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Issue

Vol 128 No 1411: 27 Mar 2015

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Issue Summary

SUMMARY

Paediatric EEG provision in New Zealand: a survey of practice

Ngaire Keenan, Lynette G Sadlier

Epilepsy is a common disorder affecting ~7300 children in New Zealand. Epilepsy is diagnosed with the help of electroencephalography (EEG), an investigation that looks at electrical activity in the brain. This study investigated the procedures that hospital departments in New Zealand used to record EEGs and interpret EEG results. We found that there is variability between departments in these procedures and increased resources are required to ensure New Zealand children have equal access to EEGs.

SUMMARY

Predicting lymph node metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: use of a morphological scoring system

Nicholas J M Agar, Christopher Kirton, Rajan S Patel, Richard C W Martin, Neville Angelo, Patrick O Emanuel

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is common in New Zealand. Usually, the outcome is very favourable for patients with this disease. Rarely, these tumours behave aggressively. We applied a new method of stratifying risk to try and better predict which tumours will behave aggressively and result in a poor outcome.

SUMMARY

Association of point prevalence diagnosis of delirium on length of stay, 6-month mortality, and level of care on discharge at Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland

Aik Haw Tan, John Scott

Delirium is common amongst older adults who are hospitalised. This study detects delirium in hospitalised older adults using a test called the Confusion Assessment Method. This study shows that the presence of delirium in hospitalised older adults was associated with an increased likelihood of death within 6 months. It was also associated with a higher chance of being discharged from the hospital to a rest home or private hospital.

SUMMARY

Removal of Special Authority requirements for clopidogrel improved optimal care following percutaneous coronary intervention across sociodemographic groups

Suneela Mehta, Sue Wells, Rod Jackson, Jeff Harrison, Andrew Kerr

Clopidogrel is a medication that was routinely used until mid-2012 to reduce the risk of clots forming within blood vessels in the heart after percutaneous coronary intervention (a common procedure used to unblock narrowed arteries in the heart). We examined if optimal clopidogrel therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) changed by age, sex, deprivation status or ethnic group during and after special authority funding restrictions, which required hospital-specialist approval for full funding. After funding restrictions were lifted, optimal clopidogrel therapy following PCI improved by 7% across all sociodemographic groups. Irrespective of funding restrictions, almost all eligible patients received some clopidogrel therapy and there were few differences in optimal clopidogrel use between men and women, younger and older people and more and less deprived groups. However, Maori and Pacific peoples were less likely to have optimal clopidogrel therapy compared to non-Maori/non-Pacific/non-Indian patients before and after funding restrictions were removed.

SUMMARY

Nicotine and toxicant yield ratings of electronic cigarette brands in New Zealand

Murray Laugesen

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) contain nicotine but not toxins, and so they do not kill smokers. We checked out 14 brands sold in New Zealand. We found toxic aldehydes had an average concentration of under 0.5% of that found in Marlboro cigarette smoke. Nicotine concentration was one-half to two-thirds that in a Marlboro. E-cigs are comparatively safe to switch to.

ALL ARTICLES
SUMMARY

Paediatric EEG provision in New Zealand: a survey of practice

Ngaire Keenan, Lynette G Sadlier

Biodegradable stents and coronary artery disease?

Predicting lymph node metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: use of a morphological scoring system

Nicholas J M Agar, Christopher Kirton, Rajan S Patel, Richard C W Martin, Neville Angelo, Patrick O Emanuel

Association of point prevalence diagnosis of delirium on length of stay, 6-month mortality, and level of care on discharge at Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland

Aik Haw Tan, John Scott

Removal of Special Authority requirements for clopidogrel improved optimal care following percutaneous coronary intervention across sociodemographic groups

Suneela Mehta, Sue Wells, Rod Jackson, Jeff Harrison, Andrew Kerr

Nicotine and toxicant yield ratings of electronic cigarette brands in New Zealand

Murray Laugesen

Predictors of outcome for cutaneous squamous cell cancer

James H F Shaw

A rare case of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis during pregnancy

Lai Wan Chan, Christer Nilsson, Jan Schepel, Christopher Lynch

Medical image. Metal pigmentation of gingiva

Makoto Adachi, Yasunori Muramatsu

What should be the management policy for asymptomatic inguinal hernias?

Philip F Bagshaw

The Auckland Surgical Theatre Educational Environment Measure: does attending surgery benefit house officers?

Tary Yin, Stephen Child

Availability and quantity of antidotes in New Zealand

Leo J Schep, Robin J Slaughter

WW1: Prices of Drugs

Let the sunshine in: making industry payments to New Zealand doctors transparent

Cindy Farquhar, Tim Stokes, Andrew Grey, Mark Jeffery, Peter Griffen

SUMMARY

Paediatric EEG provision in New Zealand: a survey of practice

Ngaire Keenan, Lynette G Sadlier

Epilepsy is a common disorder affecting ~7300 children in New Zealand. Epilepsy is diagnosed with the help of electroencephalography (EEG), an investigation that looks at electrical activity in the brain. This study investigated the procedures that hospital departments in New Zealand used to record EEGs and interpret EEG results. We found that there is variability between departments in these procedures and increased resources are required to ensure New Zealand children have equal access to EEGs.

SUMMARY

Predicting lymph node metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: use of a morphological scoring system

Nicholas J M Agar, Christopher Kirton, Rajan S Patel, Richard C W Martin, Neville Angelo, Patrick O Emanuel

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is common in New Zealand. Usually, the outcome is very favourable for patients with this disease. Rarely, these tumours behave aggressively. We applied a new method of stratifying risk to try and better predict which tumours will behave aggressively and result in a poor outcome.

SUMMARY

Association of point prevalence diagnosis of delirium on length of stay, 6-month mortality, and level of care on discharge at Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland

Aik Haw Tan, John Scott

Delirium is common amongst older adults who are hospitalised. This study detects delirium in hospitalised older adults using a test called the Confusion Assessment Method. This study shows that the presence of delirium in hospitalised older adults was associated with an increased likelihood of death within 6 months. It was also associated with a higher chance of being discharged from the hospital to a rest home or private hospital.

SUMMARY

Removal of Special Authority requirements for clopidogrel improved optimal care following percutaneous coronary intervention across sociodemographic groups

Suneela Mehta, Sue Wells, Rod Jackson, Jeff Harrison, Andrew Kerr

Clopidogrel is a medication that was routinely used until mid-2012 to reduce the risk of clots forming within blood vessels in the heart after percutaneous coronary intervention (a common procedure used to unblock narrowed arteries in the heart). We examined if optimal clopidogrel therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) changed by age, sex, deprivation status or ethnic group during and after special authority funding restrictions, which required hospital-specialist approval for full funding. After funding restrictions were lifted, optimal clopidogrel therapy following PCI improved by 7% across all sociodemographic groups. Irrespective of funding restrictions, almost all eligible patients received some clopidogrel therapy and there were few differences in optimal clopidogrel use between men and women, younger and older people and more and less deprived groups. However, Maori and Pacific peoples were less likely to have optimal clopidogrel therapy compared to non-Maori/non-Pacific/non-Indian patients before and after funding restrictions were removed.

SUMMARY

Nicotine and toxicant yield ratings of electronic cigarette brands in New Zealand

Murray Laugesen

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) contain nicotine but not toxins, and so they do not kill smokers. We checked out 14 brands sold in New Zealand. We found toxic aldehydes had an average concentration of under 0.5% of that found in Marlboro cigarette smoke. Nicotine concentration was one-half to two-thirds that in a Marlboro. E-cigs are comparatively safe to switch to.

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