Carbon monoxide, amnesia and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

A case of carbon monoxide poisoning, initially misdiagnosed as conversion disorder, is presented. Cognitive deficits demonstrated at the time of psychiatric assessment were successfully reversed by hyperbaric oxygen therapy despite the 1 week delay. The clinical manifestations of carbon monoxide poisoning and the rationale for and timing of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are discussed.

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease at the Rotorua Hospital 1971-1982.

The case notes of all patients less than 30 years who had a discharge diagnosis of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease and were admitted to Rotorua Hospital between January 1972 and April 1983 were examined. Information was analysed by computer and a register was begun locally on a card index system which may be computerised in future. There were 237 admissions involving 188 individuals with an average stay of 37 days.