Patients' expectations,experience and acceptability of postoperative analgesia: a nested qualitative study within a randomised controlled trial comparing rectus sheath catheter and thoracic epidural analgesia

Adequate postoperative analgesia is a key element of enhanced recovery programmes. Thoracic epidural analgesia is associated with superior postoperative analgesia but can lead to complications. Rectus sheath catheter analgesia may provide an alternative. In a nested qualitative study (within a two-year randomised controlled trial) focussing on the acceptability, expectations and experiences of receiving the interventions, participants (n = 20) were interviewed 4 weeks post-intervention using a grounded theory approach. Constant comparative analysis, with patient and public involvement, enabled emerging findings to be pursued through subsequent data collection. We found no notable differences regarding postoperative acceptability or the experience of pain management. Pre-operatively, however, thoracic epidural analgesia was a source of anticipatory fear and anxiety. Both interventions resulted in some experienced adverse events (proportionately more with thoracic epidural analgesia). Participants had negative experiences of the insertion of thoracic epidural analgesia; others receiving the rectus sheath catheter lacked confidence in staff members' ability to manage the local anaesthetic infusion pump. The anticipation of the technique of thoracic epidural analgesia, and concerns about its impact on mobility, represented an additional, unpleasant experience for patients already managing an illness experience, anticipating a life-changing operation and dealing with concerns about the future. The anticipation of rectus sheath catheter analgesia was not associated with such anxieties. Patients' experiences start far earlier than the experience of the intervention itself through anticipatory anxieties and fears about receiving a technique and its potential implications. Complex pain packages can take on greater meaning than their actual efficacy in relieving postoperative pain. Future research into patient acceptability and experience should not focus solely on efficacy of pain relief but should include anticipatory fears, anxieties and experiences.     

腹部切口脂肪液化的防治体会（附54例报告）

目的探讨腹部手术切口脂肪液化的防治措施。方法采用回顾性调查方法，对我院自1996年1月～2005年7月各种腹部手术后发生切口脂肪液化时所进行的治疗方法进行对比分析。2002年3月前我们采用传统方法治疗，共27例，作为对照组；2002年3月后我们采用切口置管持续负压吸引治疗，共27例，作为试验组。结果试验组的平均治疗时间和平均术后切口恢复时问均短于对照组，差异有显著性。结论适当的处理措施有利于减少术后脂肪液化的发生。切口脂肪液化时采用切口置管持续负压吸引治疗能减轻患者痛苦，缩短治疗时间。     

The relationship between maternal needs and priorities in a neonatal intensive care environment

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the nature and organization of maternal needs and priorities in a neonatal unit. BACKGROUND: The relationship between maternal needs and priorities appears to be an under studied area in neonatal nursing. METHODS: A quantitative survey was carried out based on 209 mothers with premature infants. Two self-assessment schedules were used: critical care maternal needs inventory (J. Leske, Heart and Lung 15, 27-42) and a ranking scale. The data were analysed with multivariate analysis. FINDINGS: Data analysis revealed clear priorities in maternal needs. In particular the need for accurate infant related information was a priority for 93% of the mothers. Good communication practices with professionals were also valued. The mothers displayed altruistic behaviour, and self-related needs took second place. It is proposed that maternal needs demonstrate a hierarchical organization. CONCLUSION: It is important for nurses to consider the individual needs of the mothers, simply because the satisfaction of these needs is essential for maternal well-being.     

Rectus sheath haematoma requiring laparotomy

Rectus sheath haematoma is a well‐documented but unusual cause of acute abdomen. Combination of clinical features and appropriate radiological investigations can make for a prompt diagnosis. Most authors advocate conservative management and it has been reported that patients were directly discharged from the emergency department. We report a case of rectus sheath haematoma which progressed with clinical deterioration and necessitated surgical intervention for clot evacuation. Causes, physical signs, radiological features and classification of rectus sheath haematoma are discussed. It may be necessary to continue close clinical monitoring after diagnosis of rectus sheath haematoma.     

妇科腹腔镜手术中转开腹22例原因分析

目的 探讨妇科腹腔镜手术中转开腹的原因及从中吸取的经验。方法 回顾分析2004年6月-2007年6月我院982例妇科腹腔镜手术中中转开腹22例的临床资料。结果 腹腔镜中转开腹率为2．24％，22例中转开腹的原因及其所占的比例依次为：盆腔粘连6例（27．27％），子宫肌瘤部位特殊3例（13．64％），并发症3例（13．64％），卵巢恶性肿瘤3例（13．64％），术中出血3例（13．64％），官角妊娠2例（9．09％），盆腔肿瘤来源于肠道者2例（9．09％）。结论 术者手术技巧是手术中转开腹原因之一，要提高手术操作技巧；明确术前诊断，充分估计手术难度，可以减少腹腔镜手术中转开腹率；遇到困难，适时开腹可以减少手术并发症。     

Labyrinth Exploration, Emotional Reactivity, and Conditioned Fear in Young Roman/Verh Inbred Rats

An inbreeding program has been carried out with the Swiss sublines of Roman high- and low-avoidance rats since 1993. The present study reports the first experiments conducted with young animals of those inbred strains (RHA-I/Verh and RLA-I/Verh, respectively) from the sixth and seventh inbreeding generations. The results confirmed expected behavioral profiles. Compared to the RHA-I/Verh strain, RLA-I/Verh rats showed decreased entries into the illuminated central arena of an hexagonal tunnel maze, as well as decreased spontaneous locomotor activity and increased defecations, in two independent experiments. Young RLA-I/Verh females explored less than did their RHA-I/Verh counterparts during session 1 of a conditioned-fear experiment preceding shock administration, and in session 2 (conducted 24 h after the application of three footshocks), they showed greater conditioned behavioral inhibition (i.e., reduced amount of rearing), as well as higher defecation scores, than did RHA-I/Verh females.Karl Bättig tragically and unexpectedly died on December 27, 1996     

Optimal debulking following chemotherapy of advanced-stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma

We reviewed the records of 110 consecutive patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma treated at the Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel, from 1961-1987. Twenty patients (18.1%) had optimal debulking at initial laparotomy, 30 patients (27.2%) had nonoptimal debulking at initial laparotomy, 20 patients (18.1%) had an "inoperable" disease at initial laparotomy, and 40 patients (36.3%) had such poorly written records that no information about the degree of resectability at initial laparotomy could be obtained. Four patients, in whom the residual tumor left at initial laparotomy had responded to chemotherapy, had a second laparotomy. In all four patients optimal debulking surgery at second laparotomy was easy to perform and was successful. The value of a second laparotomy after a few cycles of chemotherapy in order to optimally debulk the residual tumor left at initial laparotomy is discussed. It is concluded that a second attempt of debulking surgery after chemotherapy has a respectable place in the management of patients with advanced-state epithelial ovarian carcinoma, but further research is needed.     

大学生网络成瘾类型问卷的初步编制

目的:编制适用我国大学生的网络成瘾类型问卷。方法:根据访谈、开放式问卷施测结果,编制大学生网络成瘾类型问卷;调查样本为733名武汉地区大学生,91名大学生作为重测样本;检验了问卷的同质信度、重测信度、结构效度等。结果:探索性因素分析获得3个因素,即网络游戏成瘾、网络人际关系成瘾及网络信息成瘾,各因子负荷在0·50~0·82之间。总问卷及各分问卷的同质性信度(Cronbachα)、分半信度及重测信度分别为0·80~0·92、0·79~0·90和0·81~0·91。验证性因素分析结果表明问卷的三因素模型各项参数(RMSEA=0·07,CFI=0·98,NFI=0·97,IFI=0·98,TLI=0·97,RFI=0·96)均达到可以接受的水平。结论:该问卷具有较好的信度和效度,可用于大学生网络成瘾类型的测试。