South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Ketamine hydrochloride 4 mg in 10 ml 5% dextrose water was administered epidurally to 7 patients suffering from intractable pain in the back, lower abdomen and legs. Pain relief was obtained in all cases. ⋯ No adverse side-effects were noted and no detectable neurological damage resulted. Intraspinal ketamine offers and advantage over the opiates, in that respiratory depression is unlikely to occur.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Laminaria tents or vaginal prostaglandins for cervical ripening. A comparative trial.
Laminaria tents and vaginal prostaglandin E2 were used to ripen the cervix in a randomly selected group of 20 patients in whom induction of labour was indicated and the Bishop score was less than 5. In the 14 patients who failed to go into labour both methods improved the Bishop score, but the laminaria tents were significantly (P less than 0,02) more effective cervical dilators. The use of laminaria tents in advocated in selected cases.
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Review Case Reports
High-voltage electrical injury. A case report and review of the literature.
A 25-year-old Black man was exposed to an 11 000 V electrical injury. The rapid development of neurogenic pulmonary oedema, haemolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulation is outlined. The importance of early prophylaxis and treatment in order to decrease the high morbidity associated with high-tension injury is stressed. A review of the literature follows.
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The prevalence of Huntington's chorea in the population of European descent on the island of Mauritius is 1 in 2 166. All affected persons on the island are related and probably descend from a common ancestor who emigrated from France around 1800. In view of the large number of persons at risk, Huntington's chorea has important medical and social implications for the inhabitants of Mauritius.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Evaluation of lorcainide, a new anti-arrhythmic agent.
A new anti-arrhythmic agent, lorcainide, has been compared with lignocaine in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Lorcainide has been shown to be as effective as lignocaine in suppressing ventricular ectopy. Lorcainide is unusually free of side-effects and has the great advantage over lignocaine of being effective when given orally.