Showing papers on "Pain medicine published in 1975"

Epidural analgesia for the treatment of multiple ribfractures.

Abstract: Epidural analgesia can be the choice of therapy for all patients with ribfractures and only minor coexisting injuries who are conscious and able to cooperate. In these cases we believe that EA is equivalent or even better than artificial ventilation with all its problems. Generally these patients are far easier to handle and one needs less nursing staff. The dignity of the patients can be maintained and the convalescent time in the intensive care unit is shorter. The criteria for the treatment and for measuring the progress of the patients with multiple ribfractures are discussed

Report on the first World congress on intensive care, London, June 24–27, 1974

Abstract: The Intensive Care Society (United Kingdom) was founded in 1970 by a group of clinicians who recognised the need for multidisciplinary communication in this field. The Society has presently over three hundred members, a quarter of them foreign. Whilst the majority are anaesthetists, a reflection of the active interest of this speciality in Intensive Care in this country, the Constitution was carefully designed to prevent them from dominating the Society's Council. Early in 1972 it was suggested that the time was ripe for a World Congress on Intensive Care, and a questionnaire circulated to members of the Society showed overwhelming support for this proposition. The primary aim of the Congress was to provide, for the first time, a multidisciplinary forum on an international scale for this rapidly developing area of medicine. It was hoped nurses and non-medical experts would also attend. Simultaneously the Congress would present a unique opportunity to explore the possibility of creating a permanent international body in this field. Despite the encouraging initial response, the great risks inherent in the venture were recognised at the outset. An authoritative handbook (2) states: \" . . . the very fact that a large Congress is being contemplated indicates that a responsible, well-established international group is behind the project. A few people, combining together for the first time, cannot hope to organise a large international meeting at their first attempt. It is a risky affair to plan a congress if the organisers lack the reputation or prestige necessary to obtain proper financial support from the outset.\" Despite this caveat the Council of the Society finally decided to accept the challenge. There were very many gravely anxious periods and unforeseen, indeed unforeseeable, problems. They included major and recurrent industrial difficulties, swiftly rising costs, poorly executed contracts, false promises and power politics. None proved insuperable,but compromises were sometimes unavoidable, and led to justifi-