesity. In a previous study of patients with acute dyspnoea, we showed that the measurement of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)-a hormone secreted in increased amounts by the failing heart-accurately distinguishes heart failure from primary lung disorder. The aim of the present study was to develop a rapid assay for BNP and evaluate its diagnostic use in patients acutely hospitalised for increasing dyspnoea of any cause. ⋯ Rapid BNP assays are practicable and provide accurate information on cardiac status-superior to chest radiographs in many cases-early in the course of the patient's presentation with acute dyspnoea.
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To examine changes in the choice of gastrointestinal decontamination for deliberate self poisoning in Christchurch. ⋯ The trend towards the use of activated charcoal and away from gastric lavage is consistent with sentiments expressed in the literature.