Der Internist
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Persistent fever and unspecific general symptoms need a complete and detailed medical history and search for infection. We report on a case of amebiasis with liver abscesses of a 26-year-old man. ⋯ Due to proven liver abscesses, a combination treatment was given. Within 12 days, he was free of symptoms and could be discharged.
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Calcific aortic stenosis is the most frequent valve disorder in the western world. It is a degenerative and chronic progressive disease in the elderly with increasing prevalence due to the demographic development in the population. As there is no medical therapy, the only option in severe aortic stenosis is valve replacement. ⋯ If one of the classical symptoms dyspnea and fatigue, angina pectoris or syncope occurs prognosis worsens dramatically and valve replacement is indicated. Gold standard therapy for aortic stenosis is surgical valve replacement. For high-risk patients (older age and severe comorbidities), transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is established as standard therapy.
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Review Comparative Study
[Percutaneous mechanical circulatory support: options and importance].
In cases of low cardiac output and chronic cardiac failure despite conventional therapy, mechanical circulatory support may be the only option to ensure adequate organ perfusion and to save the life of the patient. In recent years, several conceptionally different methods of circulatory support have been developed for percutaneous application in interventional cardiology and intensive care. Indications range from elective use in complex cardiac interventions to long-term support as a bridge to recovery. ⋯ However, an increasing level of support is paralleled by greater invasiveness and complexity of the systems. Due to a lack of larger comparative trials, the benefits and risks of adverse events must be balanced against those of conventional therapy with inotropes and largely on an individual basis. This review summarizes the options for percutaneous circulatory support with special consideration to applications in the catheter laboratory and intensive care units in internal medicine.
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In recent years a rapid expansion of extracorporeal devices for support of severe lung failure has been witnessed. Systems for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) or for extracorporeal carbon dioxide elimination are distinguished depending on the indications. ⋯ Modern extracorporeal lung support devices allow an effective extracorporeal gas exchange and have become an inherent component of intensive care treatment of critically ill patients. Due to potentially severe complications the use should be restricted to specialized centers with experience in the treatment of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).