Läkartidningen
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There is an increasing awareness of the risk of haematoma in patients anticoagulated with low molecular weight heparins and scheduled to undergo epidural or spinal anaesthesia. The mechanisms causing this are not always clear, the incidence is very low. Risk factors are discussed as well as possible precautions to avoid this iatrogenic complication.
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The Patient Injury Claims Department in Sweden grants compensation to patients who have incurred injury in the national health service system. All claims involving spinal and epidural anaesthesia were studied during the period 1997-1999. ⋯ Epidural haematoma occurred in 1:30,000 after epidural anaesthesia, in 1:200,000 after spinal anaesthesia. One epidural abscess occurred in 60,000 epidural anaesthesias, while five cases of meningitis occurred after spinal anaesthesia (1:40,000).
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New knowledge about accidental hypothermia acquired in recent years may simplify treatment and aid the evaluation of prognosis. Evidence of death or severe collapse due to the feared afterdrop has not been published. Afterdrop is a phenomenon of conductive heat loss. ⋯ In hypothermia the most important differential diagnosis is death. Patients who are cold and could be resuscitated must be differentiated from patients, who are cold because they are dead. Experience from abroad has shown that extreme hyperkalaemia may be a useful diagnostic tool.