A randomized controlled trial on virtual reality distraction during venous cannulation in young children.

Background And Objectives: Pain management in children is often inadequate, and the single most common painful procedure in children who are hospitalized is needle procedures. Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to decrease anxiety and pain in children undergoing painful procedures primarily in children from the age of 7 years. Our aim for this study is to investigate patient satisfaction and pain reduction by using a three-dimensional VR interactive game as a distraction in 4-7 years old children during venous cannulation.

Long-term biopsychosocial issues and health-related quality of life in young adolescents and adults treated for childhood Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, type 1.

Objectives: Treatment for childhood Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is associated with long-term recovery. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term biopsychosocial status and quality of life in young adolescents and adults after the treatment of childhood CRPS.

Methods: A 4 year follow-up of individuals with childhood-CRPS, type 1 (n=22; age:12 years (years) [median] at treatment and 17 years at follow-up) was completed.

Pain prevalence in hospitalized children: a prospective cross-sectional survey in four Danish university hospitals.

Background: Pain management in hospitalized children is often inadequate. The prevalence and main sources of pain in Danish university hospitals is unknown.

Methods: This prospective mixed-method cross-sectional survey took place at four university hospitals in Denmark.

Structured intervention for management of pain following day surgery in children.

Background: Ambulatory surgery forms a large part of pediatric surgical practice. Several studies indicate that postoperative pain is poorly managed with more than 30% of children having moderate to severe pain. In a busy outpatient clinic contact between healthcare professionals and the family is increasingly limited calling for a global and efficient pain management regime.

Topical morphine for oral mucositis in children: dose finding and absorption.

Context: Systemic opioids for painful chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in children often result in unsatisfactory pain relief and a high frequency of side effects. Opioids applied topically can produce analgesia by binding to opioid receptors on peripheral terminals of sensory neurons. These receptors are upregulated during inflammation, for example, in oral mucositis.

Level of blood pressure and risk of myocardial infarction among treated hypertensive patients.

To examine the association between the level of treated blood pressure and the incidence of myocardial infarction, we conducted a population-based case-control study of 912 members of a health maintenance organization who were receiving standard clinical treatment for hypertension. We found a J-shaped relationship between the most recently measured diastolic blood pressure and the risk of myocardial infarction, the lowest risk occurring at 84 mm Hg. The relative risk of myocardial infarction at 60 mm Hg was 2.

Hypertension--indications, goals and potential risks of drug therapy.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies show that drug treatment of hypertension does not significantly reduce morbidity and mortality at diastolic pressures less than 105 mm of mercury. Nevertheless, most physicians start drug therapy at 90 to 104 mm of mercury. Few reports have dealt with the level to which blood pressure should be reduced.

Management of hypertension in the elderly. The case for 'hygienic' measures over drug therapy.

Elderly hypertensive patients form a significant part of our population. Intensive treatment with hygienic measures such as weight loss in patients over ideal weight and dietary salt restriction should be initiated and continued in this group with the help of a supportive physician. Such measures are often effective in lowering blood pressure and in making patients feel and function better.