ABSTRACT
Because of conflicting reports we examined the accuracy of infrared tympanic thermometry compared with mercury rectal thermometer and a digital rectal thermometer in a medical ward. We studied prospectively the accuracy of parallel measurements with infrared tympanic thermometer and the correlation between this method and the rectal mercury thermometer. Measurements with digital rectal thermometry are also compared with mercury thermometry. 191 adult inpatients were included. The median difference between infrared tympanic and rectal mercury thermometry in the whole material was -0.5 degree C, but increased to -1.4 degrees C in a selected group with rectal temperature 38 degrees C or more. The median difference between parallel measurements with infrared tympanic thermometer was 0.4 degree C. Digital rectal thermometry, however, was in strict accordance with the rectal mercury method. We found an unacceptable difference in body temperature between measurements with infrared tympanic thermometer and rectal mercury thermometer. In a clinical setting the infrared ear thermometer has a very low sensitivity for detecting fever. Digital rectal thermometry seems to be a good alternative to the rectal mercury thermometer.
Subject(s)
Thermography/methods , Thermometers , Tympanic Membrane , Adult , Body Temperature , Humans , Prospective Studies , Rectum , Thermography/standards , Thermometers/standardsSubject(s)
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/diagnosis , Cholangitis, Sclerosing/diagnosis , Liver/enzymology , Pneumonia/diagnosis , Adult , Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/enzymology , Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/pathology , Cholangitis, Sclerosing/enzymology , Cholangitis, Sclerosing/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Hepatitis, Chronic/diagnosis , Hepatitis, Chronic/enzymology , Hepatitis, Chronic/pathology , Humans , Male , Pneumonia/enzymology , Pneumonia/pathologyABSTRACT
A study in 1995 at Harstad District Hospital concluded that too few patients with acute myocardial infarction had received thrombolytic treatment and that the in-hospital delay before administration of thrombolytics had been too long. To evaluate the effect of improvements in medical and nursing routines, data on all patients with acute myocardial infarction treated between October 1996 and October 1997 (n = 122) were analysed prospectively and compared with data from the 1995 study. The proportion of patients who received thrombolytic treatment increased from 24% in 1995 to 37% (p = 0.02). All patients received thrombolytics when indicated. The proportion of patients who died in hospital decreased from 25% in 1995 to 16% (p = 0.06). The proportion of patients who were treated within 60 minutes after arrival at the hospital increased from 20% to 67% (p < 0.001). For patients with typical ECG changes at arrival the mean door-to-needle time was 37 minutes. Mean delay from onset of symptoms to treatment was 4.5 hours. The results indicate that improved routines may have increased the proportion of patients receiving thrombolytic treatment and reduced the in-hospital delay. It is possible that a further reduction of delay may be achieved by reducing the pre-hospital delay, or by starting thrombolytic treatment before arrival to hospital.
Subject(s)
Emergency Medical Services/standards , Emergency Service, Hospital/standards , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Thrombolytic Therapy/methods , Aged , Contraindications , Emergency Medical Services/organization & administration , Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis , Patient Admission , Time FactorsABSTRACT
In this study we compared infrared tympanic thermometry with rectal mercury thermometry and digital rectal thermometry in patients admitted to a medical department. We found that infrared tympanic thermometry has a low sensitivity for detecting fever. Digital rectal thermometry is a good alternative to rectal mercury thermometry.
Subject(s)
Body Temperature , Thermography/methods , Adult , Ear, Middle/physiology , Humans , Observer Variation , Prospective Studies , Rectum/physiologySubject(s)
Occult Blood , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Insurance, Health , NorwayABSTRACT
A 39-year-old man presenting with pulmonary infiltrations and hemolytic anemia was diagnosed as having primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) without evidence of ulcerative colitis. This constellation of associations is unique to the best of our knowledge. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia has been reported to be associated with PSC on only a few occasions, and pulmonary infiltrations in association with PSC are also quite unusual. Genetic and immunologic mechanisms are major factors in the pathogenesis of these disorders.