ABSTRACT
Two hundred and seventy-one (76%) out of 358 survivors of infarction were discharged by the eighth hospital day, and 251 (93%) of them survived to six weeks after discharge. Six of the 20 patients who died between discharge and six weeks did so after readmission and 14 died as outpatients. All these patients who died at home had transmural infarction and four had diabetes. In inpatients successful resuscitation occurred mainly within the first 48 hours, with only three successful long-term results from all the patients who suffered arrest later. This suggests that more prolonged inpatient care would not have reduced the late mortality. These figures justify continuing with an early discharge policy for most patients, but coronary care should probably be more prolonged for patients with diabetes.
Subject(s)
Length of Stay , Myocardial Infarction/mortality , Adult , Aged , Coronary Care Units , Diabetes Complications , Heart Arrest/mortality , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial Infarction/complications , ResuscitationABSTRACT
A method of internal fixation of adjacent vertebrae that have been dislocated or subluxed has been presented. In the author's hands and in the hands of associates this has proven to be a satisfactory method of fixation in this type of injury. It has the advantage over many other posterior techniques that only two verbebrae are fixed together.
Subject(s)
Cervical Vertebrae/injuries , Joint Dislocations/surgery , Spinal Injuries/surgery , Humans , Methods , Neck , Postoperative ComplicationsABSTRACT
A total of 342 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were admitted to a coronary care unit are reviewed to assess the results of early mobilization and discharge. The mean duration of admission was 8.4 days and 89% of the survivors were discharged from hospital by the tenth day. The inpatient mortality was 15.5%. An additional 6.7% died during the six weeks' follow-up period, giving a total mortality of 22.2%. Altogether, 7.6% of patients were readmitted. Venous thromboembolic phenomena occurred in 3.5% during the inpatient period. Of patients who were eligible 62% were back at work five months after their myocardial infarction. We think the results justify a short hospital admission period for acute myocardial infarction.
