Articles: outcome.
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We analyzed the causes and results of utilization of critical care services in the special care unit in patients after surgical procedures performed by the hepatobiliary surgical service during a 23-month period. ⋯ Respiratory failure was the predominant component of all complications after hepatobiliary surgery. No clinically useful predictors of eventual outcome could be identified.
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Objectives. Prospective studies using specific outcome measures for the treatment of complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS) using spinal cord stimulation are lacking in the literature. The current prospective study followed 19 patients with the objective of analyzing such patients using specific outcome measures including the McGill Pain Rating Index, the Sickness Impact Profile, Oswestry Disability, Beck Depression Inventory, and Visual Analog Scale Scores. ⋯ The Beck Depression Inventory trended toward significant improvement. Conclusions. Patients with CRPS benefit significantly from the use of spinal cord stimulation, based on average follow-up of 7.9 months.
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Objective. For patients with refractory angina pectoris, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a beneficial and safe adjuvant therapy. However, it has not yet been established whether SCS alters the quality of life (QoL) in these patients. ⋯ QoL in patients with refractory angina pectoris is poor. Both pain and health aspects of QoL improved significantly after 3 months of SCS. Social, mental, and physical aspects of QoL were found improved after 1 year of SCS.
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Chin. J. Traumatol. · Nov 1998
The effects of mild hypothermia on patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
To investigate the protective effects of mild hypothermia (33-35 degrees C) on the outcome of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (GCS<8). ⋯ Our clinical data have demonstrated that mild hypothermia is a useful method for management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 1998
Operative obstetric mortality at Harare Central Hospital 1992-1994: an anaesthetic view.
A prospective review of anaesthetic-associated deaths (AAD) was undertaken at the maternity unit of Harare Central Hospital, Zimbabwe, for the triennium 1992-1994. AAD was defined as death within 24 h of anaesthesia or failure to regain consciousness. Three groups of avoidable factors (obstetric, anaesthetic and administrative) were considered, and a scoring system used to allocate one avoidability point for each death with avoidable factors. ⋯ The problems are discussed and also viewed in the context of overall maternal mortality (outcome period 42 days). The mortality data are compared with those from the UK and some hospitals in South Africa. It is concluded that improvements in resources, education, guidelines and monitoring are necessary if the mortality rate is to be reduced.