Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
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Treatment of major trauma is a demanding challenge for most hospitals. The potential benefits of improvement are substantial: it has been calculated that approx. 6,000 person-years are lost each year because of suboptimal treatment of trauma in Norway. Trauma teams, paging criteria, and manuals for appropriate resuscitative and diagnostic interventions are needed for improving the structure and quality of this service. ⋯ The results show that structural issues in relation to optimal trauma treatment still need more attention in Norwegian hospitals. Collaborative programmes for training and exchange of experience and procedures seem to be one way to go.
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Aug 2001
Case Reports[Skin biopsy for quantification of intraepidermal nerve fibers].
Skin biopsy for quantification of intraepidermal nerve fibre density has recently been introduced as a method for diagnosis of peripheral neuropathies. Immunostaining by antibody to protein gene product 9.5 has proved particularly useful because it selectively visualizes the epidermal nerve fibres. ⋯ Skin biopsy for determination of intraepidermal nerve fibre density is a simple and non-painful procedure. Skin biopsies can be done repeatedly and may be used for the purpose of monitoring potential therapeutic agents.
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Aug 2001
Case Reports[Acute dystonia caused by metoclopramide (Afipran) therapy].
Metoclopramide is an antiemetic drug used frequently both in general practice and hospitals. The drug has few side effects, mainly drowsiness, and can be used both in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Acute dystonia is a rare side effect mostly affecting children and young adults within 1-3 days after start of the medication. Women are more frequently affected than men. ⋯ Metoclopramide-induced dystonia is frightening both for the patient and the family. Because of concomitant anxiety and psychiatric symptoms, individuals are often regarded as hysterical. The attack can be abbreviated by parenteral administration of anticholinergic drugs. It is important that all doctors prescribing metoclopramide know of this side effect, especially when their patients are young females.