Management of brainstem haemorrhages

Primary brainstem haemorrhages remain associated with poor outcomes compared to other forms of spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage. Their management needs re-evaluation and reinvestigation to update the relevant data.

Reflecting upon the humanitarian use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)

Hopes are very high that drones will provide extraordinary help to emergency response teams. On the other hand, critics are concerned about the real value of this technology.

Tissue engineering for paediatric patients

Tissue engineering approaches in a paediatric population are particularly relevant because of the critical need for transplant material and the small amount of accessible autologous graft tissue.

Outcome of inter-hospital transfer of patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in Switzerland

This study reports the results of the largest ECMO transportation programme in Switzerland and describes its feasibility and safety.

A curious association of chronic homeopathic arsenic ingestion with nonspecific symptoms in a Swiss teenager

Hahnemann’s homeopathic concept does not work for a substance such as arsenic. Since there is no safe dose for inorganic arsenic, sustained oral exposure even at ultra-low levels can be toxic.

Establishing a non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery programme for bilateral uniportal sympathectomy

Techniques for local anaesthesia and thoracoscopic surgery on a spontaneously breathing lung are the two key elements that must be adopted to establish a non-intubated, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery programme.

Characteristics of children and adolescents at the Switzerland-wide first ambulatory interdisciplinary pain clinic at the University Children’s Hospital Basel – a retrospective study

Given the long history of underestimating chronic pain in children and adolescents, we lack valid data on its assessment and treatment. The psychological and economic burden for patients, their families and society is substantial.

Association between income and control of cardiovascular risk factors after acute coronary syndromes: an observational study

Universal health insurance coverage may limit the impact of income inequality regarding drug use after an acute coronary syndrome, but not regarding changes in lifestyle and behaviour.

Negligible impact of highly patient-specific decision support for potassium-increasing drug-drug interactions – a cluster-randomised controlled trial

Clinical decision support systems have been developed to automatically ­detect potential drug-drug interactions and inform the healthcare providers. However, providers may view automated notifications as annoying and override them.

The rate of mother-to-child transmission of antiretroviral drug-resistant HIV strains is low in the Swiss Mother and Child HIV Cohort Study

Combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) has reduced mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and improved the prognosis of HIV-infected newborns. However, drug resistance mutations (DRM) either transmitted by MTCT (HIV-tDRM) or selected by suboptimal adherence and drug levels (HIV-sDRM) remain a concern.