PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T A Waterworth

Publications and source records attributed to T A Waterworth.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Management of a snake bite in the field.

We present a case of an 18-year-old British soldier who was bitten by an unidentified snake whilst stationed on the Iran/Iraq border. He was evacuated to the closest Role 2+ medical facility. Within 2 days he had developed bruising and a haematoma at the bite site. An improvised measure of clotting status, the bleeding time, was employed, showing that his blood was severely anticoagulated. He was transferred to the Field Hospital where coagulation screen revealed a DIC picture. He required 5 units of cryoprecipitate and 2 doses of antivenom. This case report demonstrates the need for prompt evacuation to a Role 3 facility in such cases, whether symptomatic or not.

Adolescent↗

Does rectal examination affect serum acid phosphatase levels?

Formol-stable serum acid phosphatase (SAP) was measured in 200 patients with symptoms of prostatism, before and at varying time intervals after digital rectal examination. In three separate groups of 50 patients SAP levels were measured before and at 5, 15 and 30 min following rectal examination and in a fourth group of 50 patients it was measured before and at 6, 24 and 48 h after examination. No significant change occurred in SAP levels following this examination in any of the groups studied. We conclude that rectal examination does not raise the SAP and that, contrary to popular belief, blood levels recorded at any time within this 48-h period are reliable.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Prophylactic use of cephazolin against wound sepsis after cholecystectomy.

A trial of antibiotic prophylaxis with cephazolin against postoperative wound sepsis was carried out on 201 patients undergoing routine cholecystectomy. Wound sepsis occurred in 11 out of 65 controls (16.9%), who were not given the drug; two out of 63 patients (3.2%) given a single dose preoperatively; and four out of 73 patients (5.5%) given the single preoperative dose plus a five-day course postoperatively. The difference between the controls and patients given the single preoperative dose was significant.

Cefazolin↗

Preoperative skin preparation: clinical evaluation of depilatory cream.

Preoperative hair removal by a depilatory cream was compared with routine shaving. Although the incidence of wound infection was similar in both groups, cream depilation was found to be better. It was effective, atraumatic, non-toxic, and could be self-administered. Furthermore, it could be used safely on granulating wounds and did not support bacterial growth. Depilation was associated with a significant reduction in skin surface bacteria and proved to be cheaper than shaving.

Calcium Hydroxide↗

Report on injuries sustained by patients treated at the Birmingham General Hospital following the recent bomb explosions.

As a result of recent bomb explosions a total of 82 patients were treated at the Birmingham General Hospital, 61 with minor injuries. Bomb injuries may be divided into three main groups due to the blast effect (such as blast lung and ruptured tympanic membranes), the flash (such as burns to the exposed part of the body), and shrapnel (which may cause a wide variety of injuries). The amount of warning of such explosions is usually minimal, and so the prepared accident schemes of most hospitals are inappropriate. If the disaster occurs outside normal working hours much responsibility initially falls on the resident staff. This report gives some idea of the type of injuries they are likely to see.

Adolescent↗

An analysis of the post-mortem findings in the 21 victims of the Birmingham pub bombings.

On the evening of 21 November, 1974 explosions occurred almost simultaneously in two crowded public houses in the centre of Birmingham. Of the 21 people who died, 18 were killed outright and 3 died later in hospital. All 21 cases showed the terrible multiple injuries associated with close proximity to a powerful explosion within a confined space. Although all the victims suffered one or more injuries which alone would have been fatal, certain patterns of injury were noted which, if appreciated early in any future similar incident, may help to save the lives of those who are futher removed from the centre of the explosion or exposed to one of lesser force.

Abdominal Injuries↗