Polski merkuriusz lekarski : organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Jan 2004
[Thoracic sympathectomy performed by videothoracoscopic technique].
Thoracic sympathectomy is a method for a segmental elimination of functions of the sympathetic system by the excision of its Th2-Th3 ganglia. The procedure can be performed both using open and videoscopic technique. ⋯ In all patients that underwent thoracic sympathectomy we obtained a positive reaction to a segmental excision of the sympathetic trunk. Patients with Raynaud's showed a significant improvement in symptoms in 76% of cases after a 4-year observation while patients with hyperhidrosis in 100%. The time of hospitalisation was 3.5 days in average. Postoperative complications were observed in two patients (3.7%). Videoscopic thoracic sympathectomy provides good therapeutic and cosmetic results and deserves more common use compared with open technique.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Jan 2004
[The epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of patients in hospice care].
The Good Samaritan Hospice in Lublin was created in 1989. At the beginning only home care was available but since 1997 stationary care is. The aim of the article was to present the clinical-population characteristics of patients treated terminally in the hospice in the year 2000. ⋯ The majority (65.6%) was treated either palliative or symptomatically. The average duration of the in-ward treatment was 22.1 days and was considerably shorter in comparison to the duration of the treatment provided at home. Concluding, the in-ward terminal care is a short term care.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Jan 2004
Review[Fibromyalgia syndrome--pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment problems].
Fibromyalgia is a fairly common syndrome characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain, multiple "tender points", fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness and other symptoms such as headache, dizziness, trouble with concentration, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary urgency, depression. Fibromyalgia may occur at any age, even in childhood, is much more common in women than in men. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. ⋯ There are no laboratory tests that can confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Average time from onset to diagnosis is 5-8 years. Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a comprehensive approach.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Jan 2004
[Cancer antigen 125 as a marker of ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis].
Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is usually used to monitor the course of epithelial ovarian cancer. It has recently been reported that liver cirrhosis is associated with elevated serum CA-125, especially in the presence of ascites. The aim of the study was to evaluate CA-125 as a marker of ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis. ⋯ CA-125 concentrations were normal in cases of liver cirrhosis without ascites. Elevated cancer antigen 125 is a sensitive marker of cirrhotic ascites. An inappropriate use of this test in cases of liver cirrhosis in females may suggest the ovarian cancer incident and lead to unnecessary surgical intervention.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Jan 2004
[The assessment of hepatic portal flow using Doppler's technique in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy].
A decrease in hepatic portal flow was observed within two days after open cholecystectomy but such an analysis was not done for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. ⋯ No statistically significant difference was found between hepatic portal flow volume in patients with and without cholecystolithiasis. Hepatic portal flow does not change significantly within 2 days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.