Bi-level positive airway pressure treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

We evaluated the effect of non-invasive nocturnal ventilation with the bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilator in 12 overweight patients with verified obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and nocturnal hypercapnia. All patients exhibited subsequently less overnight CO2 accumulation (p < 0.0001), the desaturation event frequency was reduced (p < 0.002), daytime O2 tension rose (p < 0.001), daytime CO2 tension was reduced (p < 0.01), and apnoeas were eliminated. All symptoms characterising the syndrome, when present at the beginning of the therapy, were eliminated during the treatment. Patient compliance was high. This study showed that OSAS patients with hypercapnia can be effectively treated by BiPAP ventilation during sleep.

Post-anginal sepsis (Lemierre's disease): a persistent challenge. Presentation of 4 cases.

Four cases of lemierre's disease, or post-anginal (anaerobic) sepsis, are presented. All of the patients had polymicrobial infections. Two of the patients had serologically confirmed infectious mononucleosis. All patients required intubation and mechanical ventilation due to severe respiratory insufficiency. Two patients died after the development of severe septic shock with multiple organ dysfunction. The pathogenesis and clinical manifestations as well as the management of post-anginal sepsis are discussed.

[The phenacetin kidney--still in the 1990's]. / Fenacetinnyre--også i 1990'erne.

A case of adverse effects of phenacetin is described, and followed by a discussion about the continued use of this drug in Denmark even though it was removed from the pharmacopoeia in 1984. It is stressed, that the free right of prescription enables doctors to continue prescribing drugs, that have been deregistered by the health authorities, and on a scale that is not surveyed by the Statistics of Remedies.