Adequate symptom relief justifies hepatic resection for benign disease

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of partial liver resection for benign liver lesions. METHODS: All patients operated on for benign liver lesions from 1991 to 2002 were included. Information was retrieved from medical records, the hospital registration system and by a telephonic questionnaire. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with a median age of 41 years (17–71) were operated on (M/F ratio 5/23). The diagnosis was haemangioma in 8 patients, FNH in 6, HCA in 13 and angiomyolipoma in 1. Eight patients were known to have relevant co-morbidity. Median operating time was 207 minutes (45–360). The morbidity rate was 25% and no postoperative mortality was observed. Twenty-two patients (79%) had symptoms (mainly abdominal pain) prior to surgery. Twenty-five patients were reached for a questionnaire. The median follow up was 55 months (4–150). In 89% of patients preoperative symptoms had decreased or disappeared after surgery. Four patients developed late complications. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow up after liver surgery for benign liver lesions shows considerable symptom relief and patient satisfaction. In addition to a correct indication these results justify major surgery with associated morbidity and mortality

A nursing service change strategy for health clinics

M.Cur.It is evident that the current political changes presently taking place in South Africa need to be accompanied by a dramatic transformation to accommodate the economic, social, technological and health changes amongst others. The nursing discipline is no exception. For a change to be felt by nursing staff and by health consumers, effective management strategies need to be developed to accommodate transformation guidelines as outlined by the Reconstruction and Development Programme, the National Health Plan and the Constitution which all emphasize the right to health, hence this study. This study focuses on a primary health care clinics. This is a qualitative, contextual, exploratory and descriptive study with the overall aim of exploring and describing a nursing service strategy for change in Soweto Primary Health clinics where the researcher is employed. To accomplish this aim, the following objectives were formulated: to explore and describe the expectations of the managers and the functional nurses concerning the required nursing service strategy for change within Soweto Primary Health Clinics; to explore and describe the expectations of health consumers concerning the required nursing service strategy for change in Soweto Primary Health Clinics; to describe the required nursing service strategy for Soweto Primary Health Clinics. Through purposive sampling, three focus groups were selected from the role players within Soweto who represent the nursing managers, the functional nurses' and the health consumers in order to infer the required change strategy for the nursing service. i. Data was collected through these focus groups interviews using semi-structured questions. Data management and data analysis was done using the methods of content analysis according to Kerlinger (1986: 480). An research expert, was utilised as a reliability measure to identify and categorise themes separately from the researcher. The categories that emerged were subsequently refined through consensus discussions between the researcher and the independent researcher. Woods and Catanzaro' s measures (1988: 136) to ensure validity and reliability were applied in this study

Chloroquine and Quinine

Chloroquine is used to prevent and treat malaria in limited geographical areas (e.g., Central America and the Far East) and to manage immunological disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. It represents the most severe and frequent cause of poisoning by any antimalarial drug