Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi / Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
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To audit the use of intrauterine balloon tamponade for the management of massive postpartum haemorrhage and compare outcomes with those documented in the literature. ⋯ Bakri balloon tamponade is an effective means of managing massive postpartum haemorrhage, and should be adopted in protocols to manage such patients.
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Comparative Study
Hong Kong domestic health spending: financial years 1989/90 to 2010/11.
This report presents the latest estimates of Hong Kong domestic health spending for financial years 1989/90 to 2010/11, cross-stratified and categorised by financing source, provider, and function. Total expenditure on health (TEH) was HK$93 433 million in financial year 2010/11, which represents an increase of HK$5364 million or 6.1% over the preceding year. As a result of a gradual recovery from the financial tsunami in 2008, gross domestic product (GDP) grew faster relative to TEH leading to a drop in TEH as a percentage of GDP from 5.2% in 2009/10 to 5.1% in 2010/11. ⋯ In comparison, private spending was mostly concentrated on out-patient care (43.2%),whereas in-patient care (24.5%) and medical goods outside the patient care setting (19.9%) accounted for most of the remaining share. Compared to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, Hong Kong has devoted a relatively low percentage of GDP to healthcare in the last decade. As a share of TEH, public funding(either general government revenue or social security funds) was also lower than in most economies with comparable economic development and public revenue collection base.
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Endotoxins and cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of multi-organ failure and mortality in patients suffering from severe Gram-negative bacterial infection. The aim of this study was to determine whether in patients with such infections, use of a haemofilter with enhanced endotoxin haemoadsorption and cytokine removal properties helps to overcome organ dysfunction. ⋯ The haemofilter membrane with enhanced endotoxin adsorption and cytokine removal capacity was a safe alternative to traditional polysulfone-based continuous venovenous haemofiltration and expedited improvement in organ dysfunction.
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To determine optimal perioperative antithrombotic management for patients with cardiac diseases undergoing joint replacement surgeries. ⋯ The perioperative management of patients with cardiac diseases in receipt of antithrombotic agents is based upon a delicate balance between the perceived risk of arterial thromboembolism and the perceived risk of perioperative bleeding. One must exercise good judgement in deciding the most appropriate perioperative antithrombotic regimen. Venous thromboembolism is also a common problem after joint replacement surgeries. For patients already on aspirin, optimal venous thromboembolism prophylaxis is still being debated.
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Multicenter Study
Reliability and validity of the overactive bladder symptom score in Hong Kong Chinese.
To validate the Hong Kong Chinese translation of the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score questionnaire (OABSS-HKC). ⋯ The OABSS-HKC total scores are reliable and moderately valid for the quantitative evaluation of overactive bladder symptoms in Hong Kong Chinese-speaking adults.