Irish medical journal
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Irish medical journal · May 2000
Meta AnalysisAn acute stroke service: potential to improve patient outcome without increasing length of stay.
Acute stroke is associated with a high morbidity and mortality: up to 24% of patients may not survive their hospital admission. Stroke unit care has been shown in a meta-analysis to reduce this morbidity and mortality. We present a three-year audit of the first acute stroke service in an Irish teaching hospital. ⋯ A trend towards a greater number of patients, younger age and improved outcome with lower mortality was observed from year to year, without significant change in length of stay. This study confirms the value to patients of organised stroke care in terms of reduction in mortality and morbidity without increasing length of stay or disability. We suggest that every acute hospital should have organised stroke care.
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Rectus sheath haematoma is a very rare occurrence. There were four cases in this hospital within a three month period. In this article, these cases, their investigation and management arc reported. A review of the literature was undertaken to ascertain how best to diagnose and treat this condition.
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Irish medical journal · Mar 2000
Effectiveness of mask ventilation performed by hospital doctors in an Irish tertiary referral teaching hospital.
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of mask ventilation performed by 112 doctors with clinical responsibilities at a tertiary referral teaching hospital. Participant doctors were asked to perform mask ventilation for three minutes on a Resusci Anne mannequin using a facemask and a two litre self inflating bag. ⋯ Doctors who had attended one or more resuscitation courses where no more effective at mask ventilation than their colleagues who had not undertaken such courses. It is likely that first responders to in-hospital cardiac arrests are commonly unable to perform adequate mask ventilation.