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If you’re like me, you probably hook your chest tube up to a Pleur-Evac, put it on the ground, then back away slowly. Who knows what goes on in that mysterious bubbling white box? Hopefully this will post shed some light. Isn’t this just a container for stuff that comes out of the chest? Why does it look so complicated? It’s complicated because the detection/collection of air and fluid require different setups. Most commercial models also allow you to hook the drainage system to wall suction, so you can quickly evacuate the pleural space. This requires its own setup. Because of the need to juggle air, fluid and suction, the most common commercial system includes 3 distinct chambers. If you were to simplify the device, or build one out of spare bottles and tubes, it might look like this:
The obstetric examination is distinct from other examinations in that you, the clinician, are trying to assess the health of two individuals – the mother and the fetus – simultaneously. From the initial history, you should be able to judge the health of the pregnancy, any risk factors that need to be addressed, and any concerns from the parents. The history is an opportunity for you to find out how much the parents know about pregnancy, labour and delivery and if they have any preferences to which these events are carried out. A carefully taken history will also direct your attention to specific signs during the examination. As such, it is important that you develop a concise and systematic method of taking the history and carrying out the examination so that you do not miss any important information. This article focuses primarily on the examination. Pregnancy is a sensitive issue, especially for the primigravida’s. Therefore, extra care is needed when you approach a pregnant woman. Always obtain expressed informed consent before examining her and have a chaperone accompany you throughout the examination. A walk-through of what you will be doing is a good way of reassuring the patient and allows the examination to go on smoothly. It is also important to let your patient know that if the examination is too painful, she can stop at any time she wants. Finally, before you begin, you should always wash your hands, especially at an OSCE station.
University of California, Berkeley engineers have built the first dust-sized, wireless sensors that can be implanted in the body, bringing closer the day when a Fitbit-like device could monitor internal nerves, muscles or organs in real time.
Cluster headaches, which occur in cyclical patterns or clusters, are one of the most painful types of headache. A cluster headache commonly awakens you in the middle of the night with intense pain in or around one eye on one side of your head. Bouts of frequent attacks, known as cluster periods, can last from weeks to months, usually followed by remission periods when the headaches stop. During remission, no headaches occur for months and sometimes even years. Fortunately, cluster headache is rare and not life-threatening. Treatments can make cluster headache attacks shorter and less severe. In addition, medications can reduce the number of cluster headaches.
An anal fissure is a small tear in the thin, moist tissue (mucosa) that lines the anus. An anal fissure may occur when you pass hard or large stools during a bowel movement. Anal fissures typically cause pain and bleeding with bowel movements. You also may experience spasms in the ring of muscle at the end of your anus (anal sphincter). Anal fissures are very common in young infants but can affect people of any age. Most anal fissures get better with simple treatments, such as increased fiber intake or sitz baths. Some people with anal fissures may need medication or, occasionally, surgery.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that is done to remove fat deposits from underneath the skin. Common areas that are treated: the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, upper arms, chest and neck. (use medical graphic of body with labeled parts) The procedure is usually done as an outpatient under some combination of local anesthesia and/or sedation:. This means you are awake but relaxed and pain free. Depending on the number of areas to be treated and the specific technique selected, it may take from one to several hours. A small incision (cut) is made through the skin near the area of the fat deposit. Multiple incisions may be needed if a wide area or multiple areas are being done. A long hollow tube called a cannula will be inserted through this incision. Prior to inserting the cannula, the doctor may inject a solution of salt water that contains an anesthetic (numbing) medication and another medication to decrease bleeding. The cannula is then inserted and moved under the skin in a way to loosen the fat deposits so they may be suctioned out. Because a significant amount of body fluid is removed with the fat, an intravenous (through the veins) fluid line will be kept going during the procedure.
A recent technique called “ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty” uses a special cannula that liquefies the fat cells with ultrasonic energy. You should ask your doctor which technique he/she will use and how it will affect the type of anesthesia you will need and the length of the procedure.
Why is this procedure performed?
Liposuction is done to restore a more normal contour to the body. The procedure is sometimes described as body sculpting. It should be limited to fat deposits that are not responsive to diet and exercise. It is suggested that you should be within 20of your ideal body weight at the time of surgery. If you are planning to lose weight you should delay this procedure. This is not obesity surgery. The maximum amount of fat that can be removed is usually less than 10 pounds. The best results are achieved in people who still have firm and elastic skin. Although rare, there are risks and complications that can occur with liposuction. You should be aware that all the complications are increased if you are a smoker. You will need to quit smoking or at least avoid smoking for a month before and after surgery. If you have had prior surgeries near any of the areas to be treated, this may increase the risk of complications and you should discuss this with your doctor. Any history of heart disease, diabetes, bleeding problems or blood clots in your legs may make you more prone to post-operative problems and you should discuss these with your doctor. Finally, as with any cosmetic procedure it is important to have realistic expectations. The goals, limitations, and expectations of the procedure should be discussed openly and in detail with your doctor. Most insurance companies do not cover cosmetic surgery.
What should I expect during the post-operative period?
After surgery you should be able to go home but you will need someone to drive you. In the first few days after surgery it is common for the incisions to drain fluid and you will have to change dressings frequently. Fresh blood is not usual and if you have any bleeding you should call your doctor immediately. In some cases a small tube may have been placed through the skin to allow drainage. You will be limited to sponge baths until the drains and dressings are removed. After that you may take showers but no baths for 2 weeks. You may experience pain, burning, and numbness for a few days. Take pain medicine as prescribed by your doctor. You may notice a certain amount of bruising and swelling. The bruising will disappear gradually over 1 to 2 weeks. Some swelling may last for up to 6 months. If you have skin sutures they will be removed in 7 to 10 days. You should be able to be up and moving around the house the day after surgery but avoid any strenuous activity for about 1
Acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterised by rapid onset dyspnea, bilateral infiltrates on chest x-ray and respiratory failure. This may be due to conditions which directly affect the lung such as pneumonia, aspiration and near drowning. It may also be due to indirect lung injury, as in conditions like sepsis, pancreatitis, trauma and poisoning. The diagnostic criteria of ARDS, often described as the Berlin criteria is discussed in this presentation along with various management aspects of ARDS including ventilation strategies and use of antibiotics and diuretics. Finally prognostic features and alternative strategies are also discussed.
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Organophosphate poisoning results from exposure to organophosphates (OPs), which cause the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), leading to the accumulation of acetylcholine (ACh) in the body. Organophosphate poisoning most commonly results from exposure to insecticides or nerve agents.
systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). This is most likely secondary to sepsis from an infection of the patient's Hickman catheter given the associated skin findings, although culture results are needed to confirm this diagnosis. The patient's low blood pressure is likely secondary to developing septic shock, and he has already appropriately been treated with intravenous fluids. Catheter removal is indicated given his hemodynamic instability. Catheter removal is also indicated in patients with severe sepsis with organ hypoperfusion, endocarditis, suppurative thrombophlebitis, or persistent bacteremia after 72 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy. Long term catheters should also be removed if culture results are positive for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, fungi, or mycobacteria.