Treatment of tetanus neonatorum with muscle relaxants and intermittent positive-pressure ventilation.
Intermittent positive-pressure ventilation and muscle relaxants were first used in Cape Town in 1958 in an attempt to reduce the mortality from tetanus neonatorum, which was then over 90%. Problems of effective ventilation, of tracheostomy, and of infection in the neonate were gradually overcome so that between 1967 and 1972 the mortality in 186 cases was 21%. In a consecutive series of 97 cases the mortality was 10%.
D000402:Airway Obstruction; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D008722:Methods; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010242:Paraldehyde / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012463:Saliva; D013696:Temperature; D013742:Tetanus / Q000628:therapy*; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014140:Tracheotomy; D014403:Tubocurarine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014886:Weaning; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003975:Diazepam; D010242:Paraldehyde; D010100:Oxygen; D014403:Tubocurarine