BackgroundMost research on the mental health of UK armed forces personnel has been conducted either before or after deployment; there is scant evidence concerning personnel while they are on deployment.AimsTo assess the mental health of UK armed forces personnel deployed in Iraq and identify gaps in the provision of support on operations.MethodPersonnel completed a questionnaire about their deployment experiences and health status. Primary outcomes were psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire–12, GHQ–12), symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and self-rating of overall health.ResultsOf 611 participants, 20.5% scored above the cut-off on the GHQ–12 and 3.4% scored as having probable PTSD. Higher risk of psychological distress was associated with younger age, female gender, weaker unit cohesion, poorer perceived leadership and non-receipt of a pre-deployment stress brief. Perceived threat to life, poorer perceived leadership and non-receipt of a stress brief were risk factors for symptoms of PTSD. Better self-rated overall health was associated with being a commissioned officer, stronger unit cohesion and having taken a period of rest and recuperation. Personnel who reported sick for any reason during deployment were more likely to report psychological symptoms. Around 11% reported currently being interested in receiving help for a psychological problem.ConclusionsIn an established operational theatre the prevalence of common psychopathology was similar to rates found in non-deployed military samples. However, there remains scope for further improving in-theatre support mechanisms, raising awareness of the link between reporting sick and mental health and ensuring implementation of current policy to deliver pre-deployment stress briefs.

Permissive hypercapnia for the prevention of morbidity and mortality in mechanically ventilated newborn infants.

Millions of people across the world have sickle cell disease (SCD). Although the true prevalence of SCD in Europe is not certain, London (UK) alone had an estimated 9000 people with the disorder in 1997. People affected by SCD are best managed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who deliver comprehensive care: a model of healthcare based on interaction of medical and non-medical services with the affected persons. The components of comprehensive care include patient/parent information, genetic counselling, social services, prevention of infections, dietary advice and supplementation, psychotherapy, renal and other specialist medical care, maternal and child health, orthopaedic and general surgery, pain control, physiotherapy, dental and eye care, drug dependency services and specialist sickle cell nursing. The traditional role of haematologists remains to co-ordinate overall management and liase with other specialities as necessary. Co-operation from the affected persons is indispensable to the delivery of comprehensive care. Working in partnership with the hospital or community health service administration and voluntary agencies enhances the success of the multidisciplinary team. Holistic care improves the quality of life of people affected by SCD, and reduces the number as well as length of hospital admissions. Disease-related morbidity is reduced by early detection and treatment of chronic complications. Comprehensive care promotes awareness of SCD among affected persons who are encouraged to take greater control of their own lives, and achieves better patient management than the solo efforts of any single group of professionals. This cost-effective model of care is an option for taking haemoglobinopathy services forward in the new millennium.

In a prospective study, 50 women who had undergone uncomplicated abdominal hysterectomy under general anaesthesia were allocated randomly to receive patient-controlled analgesia with either morphine alone or a mixture of morphine and droperidol. Bolus doses of morphine 1 mg and droperidol 0.05 mg were used with a lockout time of 5 min. During the first 24 h after surgery the mean (range) dose of droperidol in the droperidol group was 3.2 (1.9-6.0) mg. Significantly fewer patients in the droperidol group felt nauseated (P < 0.01) and significantly fewer vomited (P < 0.001). In the morphine alone group, 19 patients required additional antiemetic therapy, whereas in the droperidol group only one patient found this necessary (P < 0.001). Extrapyramidal side effects were not observed in any patient. Significantly more patients were of the opinion that PCA had provided excellent analgesia when droperidol had been used (P < 0.01).

ABSTRACT. Objectives. To investigate the bacteria and fungi contaminating toys in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) cots, the colonization rates, and factors that influence them.Methods. A cross-sectional, longitudinal bacteriologic survey of all toys in the cots of infants in an NICU. All the toys in an infant's cot were cultured weekly for 4 weeks. Data were collected on the infant's postnatal age, the type of cot, whether humidity was added, characteristics of the toy, and any infant infections.Results Implications. With time, all the toys in NICU cots became colonized with bacteria.