Harefuah
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The management of cranio-maxillofacial trauma includes treatment of facial bone fractures, dentoalveolar trauma, and soft tissue injuries. Integration of several specialties is often needed due to the proximity of the cranial bones to important organs such as the eyeballs, the nose, the ears, and the brain. The epidemiology of facial fractures varies in type, severity, and cause depending on the population studied. The differences between populations in the causes of maxillofacial fractures may be the result of risk factors and cultural differences between countries but are more likely to be influenced by the injury severity. Many epidemiologic investigations of maxillofacial fractures have appeared in the scientific literature over the years. Six main causes of injury were identified: motor vehicle accidents, occupational accidents, sport accidents, falls, assaults, and gun shot wounds. However, few reports, representing continuous long-term data on maxillofacial fractures in the state of Israel, are to be found. ⋯ Data from the world literature is similar to our findings, as regard to gender and age. Major differences between males and females regarding age, etiology, and diagnosis were found in our study. Nevertheless, the two most common fracture sites among males and females are the Zygomatic complex and the subcondylar area. Apparently, the Israeli society is becoming more violent, whereas the technological improvements, especially in the field of motor vehicle passenger safety, may play an important role in the decrease of upper body injuries.
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The phenomenon of "ischemic preconditioning" has been well known for nearly two decades. In this phenomenon, a brief period of ischemia prior to a more prolonged one improves myocardial function and reduces infarction. ⋯ The mechanism of late preconditioning is well described and is different from its early phase. Fully understanding the mechanism of this amazing phenomenon promises to be a novel discovery as for developing preconditioning mimetic agents and, thereby, using preconditioning as a therapeutic tool or as a preventive factor in cardiovascular diseases.
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In a patient, admitted for cerebral stroke with right side hemiparesis, an acute episode of dyspnea has developed 6 hours after admission. Based on a finding of fine rales on auscultation and a chest radiogram showing congestion, a diagnosis of pulmonary edema was made. The electrocardiogram and cardiac enzymes were normal. ⋯ Neurogenic pulmonary edema may be a result of a vast range of neurological lesions or conditions, including status epilepticus, head trauma, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, brain tumors, meningitis, multiple sclerosis and ischemic stroke. This condition is probably mediated by the sympathetic system outflow, leading eventually to an increase of left atrial pressure, or to an increase in pulmonary vessel permeability. It is treated conventionally, with diuretics and after-load reduction.
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Paramedics are a critical national resource. The paramedic workforce is dynamic and has never been studied, thereby limiting the possibility of appropriate planning. ⋯ These findings may provide a better basis for long-term planning for training, recruitment, and employment of paramedics and may serve as an example for workforce planning for other health professions.
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Secured airway is a must in spontaneous or assisted ventilation. A variety of methods are in clinical use for establishing an airway, of which endotracheal intubation is the most common. Difficulties in establishing a secured airway may deteriorate to a serious, and even a life-threatening situation. ⋯ This article describes an alternative technique for tracheal intubation, useful in such cases. Retrograde tracheal intubation is carried out by percutaneous insertion of a needle into the trachea in the subglotic region, passing a guidewire through the needle cephaled until it exits the mouth or nose and threading an endotracheal tube over the guidewire into the trachea. This technique is relatively easy and safe, and should be considered in difficult airway management.