Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine
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Acute pulmonary oedema (APO) is a frequent cause of respiratory failure and a common reason for presentation to emergency departments (EDs). To date, no paper has been published on the application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for a large broad-based patient group. ⋯ This series has demonstrated that CPAP therapy delivered via a face mask for the treatment of acute severe APO is safe and effective when applied to a broad range of patients. We recommend the use of CPAP therapy for all suitable patients presenting in severe APO irrespective of age or underlying pulmonary disease.
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Letter Case Reports
Marfan syndrome and dural ectasia: a common, yet little known association.
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To study the severity, treatment and outcome of patients with cellulitis and pyelonephritis treated with intravenous antibiotics in either a hospital in the home unit (HHU) or traditional inpatient beds. ⋯ These early results are encouraging for home intravenous therapy. Further studies, controlled trials if possible, are now required to establish these findings more definitively.
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Metastatic breast cancer is a major cause of cancer death in Australian women. Docetaxel is a new cytotoxic drug that has shown promise in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in patients who have previously received other chemotherapy, particularly an anthracycline, and has recently been approved for marketing in Australia. ⋯ The response rate observed with docetaxel is comparable to that seen in trials in the United States and Europe and confirms the high activity of this new cytotoxic agent. Neutropenia is the major toxicity, and consideration should be given to the use of prophylactic oral antibiotics or colony stimulating factors to try and prevent febrile episodes. Clinicians will need to balance the benefits, toxicities, and cost of docetaxel in determining the appropriateness of its use in their patients.