Articles: patients.
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Comparative Study
Patients' experiences of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia.
The purpose of the study was to investigate retrospectively whether patients (n = 73) who had suffered another disease and/or experienced psychosocial stress at the time of the onset of herpes zoster had experienced a more severe clinical course of herpes zoster, and were more subject to the development of postherpetic neuralgia than other patients (n = 45) with herpes zoster. The interview questionnaire included questions about changes in the patients' daily lives due to neuralgia, and their current living circumstances. ⋯ More of these patients reported that their habits and activities had been negatively affected and they also experienced their current situation as unsatisfactory. These results must, however, be interpreted with caution as the patients' recollection of other diseases and/or psychosocial stress and the patients' current mood due to postherpetic neuralgia at the time of the interview may have influenced the memory and the answers.
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 1995
Ultrasonography detection of radiolucent foreign bodies in soft tissue compared to computed tomography scan.
Thirty-one patients with suspected radiolucent foreign bodies (wooden splinters) in soft tissues of extremities were investigated by plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography to the area suspected clinically. Ultrasonography detected and localized radiolucent foreign bodies in 18 of the 31 patients, while only 14 were seen on CT scan. ⋯ The size of foreign body, the presence of infection or the delay in diagnosis had no effect on results. Ultrasonography is clearly a reliable method of detecting radiolucent foreign bodies in soft tissues of extremities.
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patient-controlled analgesia PCA is a rapidly spreading approach to the management of post-operative pain. The suitability of this method for the morbidly obese patient undergoing bariatric surgery has not yet been determined. ⋯ use of PCA in patients undergoing bariatric surgery has obvious advantages and appears to be a safe procedure.