Swiss medical weekly
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Swiss medical weekly · Nov 1979
[Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure and new aspects of neurologic intensive care for children].
A new concept of neurointensive care is presented which is based on earily measured parameters such as intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) (CPP = MAP - ICP). ICP should preferably be measured by a subarachnoid hollow screw (Richmond screw). Of chief importance in neurointensive care (after adequate neurodiagnosis) is the avoidance or treatment of cerebral edema and maintenance of sufficient CPP, which should be above 50 mm Hg in older children. ⋯ To obtain the indication for ICP monitoring, the depth of the disturbance of consciousness is measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale. Children with the aforementioned affections and a Glasgow Coma Scale below 6 to 8 should be treated as outlined above. The data published in the literature and our own experience point very much in this direction, especially for severe head injury, Reye's syndrome and near drowning.
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Swiss medical weekly · Nov 1979
[Animal protection and animal experiment from the viewpoint of biomedical research].
Animal protection societies have recently launched strong attacks on the nature and extent of animal experiments in medical research and proposed measures in national parliaments to prohibit all experiments with animals. Scientists engaged in research with animals should examine their own research in the light of these criticisms, and give detailed reasons for the necessity of their investigations. In addition, they should be more concerned with the rectification of false conceptions and statements about the execution and objectives of animal experimentation. ⋯ Improvements in the conditions for research and the upkeep of laboratory animals at the universities during this decade have reached a high level. With the introduction of animal protection laws, uniform regulations have already been achieved in various countries and such regulations will soon be operative in Switzerland. Nevertheless, an open and objective dialogue between animal protectionists and scientists is desirable at this stage of the confrontation, with a view to clarifying their different viewpoints and objectives and searching for solutions.