Implementing a resident lifting system in an extended care hospital. Demonstrating cost-benefit.

1. Implemeting mechanical resident lifting equipment in an extended care facility produced a payback from direct savings alone within 4 years. Payback occurred more quickly when the effect of indirect savings or the trend to rising compensation costs was considered.

Fibrinolytic therapy for infra-inguinal synthetic graft occlusions.

The results of infra-inguinal graft fibrinolysis are variable, and the true success rates are frequently disguised by the inclusion of patients receiving adjunctive surgery, such as surgical thrombectomy, anastomosis revision and graft extension. Follow-up is sparse. As part of a larger prospective study, we have offered fibrinolysis using streptokinase to 10 patients with occluded infra-inguinal synthetic grafts.

Pressure measurements during automatic breast compression in mammography.

Breast compression during X-ray mammography results in improved image quality at a lower radiation dose to the patient, and, as a consequence, the Department of Health recommends that automatic breast compression devices are fitted to mammographic X-ray units. However, the degree of breast compression is not standardized and can vary depending on the size of the patient, the particular mammography X-ray unit and the conditions of its use. A pressure measuring system was used to determine accurately the pressure on the breast.