Hospital medicine (London, England : 1998)
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Bony deficiency, particularly loss of bone stock associated with failed joint replacements or tumours, is a challenging problem in orthopaedic surgery. Bone transplantation techniques provide solutions that can be tailored to the clinical problem. However, the risks of bone transplantation are well documented and the biology of allograft incorporation remains unpredictable and poorly understood.
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Severe sepsis is a complex condition with mortality rates ranging from 30 to 50% in spite of advances in critical care. Xigris (drotrecogin alfa (activated)) is associated with an absolute reduction in the risk of death of 6.1% and was granted European Union marketing authorization in August 2002.
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Percutaneous techniques for elective tracheostomy have provided a quick and relatively simple method that can be performed in the intensive care unit. Evidence-based studies comparing surgical and percutaneous tracheostomies suggest similar complication rates in trained operators of both techniques.