Dear colleagues

In the current issue of the Greek e-journal of Perioperative Medicine various articles are presented concerning perioperative and emergency medicine.

In the retrospective, observational study of Koraki E et al, the authors investigated the prevalence and management of benign and malignant neuropathic chronic pain in a Greek Tertiary Hospital Pain Clinic. The findings of the study showed that a large proportion of the patients suffered from neuropathic pain  and experienced relief following treatment interventions by the multidisciplinary team of pain clinic. This study highlights the importance of assessment and individualized management strategies for patients presenting with neuropathic pain.

The next article of Aggou M et al. recorded and investigated the reasons, the location and the timing of 1000 in-hospital cardiac arrests (CAs).  The authors reported that the main causes of the in-hospital CAs were respiratory failure and hemodynamic disorders. Concerning the location within the hospital, general unmonitored wards were the most frequent locations of in-hospital CAs. Regarding timing, the majority of in-hospital CAs occurred within the first five days from patient’s admission. The authors noted that the information of this study could be used for developing strategies, in order to decrease in-hospital CA incidence and maybe even improve outcomes.

Next, the case study of Nikolaidou O et al, reviews the participation of Thessaloniki’s Department Emergency Medical System, during a tertiary hospital evacuation due to a large-scale wildfire in Northern Greece, in August of 2023. Authors pointed that continuous training, preparation and vigilance, of all those involved, in such situations are key factors for maximizing the capabilities of a health system in order to cope with real conditions.

The final article of Katerinopoulou P et al, describes a case of intentional nutmeg abuse in a young man and also presents a review of the relevant literature. The authors noted that nutmeg poisoning involves mainly young individuals, frequently combined with other recreational drugs, is rarely fatal and therapy is primarily supportive.

With regards

Editors in chief

Mouloudi Eleni
Papagiannopoulou Pinelopi