Articles: adult.
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First introduced in 1922, the intraosseous access technique was extensively used in the 1940's and revised in the 1980's. Since this technique is recommended in actual cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines, the authors present an historical and clinical review of intraosseous access to the venous system. ⋯ The intraosseous access is used mainly to gain rapid access to the intravenous system when there is delay in obtaining the latter one. The technique is simple to learn. The complications rate is less than 1%. Most emergency drugs can be administered in the same doses used by intravenous routes. Bone access can be used in children and adults of any age in several sites. This access can be used satisfactorily to draw blood for cross-matching, blood gases and blood chemistries and emergency infusion of blood and its derivatives, saline solutions for volume replacement in shock, cardiac arrest and emergencies when an intravenous access cannot be made readily available.
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To gauge use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in Australian and New Zealand intensive care units, to investigate attitudes to and experience with ECMO, and to assess interest in contributing to a national database of ECMO use. ⋯ ECMO use in Australian and New Zealand ICUs is limited, but there is support for its use among survey respondents. Lack of training and experience with ECMO may be restricting its use.
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In some randomized trials successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis is associated with an earlier recovery and shorter hospital stay when compared with open cholecystectomy. Other studies did not confirm these results and showed that the potential advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis can be offset by a high conversion rate to open surgery. Moreover in these studies a similar postoperative programme to optimize recovery comparing laparoscopic and open approaches was not standardized. These studies also do not report all eligible patients and are not double blinded. ⋯ The present study project is a prospective, randomized investigation. The study will be performed in the Department of General, Emergency and Transplant Surgery St Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital (Bologna, Italy), a large teaching institutions, with the participation of all surgeons who accept to be involved in (and together with other selected centers). The patients will be divided in two groups: in the first group the patient will be submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours after the diagnosis while in the second group will be submitted to laparotomic cholecystectomy within 72 hours after the diagnosis.
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Int J Equity Health · Jan 2008
Development and preliminary validation of the 'Caring for Country' questionnaire: measurement of an Indigenous Australian health determinant.
'Caring for Country' is defined as Indigenous participation in interrelated activities with the objective of promoting ecological and human health. Ecological services on Indigenous-owned lands are belatedly attracting some institutional investment. However, the health outcomes associated with Indigenous participation in 'caring for country' activities have never been investigated. The aims of this study were to pilot and validate a questionnaire measuring caring for country as an Indigenous health determinant and to relate it to an external reference, obesity. ⋯ This study indicates preliminary support for the validity of the caring for country concept and a questionnaire designed to measure it. This study also highlights the importance of investigating Indigenous-asserted health promotion activities. Further studies in similar populations are merited to test the generalisability of this questionnaire and to explore associations with other important Indigenous health outcomes.
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Following a stroke, 55-75% of patients experience upper limb problems in the longer term. Upper limb spasticity may cause pain, deformity and reduced function, affecting mood and independence. Botulinum toxin is used increasingly to treat focal spasticity, but its impact on upper limb function after stroke is unclear.The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A plus an upper limb therapy programme in the treatment of post stroke upper limb spasticity.