Effects of perioperative S (+) ketamine infusion added to multimodal analgesia in patients undergoing ambulatory haemorrhoidectomy.

Background and objective Perioperative low-dose ketamine has been useful for postoperative analgesia. In this study we wanted to assess the analgesic effect and possible side-effects of perioperative low-dose S (+) ketamine when added to a regime of non-opioid multimodal pain prophylaxis. Methods Seventy-seven patients scheduled for haemorrhoidectomy were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

Rocuronium blockade reversal with sugammadex vs. neostigmine: randomized study in Chinese and Caucasian subjects.

Background: This study compared efficacy and safety of the selective relaxant binding agent sugammadex (2 mg/kg) with neostigmine (50 μg/kg) for neuromuscular blockade (NMB) reversal in Chinese and Caucasian subjects.

Methods: This was a randomized, active-controlled, multicenter, safety-assessor-blinded study (NCT00825812) in American Society of Anesthesiologists Class 1-3 subjects undergoing surgery with propofol anesthesia. Rocuronium 0.

Incidence and subtypes of MCI and dementia 1 year after first-ever stroke in patients without pre-existing cognitive impairment.

Background: Post-stroke dementia is defined as any dementia occurring after stroke, and includes vascular, degenerative and mixed dementia. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) one year after stroke in a population free from pre-stroke cognitive decline, and to investigate the different aetiological subtypes of post-stroke dementia and MCI, using a novel method of subclassification in order to separate vascular causes of MCI or dementia from a neurodegenerative disease.

Methods: All patients with a first-ever stroke and TIA admitted to the stroke unit of Asker and Bærum Hospital were invited.

Is oxytocin given during surgical termination of first trimester pregnancy useful? A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the impact of 5 IU (international units) of oxytocin administered during surgical termination of first-trimester pregnancy compared to no oxytocin, on postoperative bleeding, pain and nausea.

Design: A randomized controlled single-blinded study.

Setting: A Norwegian community hospital with 1,064 consecutive legal abortions in the 20 months of study period.

Dolosigranulum pigrum causing biomaterial-associated arthritis.

Dolosigranulum pigrum is a gram-positive, catalase-negative bacteria rarely associated with disease. We report a case of biomaterial-associated arthritis in an immunocompetent patient caused by D. pigrum.

Inflammatory bowel disease-associated interleukin-33 is preferentially expressed in ulceration-associated myofibroblasts.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a novel member of the interleukin-1 family that induces mucosal pathology in vivo and may drive fibrosis development and angiogenesis. To address its potential role in inflammatory bowel disease, we explored its tissue expression in biopsy specimens from untreated ulcerative colitis patients, observing a 2.6-fold up-regulation of IL-33 mRNA levels, compared to controls.

Diabetic foot ulcer burden may be modified by high-dose atorvastatin: A 6-month randomized controlled pilot trial.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), with a complex pathogenesis. Treatment is difficult and no single treatment with measurable clinical impact is available. In the present clinical pilot trial, we investigated whether statins could be of use against some of the pathogenic factors in DFUs.

High-volume local infiltration analgesia combined with intravenous or local ketorolac+morphine compared with epidural analgesia after total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Recently, high-volume local infiltration analgesia (LIA) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been introduced, but dosage, timing, and effects of adjuvants are still debated.

Methods: We randomized 102 patients undergoing TKA to receive either epidural analgesia (EDA group) or LIA (ropivacaine 150 mg and epinephrine 0.5 mg) combined with ketorolac 30 mg and morphine 5 mg given either locally (LIA group) or i.

Clinical outcome after reconstruction for isolated posterior cruciate ligament injury.

Fifty-one patients were operated with reconstruction for an isolated PCL injury from 1997 to 2005. Forty-three of these patients were followed during a median period of 48 months (17-109). Median time from injury to surgery was 18 months (2-368).

TVT compared with TVT-O and TOT: results from the Norwegian National Incontinence Registry.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to compare the outcome and complication rates of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operations with the transobturator vaginal tape (TVT-O and TOT) operations in the treatment of urinary stress incontinence.

Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective cohort study. Preoperative and postoperative assessments included a validated Stress and Urge Incontinence Questionnaire, a 24-h pad test, and a standardized stress test.

Idiopathic reactive hypoglycaemia - prevalence and effect of fibre on glucose excursions.

Background: Idiopathic reactive hypoglycaemia (IRH) is a condition characterized by aggravated postprandial glucose excursions in otherwise healthy individuals. We investigated its prevalence and the impact of fibre diet supplementation.

Methods: First, IRH prevalence was assessed in 362 subjects without a diagnosis of abnormal glucose metabolism through an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Quality assurance of the donor questionnaire and donor interview: a three year experience with an electronic donor questionnaire.

Quality assurance of the donor questionnaire and the donor interview must ensure that all relevant questions about donor eligibility are answered and documented in a reliable format. The use of the self explanatory, electronic donor information tool [EDIT], not only provided a harmonized and standardised system of quality assurance but also saved time and can be easily modified as guidelines change. This brief report highlights the principles of this tool and some of its potential benefits, as experienced over the 3 years since its introduction in Norway.

Safety and efficacy of sugammadex for the reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in cardiac patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Background And Objective: The present randomized, safety-assessor blinded, placebo-controlled trial was designed to assess safety and efficacy of sugammadex, a novel selective relaxant-binding agent, in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Methods: Overall, 116 patients (New York Heart Association class II-III) were randomized and received sugammadex 2.0 mg kg (n = 38), sugammadex 4.

Changing basal insulin from NPH to detemir or glargine in patients with type 1 diabetes and a history of severe hypoglycemia.

Background: The insulin analogs, glargine and detemir, are associated with reduced hypoglycemia incidence compared with NPH insulin. We assessed the impact of changing basal insulin from NPH to glargine or detemir in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus who experienced severe hypoglycemia.

Material And Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted that included 73 (31 female) patients (mean age 48 years, diabetes duration 19 years) treated for 12 to 24 months with insulin glargine (n = 43) or detemir (n = 30).

Anaesthesia for urgent (grade 1) caesarean section.

Purpose Of Review: We describe the different possible anaesthetic techniques for an emergency caesarean section. To choose the right method of anaesthesia may have major implications for mother, child and all involved personnel. The major controversy is whether one have other or better alternatives or both than general anaesthesia, with a rapid sequence induction technique, when the foetus is compromised.

Impact of atrial fibrillation on NT-proBNP levels in a 75-year-old population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on serum levels of N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in a 75-year-old population.

Methods: All 75-year-old citizens in Asker and Baerum counties in Norway were invited to participate in a prevalence study of AF. Blood samples for measurement of NT-proBNP were collected at rest from 61 subjects with AF and a gender-matched control group of 126 subjects in sinus rhythm.

Anal sphincter tears at spontaneous delivery: a comparison of five hospitals in Norway.

Objective: To analyze circumstances relating to severe anal sphincter tears occurring at spontaneous delivery, in view of reported differences in practice regarding manual perineal protection during delivery.

Design: Cohort study of midwife-conducted non-operative vaginal deliveries.

Setting: Five Norwegian hospitals with 12,438 consecutive deliveries during a 12-month period.

Prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in atrial fibrillation: a case control study in 75-year old subjects.

Background: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing world wide and amongst factors that aggravate the risk is diabetes mellitus (DM), also in epidemic development.However, although DM is a potentially modifiable risk factor for AF, few, if any, studies have explored the prevalence of undiagnosed dysglycaemia among subjects with AF or if duration of AF are related to parameters of glycaemia or dysglycaemia prevalence.

Methods: In this case control study, amongst 75-year old subjects with and without AF, the prevalence of dysglycaemia, i.

Rationale for low-dose systemic hormone replacement therapy and review of estradiol 0.5 mg/NETA 0.1 mg.

The menopausal transition is associated with several symptoms, for which both non-pharmacological and pharmacological measures are available to provide relief. However, present knowledge indicates that the former is not highly effective, and that the latter, in terms of systemic oestrogen and progestogen-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT), although being effective (e.g.

Local hospital perspective on a nationwide outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in Norway.

Objective: To implement a system for monitoring of rare events based on statistical process control charts.

Design: Statistical process control plotting by g chart of clinical microbiology laboratory data.

Setting: Primary and secondary care Norwegian hospital with a 9-bed intensive care unit.

Less benefit from warfarin in diabetics after myocardial infarction?

Objectives: To examine the impact of prognostic factors on the outcome of treatment with warfarin or aspirin after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: Patients from the Warfarin Aspirin Re-Infarction Study, assigned to treatment with warfarin (n = 1,216) or aspirin (n = 1,206) after myocardial infarction, were stratified according to important prognostic factors. Survival from the composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction and thromboembolic stroke was estimated within each stratum by odds ratios (OR).

Candesartan, NT-proBNP and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

Background: Some small studies have suggested that low levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measured before electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with maintenance of sinus rhythm after the procedure. We hypothesized that 1) plasma levels of N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) measured before cardioversion were predictive of AF recurrence, 2) treatment with candesartan would influence the levels of NT-proBNP, and 3) restoration of sinus rhythm would reduce the levels of NT-proBNP.

Methods: We investigated 171 patients with persistent AF who underwent electrical cardioversion in a prospective, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial (Candesartan in the Prevention of Relapsing Atrial Fibrillation, CAPRAF).

A comparison of complication rates based on published haemovigilance data.

Unlabelled: Haemovigilance is defined as the collection of information on complications of transfusion, the analysis of the data, and suggestions for improvement in the transfusion service. A national haemovigilance system is of value in identifying possible areas in need of improvement in the national transfusion system. Haemovigilance becomes even more important if the system is used to compare the situation in one country with the situation in other countries, e.