ABSTRACT
Stingray injuries are very painful. Systemic analgesics are ineffective, and the use of local-regional anesthesia has been reported. This retrospective descriptive study reviewed all cases of stingray injuries seen at the emergency department of the Bouffard Hospital (Djbouti, Africa) between 2011 and 2014. The study included 35 patients. Most of the injuries (n= 31, 89%) concerned the lower limbs. Median pain intensity was 6 [5-8] on a visual analog scale of 0 (no pain) to 10. The following systemic medications were administered: acetaminophen to 13 (27%) patients, morphine to 8 (23%), and tramadol to 6 (17%). In all, 25 (71%) patients received local-regional anesthesia, 15 (60%) by injections at the ankle. All procedures were successful, and no adverse event was reported. This study reports clinical data about stingray injuries in the Red Sea area and highlights the interest of local-regional anesthesia in their management. Most of the procedures were distal and could be performed by trained emergency physicians.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Local , Anesthetics, Local/therapeutic use , Bites and Stings/drug therapy , Skates, Fish , Adult , Anesthesia, Conduction , Animals , Djibouti , Female , Hospitals , Humans , Male , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Computerized hospital databases are used for clinical and economic research. In France, the hospital administrative database, Programme de médicalisation des systèmes d'information (PMSI), could be an interesting means for identifying cases of abuse and dependence in hospitals. PURPOSE: To assess the capability of PMSI to identify cases of abuse and dependence (medicines or illicit drugs; tobacco and alcohol not included). METHODS: Cross-sectional study, from October 1 to December 31, 2008, in teaching hospitals of Bordeaux. All hospitalizations with an ICD-10 code related to possible abuse or dependence were selected. Cases were validated by a committee composed of three pharmacologists using discharge summaries. RESULTS: Among the 34 816 patients registered in the PMSI during the study period, a total of 227 patients were pre-selected as potential cases; 21 patients, hospitalized for abuse or dependence, or complications of which, were included in the analysis. Mean age was 35 years. Substances implicated were buprenorphine (n = 8), benzodiazepines (n = 7), cannabis (n = 6), cocaine (n = 4), heroin (n = 3), amphetamine, ecstasy, morphine, codeine, and tramadol (n = 1, respectively); there was polydrug use in six cases. CONCLUSIONS: The PMSI database can be useful to identify certain cases of abuse and dependence. This pilot study has been conducted at a local level; as the PMSI is available in all hospital settings in France, further analysis could be done at the regional and national levels. Such data could be a valuable indicator to analyze trends and assess the medical consequences of substance abuse.
Subject(s)
Medical Records Systems, Computerized , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , France/epidemiology , Hospitals , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Several examples of recent studies by in situ straining experiments in a transmission electron microscope performed in the Toulouse group (France) are presented. In particular, quantitative measurements of the features of the dislocation motion are described. These examples deal with individual or collective propagation of dislocations, which are submitted to various types of obstacle. Different metallic materials are investigated: magnesium, intermetallics, aluminium alloys and gamma phase of a superalloy.
