Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J M Eaton.
Forty anaesthetists, of all grades, were interviewed without prior warning and questioned about the checks they had performed on their anaesthetic equipment before use. The results reveal that a substantial percentage (up to 41%) of anaesthetists perform inadequate checks. Furthermore, of those that do, few follow the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland's recent guidelines.
Most muscle cramps are benign, but cramps that occur on exertion or in a patient with abnormal findings on physical examination or electromyography are usually caused by significant systemic disease. The most common systemic causes are metabolic diseases; central or peripheral nervous system diseases are less often responsible. Most systemic diseases that cause muscle cramps are amenable to specific treatment. If symptomatic treatment is desired, the first choice would appear to be stretching. If that is ineffective, carisoprodol (Rela, Soma, Soprodol), vitamin E, or verapamil hydrochloride (Calan, Isoptin) may be used. Quinine sulfate (Quine, Quinamm) is potentially toxic and may not be effective.
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True weakness, especially in the proximal muscles, is a symptom of muscle disease. In differential diagnosis, conditions mimicking myopathy can be excluded on the basis of physical findings, various tests, and when appropriate, muscle biopsy. Once myopathy has been diagnosed, the physician needs to determine whether the cause is toxic, endocrine, inflammatory, metabolic, dystrophic, or congenital. The distinguishing features of these categories help in reaching a specific diagnosis. Because most of the common myopathies can be treated, recognition is important.