Swiss medical weekly
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Swiss medical weekly · Apr 2004
Clinical TrialA complementary combination of delivery device and drug formulation for inhalation therapy in preschool children.
The amount of drug delivered from commercially available inhalation devices which reaches the lungs of preschool children is generally low. We therefore studied the efficiency of lung delivery from an optimised combination of delivery device and drug formulation based on individual patient-related factors. ⋯ Lung deposition of budesonide delivered from the perforated vibrating membrane nebuliser was 36% and 38% and notably higher than from a conventional nebuliser (maximum 8%). The development of complementary combinations of delivery devices and drug formulations to meet the needs of efficient inhalation therapy in preschool children seems to be a good way of improving the efficacy of inhaled therapy in this age group.
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Swiss medical weekly · Mar 2004
Case ReportsInhaled nitric oxide for ARDS due to sickle cell disease.
A 36-year-old male with a known history of sickle cell disease (SCD) and acute chest syndrome (ACS) was treated in our hospital. Gas exchange deteriorated and the patient was transferred to our intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ ACS evolving to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a rare but severe complication. In ACS iNO should be considered a beneficial therapeutic option.
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Swiss medical weekly · Mar 2004
ReviewManagement of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: from diagnosis to treatment.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the digestive tract. Most gastrointestinal soft tissue neoplasms, previously classified as leiomyomas, schwannomas, leiomyoblastomas or leiomyosarcomas, are today classified as GIST on the basis of molecular and immunohistological features. They originate from gastrointestinal pacemaker cells and are characterised by over-expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor KIT. ⋯ The development of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor has changed the management of unresectable malignant cases. This new tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, which inhibits the c-kit receptor, has proved highly effective against GIST and has improved survival in metastatic GIST. This paper reviews the literature and our experience of GIST, including: diagnosis, pathology, treatment and prognosis.
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This study aims to determine the burden of illness imposed by severe sepsis in Switzerland by evaluating the direct and indirect patient-related costs for critically ill patients with severe sepsis. ⋯ Patients suffering from severe sepsis in Switzerland have a high mortality rate and spend a prolonged time in the ICU, leading to high direct and indirect costs. Particularly productivity losses due to premature death represent a considerable burden to the Swiss society.