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Patients with chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) or asthma who have a tracheostomy tube or tracheal stoma have difficulty using metered dose inhalers (MDIs) because of a failure to achieve a good seal between the tracheostomy tube or stoma and the MDI or spacer device mouthpiece. Many such patients therefore utilize nebulizers. MDIs in comparison to nebulizers have the advantages of being more compact, portable, easy to use, less time-consuming, and cheaper. ⋯ He was subsequently, with the help of a number of attached devices, able to use his MDIs to good effect. We describe a number of devices and adaptors to enable patients with laryngectomy stomas or tracheostomy tubes to utilize MDIs and undergo respiratory function tests. We recommend that all such patients should have the benefit of a consultation with a dedicated respiratory nurse who can provide the appropriate MDIs, devices and adaptors to optimize the treatment of their lower respiratory tract condition.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison of 0.1% and 0.2% ropivacaine and bupivacaine combined with morphine for postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia after major abdominal surgery.
Ropivacaine (ROPI), which is less toxic and produces less motor block than bupivacaine (BUPI), seems attractive for epidural analgesia. Few data are available concerning dose requirements of epidural ROPI when combined with morphine. In this study, we compared the dose requirements and side effects of ROPI and BUPI combined with small-dose morphine after major abdominal surgery. Postoperatively, 60 patients were randomly allocated (double-blinded manner) to four groups: patient-controlled epidural analgesia with the same settings using 0.1% or 0.2% solution of ROPI or BUPI combined with an epidural infusion of 0.1 mg/h of morphine. Pain scores, side effects, motor block, and local anesthetic consumption were measured for 60 h. Pain scores and the incidence of side effects did not differ among the groups. Consumption of ROPI and BUPI were similar in both 0.1% groups. Doubling the concentration significantly reduced the consumption (milliliters) of BUPI (P < 0.05) but not of ROPI. Consequently, using ROPI 0.2% significantly increased the dose administered as compared with ROPI 0.1% (ROPI 0.1% = 314 +/- 151 mg and ROPI 0.2% = 573 +/- 304 mg at Hour 48; P < 0.05). Patient-controlled epidural analgesia with the 0.1% or 0.2% solution of ROPI or BUPI combined with epidural morphine resulted in comparable analgesia. As compared with ROPI 0.1%, the use of ROPI 0.2% increased consumption of local anesthetic without improving analgesia. ⋯ Small-dose (0.1%) ropivacaine and bupivacaine have similar potency and result in comparable analgesia and incidence of side effects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cost-effectiveness of malaria diagnosis using rapid diagnostic tests compared to microscopy or clinical symptoms alone in Afghanistan.
Improving access to parasitological diagnosis of malaria is a central strategy for control and elimination of the disease. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are relatively easy to perform and could be used in primary level clinics to increase coverage of diagnostics and improve treatment of malaria. ⋯ RDTs remain cost-effective across a range of drug costs and if microscopy is used for a range of diagnostic services. RDTs have significant advantages over clinical diagnosis with minor increases in the cost of service provision.
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Review Case Reports
Simulated activity but real trauma: a systematic review on Nintendo Wii injuries based on a case report of an acute anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
Video gaming injuries are classically regarded as eccentric accidents and novelty diagnoses. A case of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear sustained during Wii boxing spurned us to review the literature for other Wii-related injuries and Wii-based posttraumatic rehabilitation. The English literature listed in PubMed was systematically reviewed by searching for "Wii (trauma or injury or fracture)." Full-text articles were included after duplicate, blinded review. ⋯ Because of their wide acceptance and entertaining nature, they are also increasingly recognized as a tool in rehabilitation. However, although the activity is simulated, injuries are real. Our systematic review shows that Wii gaming can lead to severe injuries, sometimes with lasting limitations.
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To develop a robust renal arterial spin labeling (ASL) acquisition and processing strategy for mapping renal blood flow (RBF) in a pediatric cohort with severe kidney disease. ⋯ Single-shot 3D-GRASE ASL combined with retrospective motion correction enabled repeatable non-invasive RBF mapping in the first pediatric cohort with severe kidney disease undergoing ASL scans.