[The assessment of the effectiveness of long vs standard-length catheters in reducing complications: a randomized controlled trial].

Introduction: From 30 to 80% of hospitalized patients is inserted a peripheral venous catheter (PVC). The PVC may be associated to several infective and non infective complications.

Aims: To assess whether a long-length vs standard-length PCV reduces the incidence of CRCs; to assess the patients' preferences and costs.

[Critical course of a case of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

The authors present a case of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with an unusual onset in the form of acute interstitial pneumonia. On being admitted to hospital the 53-year-old woman presented an altered breathing pattern which initially required oxygen therapy using Venturi's oxygen mask followed by sedation and mechanical ventilation with appropriate FiO2 to guarantee adequate pO2 and arterial saturation. For diagnostic purposes bronchiolar and alveolar lavage was immediately performed together with transbronchial biopsy during the course of fibrobronchoscopy.

Non small cell lung cancer treatment with carboplatin and vindesine: a phase II study.

A phase II trial aiming to verify the effectiveness of a regimen including carboplatin and vindesine was performed. From November 1989 to September 1990, nineteen patients with advanced small cell lung cancer entered this study. Polychemotherapy treatment included: carboplatin 400 mg/sm, on day 1 and vindesine 3 mg/sm, on days 1 and 15, repeated every 4 weeks, as an outpatient regimen.

Efficacy and safety of short intravenous amiodarone in supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

The safety and efficacy of short intravenous therapy with amiodarone were evaluated in 44 patients (24 males, 20 females), aged 21-84 years, with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias newly arisen in less than 24 hours. The study group consisted of 15 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, 8 patients with atrial flutter and 21 patients with atrial fibrillation. They were treated with a single infusion of amiodarone up to 2 hours after the restoration of a stable sinus rhythm, or up to a maximum dose of 2400 mg in 24 hours.