Objective About 1 % of infants are of very low birth weight. However, they comprise about 50% of infant mortality. We compare the effects of continuous versus intermittent feeding on physical growth, gastrointestinal tolerance and macronutrient retention in low birth weight infants (Methods A prospective randomized trial clinical trial was performed from 2004-2005. Very low birth weight neonate...

BACKGROUND After ankle and hindfoot fractures, edema has a major impact on the time for surgical intervention and may increase the risk of wound complications and infection postoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multilayer compression and intermittent impulse compression therapy in reducing ankle and hindfoot edema compared with the standard treatment with elevat...

The two patients in this case series had experienced long-term difficulty controlling lymphedema at home. Both patients had used numerous home therapies, including older-generation intermittent pneumatic compression devices, without success. The Flexitouch system, an advanced pneumatic device, was prescribed to assist them with in-home efforts by providing therapy to their affected limbs in add...

Venous (gravitational) leg ulcers are unsightly, sometimes painful and often difficult to heal. They are associated with incompetence of valves in the deep leg veins and venous hypertension. The main approaches in the management of venous leg ulcers have been to reduce the 'back pressure' in the veins by surgical removal of any varicose veins, postural drainage (elevation of the legs when the p...

BACKGROUND Lymphedema treatment is difficult and there is no consensus on the best treatment. This study evaluated the effect of combined decongestive therapy (CDT) and pneumatic compression pump on lymphedema indicators in patients with breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL). METHODS Twenty one women with BCRL were enrolled. The volume difference of upper limbs, the circumference at 9 areas...

A clinical trial is described in which the effect of intermittent compression of the lower limb during surgery on the incidence of early postoperative deep vein thrombosis was assessed. Deep vein thromboses were diagnosed by the (125)I-fibrinogen uptake test. Peroperative intermittent compression was achieved by means of an inflatable plastic splint coupled to a pneumatic controller. By compres...

BACKGROUND Microvascular decompression surgery is standard neurosurgical practice for treating trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. Most other cranial nerves have been decompressed for paroxysmal intermittent hyperactivity of the affected cranial nerve or in very long-standing compressions to treat cranial nerve hypofunctioning. CASE DESCRIPTION We describe a case of intermittent paroxy...

INTRODUCTION Current methods of fracture care use various adjuncts to try and decrease time to fracture union, improve fracture union rates and enhance functional recovery. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), one such modality, is used in the management of both fractures and soft-tissue injuries. METHODS AND RESULTS A search of PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, DH data and Embase databases was p...

The heating capacity and coefficient of performance (COP) of conventional air-source heat pumps decreases towards lower ambient temperatures. In addition, high discharge temperature at the compressor discharge might limit the operation of the heat pump at very low ambient temperatures. Oil injected into the compression chamber at the beginning of the compression process can absorb part of the h...