Is steroid-refractory inflammatory bowel disease a risk factor for CMV infection?
CMV infection should be suspected in steroid-resistant UC and CD. Antiviral treatment improved the clinical outcome in steroid-resistant IBD cases with serum CMV DNA levels above 1000 copies/mL.
Our experience with this postoperative epidural analgesia regime is favourable. It has been easy to administer and monitor. Pain relief was excellent, side-effects were few and picked up by the established routines followed by the ward staff except in the 2 trauma patients who developed epidural abscesses. The staff on the surgical wards were motivated for this kind of work. Education and strict surveillance routines are mandatory in order to secure prompt action when warning signs develops (e.g. lower limb paralysis).