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Aim: Safe transfusion is one of the important steps in blood transfusion. This survey study evaluates the level of education and awareness of our nurses about safe blood transfusion. Method: 192 nurses working in our hospital were surveyed. Results: Only 16% of the participants were 40 years old or older, 18% worked for more than 20 years, 20% were high school graduates, and 25% of them never received training on blood transfusion (BT). All participants have been acquired awareness on cross match and record control. However, 20% were hesitant about the necessity of patient consent. It was observed that there was information confusion about premedication, and 25% were misinformed about blood transfusion procedures. For BTrelated reactions, 67% and 40% could exactly identify the symptoms and the findings, respectively. Of the participants, 15% were misinformed about the necessity of emergency kit and 50% were aware of what to be performed in case of a BT reaction. Discussion: Since increasing the safety in BT process is highly related to the level of knowledge and awareness of the transfusion nurses, it is important to establish inservice training programs and safety control systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the quantitative values of anterior chamber angle by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy in a young healthy male population without ocular and systemic diseases. Material and Method: In this study, 38 eyes of 38 male subjects were included. Ultrasound biomicroscopy examinations were always performed by the same person under standardized environment and conditions. At each session, axial images of anterior chamber and radial sections of the angle at the lateral quadrant were taken. Angle parameters were obtained by UBM Pro2000® software. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 21.3±0.9 years, ranging from 21 to 26 years and all of the subjects were male. It was observed that the mean central axial anterior chamber depth was 3.25±0.26 mm, mean angle recess area was 0.167±0.020 mm2, mean angle opening distance at 250 microns was 0.174±0.032 mm, mean angle opening distance at 500 microns was 0.223±0.013 mm, and the mean scleral spur-iris root distance was 0.269±0.052 mm in our subjects. Discussion: Ultrasound biomicroscopy gives either qualitative or quantitative information about anterior segment structures. Determination of the quantitative normal values of anterior chamber angle may help us to evaluate and follow this area objectively. The quantitative data belonging to healthy young male patients provided by this study may be used as reference values for future studies that can be performed in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To search the effects of corneal, refractive and biometric parameters on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements performed with Pascal dynamic contour tonometer (DCT), Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), noncontact tonometer (NCT) and Tonopen. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 ocular hypertensive (OHT) patients and 120 healthy control individuals with normal IOP values were included in the study. After all patients underwent refraction examination, keratometric measurement, axial length measurement and central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements IOP was measured with 4 different tonometers in random order. Whether if any correlations existed between IOP measurements of 4 different tonometers with corneal (CCT, keratometry), refractive (spherical equivalent) and biometric parameters (axial lenghth) were evaluated with Pearson correlation analysis. Findings: IOP measurements with DCT were higher than those of other tonometers' in both OHT and control individuals. There was no correlation between IOP measurements and keratometry, spherical equivalent refraction, axial lenghth in both groups. In the control group, while CCT showed mild correlations with GAT, NCT and Tonopen, there was no correlation with DCT. In the OHT group with predominantly thick corneas there was no correlation between Tonopen and CCT only, while all other tonometers showed mild correlations with CCT. Conclusions: CCT values above or below normal values can lead to faulty tonometric mesaurements. Among the tonometers used in this study, DCT and Tonopen attract attention as tonometers effected the least from CCT in heathy individuals with normal IOP and in OHT patients, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We evaluated early and late complications of tracheotomy in patients who underwent tracheotomy for prolonged entubation. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 227 patients (124 males, 103 females; mean age 47.2 years; range 3 to 85 years) who underwent tracheotomy for prolonged entubation during hospitalization at Reanimation and Intensive Care Unit, Coronary Intensive Care Unit, Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care Unit, Neurology Unit, and Chest Diseases Unit. There were 10 children and 217 adult patients. Patients who underwent tracheotomy for upper airway obstruction were excluded. Results: The mean duration of intubation was 10.4 days (range 9 to 13 days). Early complications included hemorrhage (n=15, 6.6%) and subcutaneous emphysema (n=3, 1.3%), and late complications included laryngotracheal stenosis (n=2, 3.2%) and difficult decannulation (n=1, 1.6%). Mortality due to tracheotomy did not occur. Conclusion: Establishing a tracheotomy in patients with prolonged intubation is a reliable surgical procedure with low complication risk, providing a safe ventilatory respiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and laboratory findings and musculoskeletal complications of brucellosis. Patients and Methods: The study included 26 patients (18 males. 8 females, mean age 52.4 years; range 18 to 82 years) with a diagnosis of musculoskelatal brucellosis. All patients were questioned with respect to demographic characteristics, initial types of symptoms, and risk factors. Symptoms, clinical and laboratory findings, and musculoskeletal involvement were recorded and plain radiographies were assessed. Results: Seventeen patients (65.4%) presented with acute, and nine patients (34.6%) presented with chronic symptoms. Clinical and radiographic assessments showed spondylitis in 12 patients, of which 10 patients had lumbar involvement. Sacroileitis was detected in 10 patients, being unilateral in six. Peripheral arthritis was detected in seven patients (26.9%), and the most commonly affected peripheral joint was the knee. In addition, eight patients had abscess, and four had neurological involvement. Conclusion: The most common musculoskeletal involvement in brucellosis is spondylitis, mainly affecting the lumbar segments. Patients with musculoskeletal complications should be investigated for paraspinal abscesses and monitored closely for neurological deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We evaluated the functional results of patients who were treated with closed reduction and external fixation for proximal humeral fractures. Patients and Methods: The study included 16 patients (11 males, 5 females; mean age 50.3 years; range 9 to 81 years) with proximal humerus fractures. All the patients were treated with closed reduction and external fixation (9 İlizarov external fixator, 7 menolateral external fixator). After bone union was achieved, the fixators were removed and functional results were evaluated with the Constant score. The mean follow-up was 37 months (range 4 to 69 months). Results: The average union time was 14 weeks (range 8 to 22 weeks). Union did not occur in one patient. Avascular necrosis of the humeral head developed in one patient. Superficial pin tract infections were observed in three patients, all of whom were successfully treated with wound care and antibiotic therapy. The mean Constant score was 81. Conclusion: Treatment of displaced fractures of the proximal humerus with closed reduction and external fixation provides satisfactory fracture reduction and stability and functional results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented related to the diagnosis of the sick sinus syndrome (SSS) condition in patients.