Hospital medicine (London, England : 1998)
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Clonidine is an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist which has been used for over 20 years to treat hypertension. It has recently, however, found a new and possibly significant role in anaesthesia and the treatment of pain. This article discusses the premedicant, perioperative and postoperative uses of clonidine.
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Acute liver failure often requires input from physicians, anaesthetists and surgeons. Use of artificial liver systems may change the management of this condition and improve the prognosis when there is no liver transplantation. This article looks at the diverse aetiology of acute liver failure, and outlines current management, work with artificial liver systems and new surgical approaches.