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Biomedical subjects

J Birkhan

Publications and source records attributed to J Birkhan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Chronic pain in Holocaust survivors.

There is limited research on the connection between the Holocaust and chronic pain, despite evidence suggesting that medical and psychological sequelae are common in survivors. The goals of this study were: (1) to define Holocaust survivors' (n = 33) chronic pain characteristics as manifested 50 years after the war, (2) to compare survivors with controls (n = 33) who did not experience World War II atrocities, and (3) to investigate the connection between past trauma and chronic pain. Data were collected through questionnaires that included a detailed medical and pain history, visual analog scale (VAS), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), and Pain Disability Index (PDI). A comparison of variables between the two groups was conducted using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and ANOVA, and canonical discriminant analysis. Results showed that Holocaust survivors reported higher pain levels (73 +/- 18 vs. 56 +/- 21; P < 0.005), more pain sites (4.5 6 2.8 vs. 2.7 6 1.4; P < 0.05), and significantly higher depression scores (17.6 +/- 8.4 vs. 9.2 +/- 4.6; P < 0.001); they tended to utilize more medical services (5.9 +/- 3.0 vs. 5.1 +/- 2.8). Nonetheless, survivors did not regard themselves more disabled as compared with controls. They reported a higher activity level as measured by walking distance capacity, and spent significantly fewer hours resting (4.3 +/- 3.6 vs. 7 +/- 4.6; P < 0.05). This paradoxical combination of high pain intensity, moderate to severe depression, and high activity level characterizes Holocaust survivors' chronic pain. It is conceivable that by remaining active Holocaust survivors fight back their pain, distress, and depression. These findings suggest that Holocaust atrocities affect survivors' chronic pain even years later.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Induction of anesthesia with propofol in urological outpatient surgery.

Propofol (Diprivan) in a new formulation, a short-acting intravenous anesthetic, was used as an induction agent for short urological procedures. Forty unpremedicated patients were treated with either propofol or thiopental in a randomized study. The onset of anesthesia and duration of apneic period were prolonged and the decrease in systolic blood pressure was more profound in the propofol group. Heart rate was less stable and recovery time was longer in the thiopental group. Other parameters, such as quality of anesthesia, acceptability of the drug or rate of side effects, were similar in both groups. These results suggest that propofol in a new formulation is a suitable agent for short urological procedures in outpatient surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The effect of alfentanil on experimental myocardial infarction size: a comparison with fentanyl and halothane.

We compared the action of alfentanil on experimental myocardial infarction size with two widely used anesthetic drugs: fentanyl and halothane. Myocardial infarction size, measured by histological techniques, was identical for the three drugs investigated. Our results demonstrate that the action of alfentanil on factors governing myocardial oxygen supply and demand in the rat with coronary artery ligation is no different from the action of fentanyl or halothane.

Alfentanil↗
PubMed1982

Effects on respiratory patterns during bronchoscopy by the Sanders attachment technique.

The purpose of this study was to rationalize the choice of injector and bronchoscope sizes during bronchoscopy under general anesthesia using the Sanders attachment technique. Arterial Po2 and Pco2, FIo2, and peak inspiratory pressure at the tip of the bronchoscope were plotted against the ratio (RI/B) of the internal diameters of the injector and the bronchoscope in seven dogs undergoing bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. Peak inspiratory pressure, FIo2, and PaO2, increased, and PaCO2 decreased with an increase in RI/B. A working table is proposed to predict the optimal RI/B.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1978

Embolization of detached fragments of intravenous plastic catheter.

Three cases of embolization by detached fragments of "Intracath" intravenous catheters are described. In two, successful surgical removal was performed, whilst in the third, due to the poor general condition of the patient, no attempt at removal was made and after long-term observation, there were no untoward side effects.

Adult↗