Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2000
Comparative StudyCaffeine in the treatment of apnea associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection in neonates and infants.
The xanthines have been shown to be effective in the treatment of apnea of prematurity. Limited reports are available in the literature concerning the use of these agents with apnea related to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. ⋯ Caffeine should be considered in the treatment of apnea related to RSV infections in neonates and infants.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2000
Case ReportsScalp laceration: an obvious 'occult' cause of shock.
Scalp lacerations are often present in patients requiring emergency care for blunt trauma. These injuries are most commonly seen in unrestrained drivers or occupants involved in motor vehicle crashes in which the victim is partially or totally ejected. Patients with scalp lacerations often have associated injuries that redirect the clinician's attention to other injury sites. ⋯ Under such circumstances, the scalp wound may be initially dismissed as trivial and attention appropriately turned to assuring an adequate airway, establishing intravenous lines, initiating volume resuscitation, and searching for more "occult" sources of blood loss. However, as the blood pressure returns toward normal, bleeding from the scalp wound becomes more profuse and presents a hemostatic challenge to the clinician. A case presentation illustrates some of these issues and confirms the effectiveness of an often overlooked but simple technique to control scalp hemorrhage--Raney clip application.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2000
Review Case ReportsInterstitial cystitis and the potential role of gabapentin.
Gabapentin, an antiepileptic agent, is a safe and versatile medication also used in the adjunctive treatment of painful disorders. These include neuropathic pain, such as postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, and the pain of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. ⋯ Gabapentin, as an adjunctive agent, may reduce use of cotherapeutics such as narcotics. Two patients with interstitial cystitis improved functional capacity within their activities of daily living and received adequate pain control with the addition of gabapentin to their medication regimen.
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Aortopulmonary fistula is an uncommon but usually fatal condition if not treated surgically. The most frequent cause is erosion of a false aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta into the left lung. ⋯ Any patient who has an otherwise unexplained hemoptysis and a history of a previous thoracic aortic surgical procedure or is known to have a thoracic aortic aneurysm should have appropriate clinical evaluation to exclude the presence of an aortopulmonary fistula. If an aortopulmonary fistula cannot be excluded, emergency operation should be done.
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Southern medical journal · Jan 2000
Folate and vitamin B12-deficiency anemias in Vietnamese immigrants living in Southern California.
Although the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia and hemoglobinopathies in Vietnamese immigrants has been reported, folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies have not. Proper diagnosis and effective treatment is necessary to achieve a complete correction of anemia. ⋯ Concomitant folate, vitamin B12, and iron deficiencies or hemoglobinopathies might have been responsible for either normal or low MCV in some of our anemic patients. In this ethnic group, RBC folate and serum vitamin B12 levels should be determined in all anemic patients.