ABSTRACT
Anticoagulation drugs are frequently used to prevent deep vein thrombosis in high-risk patients. Subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin [LMWH] is increasingly used in both hospitalized patients and outpatient settings. This necessitates familiarity of both health care providers and patients with such treatment and vigilance on possible complications. Here we present a case of hematoma of rectus sheath that occurred following subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin and was successfully treated with conservative management
ABSTRACT
Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. About 6.5 million people suffer from asthma in Iran. The Effective strategy to control asthma is related to education. The self-management has a major role in the standard education program. This study aimed to assess the effect of education on using peak flow meter and follow up via SMS on asthma self management. This study was a quasi-experimental controlled clinical trial. The samples included 98 patients, suffering from asthma referred to the pulmonary clinic in Imam Khomeini and Shariati hospitals. Patients were selected using convenient sampling method and were randomly assigned into the experiment [n=47] and control [n=51] groups through blocking method. Two educational sessions were held in the experiment group about how-to-use peak flow meter. Accordingly, the patients in the experiment group sent their peak flow rates via SMS to the researcher within 12 weeks. The researchers provided feedback to the patients about their asthma control via phone, weekly. Patients in the control group did not receive any education. Data were collected using the Asthma Control Test before and three months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the statistical tests of Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Independent t-test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov. There was a significant statistical difference between the two groups of experiment and control in terms of asthma control [P=0.002]. The education using peak flow meter and following up via SMS promotes asthma self-management. With regard to the significant role of nurses in patient education, educating patients with asthma by nurses is recommended at the Iranian Society of Asthma and Allergies clinics and medical centers
ABSTRACT
Background: Tissue diagnosis of anterior mediastinal tumors is very important for making correct therapeutic decision. To evaluate the value of performing percutaneous core needle biopsy in these tumors, we decided to perform this study
Materials and Methods: CT guided core needle biopsy was performed in 17 patients with anterior mediastinal tumor during an18-month period. The biopsy specimens were sent for histopathological study, and if the result was not definite, immunohistochemical studies were performed
Results: Percutaneous core needle biopsy provided adequate material in 15 from 17 cases. Of these 17 patients, 15 were diagnosed correctly by percutaneous core needle biopsy whereas 2 were not diagnosed definitely [one was "spindle cell tumor" and another one was "suggestive for lymphoma"]. The procedure was technically successful in 15 cases, and no complications occurred
Conclusion: CT-guided core needle biopsy of the anterior mediastinal tumors may be a safe, cost-effective and reliable method which can provide a precise diagnosis in the majority of mediastinal tumors and may obviate the need for anterior mediastinotomy or exploratory thoracotomy in cases which are medically treatable or non-resectable