Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Jan 2004
Changes in transcutaneous carbon dioxide, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate after interscalene block.
We used transcutaneous (TC) carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring to prospectively evaluate changes in respiratory status after interscalene anesthesia in 45 adults (40 successful and 5 unsuccessful blocks). ⋯ After interscalene blockade, we found an increase in respiratory rate and hypercarbia that resulted in no clinically significant effect.
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Southern medical journal · Jan 2004
Case ReportsEsophageal foreign body aspiration presenting as asthma in the pediatric patient.
This report describes three cases of foreign body ingestion incorrectly diagnosed as asthma and/or upper respiratory tract infection. These cases demonstrate the need for further clinical investigations in any child who does not improve with adequate therapy. Many of our patients had symptoms of asthma and/or respiratory tract infection for at least 1 month before correct diagnosis.
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The purpose of the study was to develop and test a short gun questionnaire and compare its reliability to a long gun questionnaire to identify youths who may have access to or ownership of a gun. ⋯ The developed short questionnaire provides results similar to the long questionnaire: a low number of gun owners but a high level of gun accessibility and availability.
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Southern medical journal · Dec 2003
Use of birth certificates and surveillance data to characterize reported pertussis among Texas infants and young children, 1995 to 2000.
Pertussis morbidity is increasing, especially among young infants and children, who are more likely to be hospitalized and have more severe complications. Maternal and pediatric factors associated with underimmunization and hospitalization for pertussis are poorly understood, but young maternal age and low birth weight have been associated with pertussis among young infants. ⋯ More than two-thirds of the children reported as pertussis cases were old enough to have at least one dose of a pertussis-containing vaccine but were not immunized. Maternal and pediatric characteristics on birth certificates were not useful in predicting either underimmunization or hospitalization for pertussis complications. More current assessments of maternal and pediatric characteristics should be part of pertussis contact investigations.
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Southern medical journal · Dec 2003
The impact of resident physician coverage on emergency department visits in South Carolina.
This study examines emergency department (ED) visits to assess the potential impact on rural and minority patients if the practice of resident moonlighting was limited. ⋯ Patients from vulnerable populations have greater odds of being seen by a resident physician for an ED visit. These populations may be placed at risk for reduced access to health care services if limitations on resident physician moonlighting impair the ability of rural hospitals to staff EDs.