Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Mar 1996
Case ReportsNear-fatal status asthmaticus induced by nasal insufflation of cocaine.
Asthma and cocaine abuse are both common. While cocaine has been associated with numerous pulmonary complications, only smoking cocaine has been clearly linked to the precipitation of life-threatening exacerbations of asthma. We report a case in which nasal insufflation of cocaine ("snorting") triggered a near-fatal asthmatic attack.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 1996
Intrathecal infusion systems for treatment of chronic low back and leg pain of noncancer origin.
In this study, 26 patients (average age, 44.3 years) with chronic noncancer pain averaging 115 months' duration had implantation of an infusion pump with intrathecal catheter placement. In general, preservative-free morphine sulfate was used. Average follow-up was 23 months. ⋯ Subjective pain levels decreased an average of 59%, and daily functioning increased 50%. No postoperative complications were noted, but 11 patients required additional surgery (9 for catheter complications). These data support chronic spinal opiate therapy as an option for safe and long-term management of noncancer pain.