Anästhesiologie, Intensivmedizin, Notfallmedizin, Schmerztherapie : AINS
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Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther · Jul 2023
[End-of-Life Care: medical and therapeutic aspects].
According to data from the German Federal Statistical Office, 424635 patients died in hospitals across Germany in 2020. That is 43% of all deaths. ⋯ However, there is often uncertainty as to what the care of the dying should look like in concrete terms. The following explanations are intended to convey how ideal end-of-life care should be designed and provide concrete assistance and suggestions as to how this can also succeed outside a palliative care unit.
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Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther · Jul 2023
[Practice of anaesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy].
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an established therapeutic method for the treatment of severe mental disorders refractory to pharmaco- and psychotherapy. ECT is a first-line treatment option in delusional disorders, severe depression with acute suicidal tendency or life-threatening catatonia. Usually, ECT is performed as a treatment series. ⋯ During paralysis, consciousness is blocked by general anaesthesia, although ECT is associated with antegrade amnesia for seizure induction and the seizure itself. In the context of ECT, the ideal hypnotic should be characterised by rapid onset, short duration of action and negligible anticonvulsive effects (i.e., least possible impact on seizure quality and duration). As mutual awareness of psychiatric and anaesthesiologic techniques is essential for safe and effective conduction of ECT, this article presents ECT both from the psychiatrist's and the anaesthesiologist's perspective.
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The current COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to millions of deaths globally and it is estimated that the hit to the global economy could reach more than twelve trillion US-dollars. Disease outbreaks have often pushed weak health systems to a breaking point, as witnessed during cholera, Ebola and Zika virus upsurges. The preparation of a plan involves the analysis of a scenario divided into the disaster cycle's four phases: preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation. ⋯ The hospital surge capacity relies on the reorganisation of resources according to four categories: system, staff, stuff (supplies), and space. Each of these components needs to be analysed, implemented, and tested during the preparation phase to reduce the occurrence of a critical overrun of the response capabilities, as this will trigger the recourse of contingency plans. The response to pandemics must be associated with public health and social measures, as well as with initiatives to support the psycho-physical health of healthcare workers.
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Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther · Jun 2023
[Accidental Awareness during General Anaesthesia].
Accidental awareness during general anaesthesia (AAGA) is a rare but severe complication. The reported incidence of AAGA may depend on the assessment of intraoperative awareness with explicit recall and there are substantial variations between subspecialties and groups of patients. ⋯ Preventive strategies include careful assessment of risk factors, avoidance of underdosages of hypnotics and analgetics during general anaesthesia and monitoring of depth of anaesthesia in risk patients. The health-related consequences can be serious and psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions are indicated in patients who have experienced AAGA.