Papers And Originals
Treatment of Tetanus Neonatorum with Muscle Relaxants and Intermittent Positive-pressure Ventilation
Br Med J 1974; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.5901.223 (Published 09 February 1974) Cite this as: Br Med J 1974;1:223
This article has a correction. Please see:
- P. M. Smythe,
- M. D. Bowie,
- T. J. V. Voss
Abstract
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%.