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Biomedical subjects

G Hemmings

Publications and source records attributed to G Hemmings.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Postdural puncture headache after spinal anaesthesia in young orthopaedic outpatients using 27-g needles.

PURPOSE: Two large studies reported a very low rate (0.5-1.8%) of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) with the use of 27-G spinal needles. We suspected that it might be higher in young ambulatory patients. The purpose of this study was to establish the rate prospectively in such a patient population using two types of needles. METHODS: Two hundred male and female, outpatients, 18-45 yr, undergoing knee arthroscopy under spinal anaesthesia were randomly assigned to receive spinal anaesthesia with hyperbaric lidocaine 5% using either a Quincke or a Whitacre 27-G needle. Twenty patients choosing general anaesthesia formed a comparative group. Using a previously validated questionnaire, the incidence and nature of PDPH were evaluated by telephone three to five days after surgery by an anaesthetist unaware of the anaesthetic technique used. Once all data were collected, an anaesthetist not involved in the study determined in a blinded fashion which headaches were likely to be PDPH. Grading and classification of headaches were based on several criteria: postural nature, duration, intensity and confinement to bed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of PDPH in both spinal groups was 9.3%. The incidence in women, 20.4%, was higher than in men, 5.5%, (P < 0.05). Only one patient required a blood patch. Both types of needle were comparable with respect to the incidence, severity and duration of PDPH, number of dural punctures and failed spinal blocks. CONCLUSION: The rate of PDPH was higher than in large published studies with 27-G Quincke and Whitacre needles and greater in women than in men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Referencing lung volume for measurements of respiratory system compliance in infants.

We propose a method for measurements of respiratory system compliance (Crs) in spontaneously breathing infants, which circumvents the potential problems introduced by the breath-by-breath oscillations in the end-expiratory level, i.e., functional respiratory capacity (FRC). Changes in lung volume (V) and pressure at the airway opening (P(ao)) were measured in 10 infants breathing through a face mask. A first brief occlusion was to establish a reference V and the corresponding static P(ao); a second occlusion was done at a different V, within the same expiration, or in the following breath. Both occlusions were sufficiently long for the establishment of a stable P(ao) value. From the V difference (delta V, where delta V was at least 20% tidal volume) and the corresponding difference in P(ao) (delta P(ao)) Crs was computed and averaged (Crs[REF.VOL.] = delta V/delta P(ao). Although, on average, the results were similar to those obtained by the traditional multiple occlusions technique with linear regression analysis of the P(ao)-V data points (Crs[MOT]), in several infants Crs[REF.VOL.] tended to be slightly higher than Crs[MOT]. Some possibilities for this discrepancy are discussed. It seems likely that breath-to-breath oscillation in FRC may potentially lower Crs[MOT] by introducing a bias on the V measurement at low P(ao). We conclude that referencing V for Crs measurements in spontaneously breathing infants is a simple approach, which does not require linear regression analysis and circumvents the effects of oscillation in FRC.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Bereavement reactions of female Scots and Swazis: a preliminary comparison.

Forty matched Scottish and Swazi girls and women reported the intensity of the bereavement reactions which they had experienced two weeks and one year after the death of a close relative. The Swazi respondents reported more intense grief reactions during the first two weeks of bereavement than the Scottish participants, but the only way in which the two nationalities differed one year after the death was that the Scottish participants had a greater tendency to report feelings of guilt than the Swazi respondents. It is suggested that ritualistic crying and saying farewell to a dying relative may intensify feelings of grief during the early days of bereavement but, in the context of a clearly defined period of mourning, may play a part in reducing later feelings of guilt. Nationality was not a good predictor of the overall bereavement reaction at either of the time periods. A better prediction was obtained from the number of exchanges with other people which were perceived as being unhelpful, and the number of interactions which were absent but longed for.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

Schizophrenia.

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Child↗
PubMed1990

Causes of schizophrenia.

The causes of schizophrenia are discussed in a speculative review in which the disease is considered as a whole body one which is not confined in its pathology or symptomatology to the brain. Both the genetic background and the possible effect of dietary factors are reviewed.

Edible Grain↗