Nationwide linkage analysis in Scotland-Has mortality following hospital admission for Crohn's disease changed in the early 21st century?

Background: National Scottish data were used to compare 3-year mortality in patients hospitalized for Crohn's disease (CD) between 1998-2000 and 2007-2009.

Methods: The linked Scottish Morbidity Records database was used to identify patients admitted with CD during two periods: Period 1 (1998-2000) and Period 2 (2007-2009). 3-year mortality and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) were determined and multivariable logistic regression analysis of associated factors was performed.

Relationship between onset of pain relief and patient satisfaction with fentanyl pectin nasal spray for breakthrough pain in cancer.

Background: Satisfaction with pain relief in patients with breakthrough pain in cancer (BTPc) has typically been assessed by overall efficacy without consideration of the rapidity of that response.

Objective: To determine the relationship between speed of onset of pain relief and patient satisfaction for treated BTPc episodes overall and for individual treatments.

Design: Pooled data from two randomized, double-blinded crossover studies.

An analysis of the variability of breakthrough pain intensity in patients with cancer.

Background: The management of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer (BTPc) generally includes an initial titration of breakthrough pain medication to an effective dose, followed by the use of that dose in all subsequent episodes. This strategy presumes that an individual patient has a degree of consistency of pain during repeat episodes; however, that presumption has not been formally assessed.

Objective: To examine the variation in pain intensity of BTPc episodes within individual patients and across patients.

Adhesions after abdominal surgery in children.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to quantify the overall burden (operative and nonoperative) of small bowel obstruction caused by adhesions after laparotomy in children.

Methods: Data from the Scottish National Health Service Medical Record Linkage database were used to assess risk of an adhesion-related readmission in the 5 years after open abdominal surgery in children and adolescents younger than 16 years from April 1996 to March 1997.

Results: A total of 1581 children underwent abdominal surgery (ie, from duodenum downward).

Population-based analysis of the risk of adhesion-related readmissions after abdominal surgery in children.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify the risk of adhesion-related readmissions after abdominal surgery in children.

Methods: This was a population-based study. One thousand five hundred eighty-one children younger than 16 years underwent laparotomy in 1996.