Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
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In May 2000, the Norwegian Medical Association appointed a working group to propose guidelines for the practice of palliative sedation to dying patients (terminal sedation). The present study is part of this work. The aim of the study was to register to what extent this form of palliation is used in Norwegian hospitals, on what indications, how decisions are reached, and whether the treatment is considered necessary. The definition of palliative sedation given was: induction and maintenance of sleep for the relief of pain or other types of suffering in a patient close to death. The intention is exclusively to relieve intractable pain, not to shorten the patient's life. ⋯ Though it has some methodological weaknesses, this study confirms the need for national guidelines.
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Mar 2001
[Rescue operations with helicopter ambulances in the Barents sea].
Search and rescue helicopters from the Royal Norwegian Air Force conduct ambulance and search and rescue missions in the Barents Sea. The team on board includes an anaesthesiologist and a paramedic. Operations in this area are challenging due to long distances, severe weather conditions and winter darkness. ⋯ 35% of the missions were carried out in darkness. Median time from alarm to first patient contact was 3.3 hours and median duration of the missions was 7.3 hours. 48% of the missions involved ships of foreign nationality. About half of the patients had acute illness, dominated by gastrointestinal and heart diseases. Most of the injuries resulted from on-board accidents; open or closed fractures, amputations, and soft tissue damage. 90% of the patients were hospitalised; 7.5% would probably not have survived without early medical treatment and rapid transportation to hospital.
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Mar 2001
Biography Historical Article[Charcoal burners and carbon monoxide poisoning--help came from a scientific journal].
The breakthrough for professional journals came in the 18th century. In 1972, Hans (Johannes) Möller (1736-96), a district physician in Bratsberg County, published an article in Topographisk Journal for Norge on carbon monoxide poisoning among charcoal burners, advising on the prevention of injuries and giving guidelines for treatment. This was in the heyday of Norwegian iron mills powered by charcoal, with charcoal burners paying a heavy price in the form of numerous fatal accidents. ⋯ Rationalist clergymen spread his advice among the general public for whom it was intended. Möller's scientific work also found an audience abroad. In 1801, five years after his death, the article was translated into German and published in a recognised German journal.
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Mar 2001
Review[Abbreviated surgical stay programs--a professional and administrative challenge].
Accelerated surgical stay programs represent a multi-modal, multi-disciplinary concept to reduce postoperative morbidity, hospitalisation and convalescence based upon recent advantages in surgical pathophysiology and pain treatment. Preliminary data from a variety of surgical procedures suggest major improvements in quality of surgical care and cost reduction and call for further controlled or large-size multicenter studies.