Swiss medical weekly
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59 (82%) of 72 patients with multiple injuries but excluding severe brain trauma or paraplegia, studied 5 or 6 years after intensive care, were fully reintegrated, working normally, and not in receipt of insurance compensation. In patients with severe head injury studied 8 years after intensive care, 38 (55%) of 66 patients had the same final outcome. ⋯ Treatment during intensive care was found to be the most costly part of therapy. Considerations on costs and benefits demonstrate that the treatment of severely injured patients, who otherwise would die, results in a considerable social and economic saving (approximately 90 million Swiss francs for the 316 trauma patients analyzed).
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Swiss medical weekly · Apr 1988
[2-year anti-HIV donor screening in the Central Laboratory of the Swiss Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service].
612526 blood donations collected by the Central Laboratory of the Swiss Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service between July 1985 and June 1987 were routinely tested for antibodies to HIV.96 donations (82 men, 14 women were anti-HIV positive (0.157%, 1 of 6369 donations). The prevalence of anti-HIV positive donations was higher in men (0.172%, 1/5814) than in women (0.104%, 1/9615). Donations collected in military units were markedly more frequently seropositive (0.570%, 1/1754 in refresher courses, 0.261%, 1/3831 in recruit training). ⋯ It was lowest at the end of the observation period (0.098% or 1/10200 between January and June 1987). Doubtful positive results were recorded chiefly among women, at a rate increasing with age. The majority of such results are presumably due to antibodies with other specificities and must therefore be considered false positive.
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Swiss medical weekly · Jan 1988
Case Reports[Reactivation of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis after 49 years].
The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis is laborious and ill defined. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman admitted to hospital with Staphylococcus aureus septicemia due to relapse of osteomyelitis after an interval of 49 years. By surgical debridement, suction drainage and 8 months of high-dose antibiotic treatment we were able to control the infection in terms of clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters.
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Swiss medical weekly · Dec 1987
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Increased risk of bacterial colonization of intravenous catheters covered with transparent adhesive polyurethane bandages, compared to classical gauze bandages].
While transparent polyurethane dressings are increasingly used for the care of intravenous catheters, concern has recently been expressed regarding their microbiological safety. We have therefore compared the rate of intravenous catheter bacterial colonization after randomly assigning intensive care patients to transparent polyurethane (n = 21) or dry gauze (n = 20) dressings. Polyvinyl chloride catheters were inserted and maintained by the nurses. ⋯ Colonizing bacterial species were Staphylococcus epidermidis (11 strains) and S. aureus (1 strain). No catheter-related bacteremia was observed. These data suggest that the colonization rate of intravenous catheters is increased by the use of polyurethane dressings, possibly increasing the risk of septic phlebitis and bacteremia.
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Swiss medical weekly · Nov 1987
[Use of high performance nuclear magnetic resonance tomography in neuroradiology. Experience with 2,000 studies].
Experience with 2000 MRI's in the field of neuroradiology is summarized. The advantages and limits of this new modality are discussed in diseases of the brain and the spinal cord. ⋯ CT is complementary to MRI in differentiating the nature of lesions. Emergency cases should be investigated with CT.