What benefits does ultrasound-guided axillary block for brachial plexus anaesthesia offer over the conventional blind approach in hand surgery?

Axillary block for brachial plexus anaesthesia is a popular anaesthetic technique for hand surgery with different approaches. We investigated the efficacy of the blind and ultrasound-guided approaches administered by a hand surgeon. A total of 141 patients were prospectively randomized to Group A without and Group B with ultrasound guidance. The principal variables evaluated were number of failures, duration of surgery, time to onset of anaesthesia, volume of anaesthetic injected, and complications. The success rate and the mean time to onset of anaesthesia were significantly better under ultrasound guidance. The duration of surgery and the rate of complications did not differ. Ultrasound-guided plexus anaesthesia is markedly more effective than the blind technique when performed by a hand surgeon.

A randomised prospective study to evaluate a rapid HIV-antibody assay in the management of cases of percutaneous exposure amongst health care workers.

A rapid start of post-exposure prophylaxis with an antiretroviral regime is recommended after percutaneous exposure to blood from an HIV-positive source. Since the HIV-antibody status of the source is usually not known at the time of injury, antiretroviral treatment is started pending the results of HIV testing of the source. A randomised prospective study was designed to compare the use of a rapid-screening assay in the management of cases of percutaneous exposure with the conventional procedure. Prior to the comparative study, the accuracy of a rapid-screening assay performed by non-laboratory trained personnel was evaluated. 123 blinded HIV-positive and HIV-negative samples were correctly identified. In a randomised comparison with the conventional procedure, the application of the rapid-screening assay resulted in a significant reduction of psychological stress, drug use and cost. The estimated net benefit per case was CHF 93.-(62 US$). This study strongly supports the use of the rapid-screening assay in the management of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV after percutaneous exposure in health care workers.

Diagnostic validity of ultrasound in patients with persistent wrist pain and suspected occult ganglion.

Until recently, the presence of occult ganglions could be determined only by surgical exploration. This prospective study investigated the reliability of ultrasound in the diagnosis of occult ganglions in a patient series over 4 years. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ultrasound, as well as its positive and negative predictive values, were determined in 83 patients suspected of having an occult wrist ganglion and who had persistent pain and consented to an operation. Examinations were carried out with a 7.5-MHz linear probe and spacer. Outcome of surgery and histologic examination served as the gold standard in 168 patients who had undergone ultrasound; 89 underwent surgery. In 83 patients for whom enough information was available to allow statistical assessment, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates of 88%, 85%, and 87% were respectively obtained. In dorsal wrist ganglions (75%), better results were obtained: a sensitivity rate of 93%, a specificity rate of 86%, and an accuracy rate of 91%. It was concluded that ultrasound of the wrist can be used as a first-line imaging procedure in clinically inconclusive situations and that ultrasound evidence of an occult dorsal ganglion is a reliable indicator for surgery.

Patients intoxicated with heroin or heroin mixtures: how long should they be monitored?

Our investigation was carried out in subjects intoxicated with heroin or heroin mixtures to find out the time interval during which delayed life-threatening complications become manifest, such as pulmonary oedema or relapse into respiratory depression or coma after naloxone treatment. We studied prospectively all drug intoxications between 1991 and 1992. Of the 538 intoxications, we assessed in detail 160 outpatients who lived within the catchment area of our hospital. The outcome variables studied were (1) rehospitalization for pulmonary oedema, (2) relapse into coma, and/or (3) death and cause within 24 h after release from hospital. Deaths occurring outside our hospital have to be reported, as decreed by law, to the Institute for Forensic Medicine. The results of our investigation showed no rehospitalization owing to pulmonary oedema or coma, but one death, outside the hospital, owing to delayed pulmonary oedema. This delayed complication had an incidence of 0.6% (95% confidence interval 0-3.8%). A reintoxication could be excluded in this patient. Based on reliable report, the pulmonary oedema occurred between approximately 2 1/4 and 8 1/4 hours after intoxication. In the literature, only two cases of delayed pulmonary oedema have been reported with reliable time statements (4 and 6 h after hospitalization). We therefore conclude that surveillance for at least 8 h is essential after successful treatment to exclude delayed pulmonary oedema in patients intoxicated with heroin or heroin mixtures.

[The effect of first aid and care times on the clinical course and treatment results in multiple trauma. Initial interim results of an interdisciplinary trauma registry in the St. Gallen district hospital]. / Der Einfluss von Rettungs- und Versorgungszeiten auf den klinischen Verlauf und die Behandlungsergebnisse beim Polytrauma. Erste Zwischenresultate eines interdisziplinären Traumaregisters am Kantonsspital St. Gallen.

QUESTION: To date little is known about the influence of variable rescue (i.e. transportation/preclinical care) and clinical care times on the clinical progress and outcome of patients suffering injuries ranging from average to severe. Having examined this question within the framework of an ongoing study of trauma, we present the first provisional results and compare them with existing documentation. METHOD: Since 15 June 1990, all cases of multiple injury have been recorded in a trauma register. The present interim investigation of 143 patients covers a period of 13.5 months. We have recorded the rescue and clinical care times and compared them with survival, disability, complications and length of stay in hospital or intensive care unit. RESULTS: 106 (74%) of the total of 143 patients were operated on an average of 5.5 hours after the accident. In cases of intracranial or intraabdominal bleeding, there was an average time lag of 220 minutes after the accident before the patient could undergo surgery. Overall, 70% of the total rescue time was spent on medical attention and waiting time in the emergency unit. The secondary transfer rate is 46%. In the case of 4 patients, it is possible that the delays involved contributed appreciably to mortality (19%. i.e. 4/21). Generally, however, no coherent and conclusive correlation could be established between prolonged rescue and clinical care times and a worsened outcome. False negative results cannot be totally excluded, since the classification of the individual degree of injury by means of ISS and TRISS is unreliable, the variable quality of medical care prior to arrival at our emergency unit has not been taken into account, and the case figures are low (possibly of a large-scale beta error). CONCLUSIONS: The database for the assessment of standard times is still inadequate. For a reliable analysis, a total number of at least 500 patients is necessary (beta error acceptable). Our own data and the meagre results of other studies support the supposition that it is not the absolute time-lapse which has prognostic significance but the qualified medical assistance provided within a critical, individual, but extremely variable time-span. The increased employment of highly qualified emergency staff and a more efficient "triage", in the sense of a clearly directed trauma regionalization, could thus lead to optimization of trauma care.