Nursing times
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Pneumothorax is the presence of air within the pleural space. The objective of any treatment of pneumothorax, if required, is to remove the air, allowing re-expansion of the lung, to facilitate pleural healing and prevent recurrence. Two clinical trials conducted in the 1960s led to opposing recommendations for the initial management of spontaneous pneumothorax, and a debate has continued since. This literature review examines the evidence for which treatment is more successful at reinflating the lung, reducing hospital stay, and preventing recurrence.
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Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is one of the most common medical emergencies and most cases require urgent medical assessment. Half of all cases are due to peptic ulcer and this article focuses on non-variceal bleeding. ⋯ After resuscitation the patient can have an endoscopy procedure. It is important that all nurses are fully aware of the signs, symptoms, and management of acute upper GI bleeding, issues that are all addressed in this article.