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Biomedical subjects

Alexander Avidan

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Avidan.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Pain management and regional anaesthesia in the trauma patient.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: Treatment of the trauma patient has evolved rapidly in the past decade. Nevertheless, the treatment of pain as part of overall trauma management has been relatively neglected. This update reviews recent publications related to pain relief in the trauma patient. RECENT FINDINGS: Although recent publications suggest that the assessment and treatment of pain in trauma have improved, most studies still document inadequate analgesia. We discuss the use of different analgesia strategies in the prehospital and emergency room settings. SUMMARY: Educating the emergency room staff to perform early routine assessment of pain and to be familiar with the administration of analgesia are key elements to improved pain management in trauma. Peripheral nerve block techniques should be practised by emergency room staff. If simple techniques are chosen, competence can be achieved with short, focused training sessions. Further developments are needed in order to provide safer and more effective analgesia to the trauma patient.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

An internet web site as a data collection platform for multicenter research.

The Internet can be an effective alternative for data collection for multicenter studies. It has major advantages over the "classical" method of using paper and traditional ("snail") mail. We developed an Internet site and implemented collection of data for a multicenter study of ethical decision-making. The Web site was built with Microsoft FrontPage as the authoring tool. Database management was performed with Microsoft Access. Security issues were the major concerns for the web design. Thirty-seven European centers enrolled 4248 patients during 1.5 yr using the Internet site. The use of this Internet site for data acquisition was highly effective, and the investigators were able to use the system without training. Overall satisfaction of the investigators was high. After security issues, interactivity and user-friendly design are the main cornerstones for the success of such a system.

Computer Security↗
PubMed2004

General medicine practitioners' attitudes towards "do not attempt resuscitation" orders.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether "all-or-none" guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are being applied by practitioners on general medical wards (GMWs). HYPOTHESIS: Do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) orders are rarely related to patient preferences. Limited resuscitation efforts are being practiced to circumvent the need for DNAR orders. DESIGN: A surprise opinion survey (presented below), based on case vignette and practice description, and performed by remote control votes. SETTING: The multi-centre forum for practitioners on GMWs within the greater Jerusalem district. PARTICIPANTS: 79/85 clinicians practicing/training on GMWs in six teaching hospitals, who attended the forum and responded within 3 min to the survey. RESULTS: Fifty-eight practitioners (73%) assigned a DNAR order for a patient unable to express a preference and only 43 (55%) complied with the request of a competent patient for a DNAR order (P < 0.05]; 95% CI: 2-34). During the past year, only five practitioners (9% of respondents) had performed CPR solely when pathophysiological benefit was expected, 31 (59%) had performed limited CPR efforts and only 13 (28%) had discussed the subject of DNAR with patients and their next of kin >5 times. CONCLUSIONS: (1) DNAR orders are rarely discussed with patients and their next of kin in GMWs within the region examined; (2) even when DNAR is discussed, physicians tend to confer DNAR orders based on their personal value judgements rather than on patient preferences; (3) practitioners on GMWs perform CPR when no pathophysiological benefit is expected; (4) limited resuscitation efforts are performed frequently in GMWs.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2003

Peripheral nerve block for ambulatory surgery and postoperative analgesia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: With this article we intend to increase the awareness of the efficiency and efficacy of peripheral nerve block as a treatment option for outpatient surgical anesthesia and postoperative home-based analgesia. RECENT FINDINGS: Current investigations have demonstrated that peripheral nerve block is associated with a superior outcome (reduced pain, nausea and vomiting) and more efficient patient turnover than general anesthesia. Continuous peripheral nerve block and patient controlled peripheral nerve block lead to further improvement in postoperative analgesia and patient satisfaction. SUMMARY: The recent advances and techniques described indicate that peripheral nerve block is both a valid and frequently a preferred option for ambulatory surgery.

Journal Article↗