British journal of hospital medicine
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Severe pain after thoracotomy is the most important factor responsible for ineffective ventilation, ineffective cough, and impaired ability to sigh and to breathe deeply. Effective analgesia minimizes and may even reverse the expected decline in pulmonary function and also prevents postoperative pulmonary complications.
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Until recently the management of uterine fibroids has been exclusively surgical in the form of either hysterectomy or myomectomy. The development of minimally invasive techniques and the introduction of LHRH agonists has allowed more conservative management to maintain or restore fertility.
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Growing waiting lists and pressure on inpatient resources promote the need for cataract surgery to be undertaken on a day surgery basis. Retrobulbar and peribulbar anaesthesia are well suited for cataract surgery and are easily performed by both anaesthesists and ophthalmologists. This article reviews the methods, efficacy and safety of these techniques.
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Hypoxaemia and hypercapnia are common clinical problems. A clear understanding of the diseases and pathophysiological processes that cause respiratory failure is important in making decisions about the concentration of oxygen to give, the type of face-mask to use, and the place of artificial ventilation.