Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft
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Since 2004, inpatient health care for penetrating eye injuries in Germany had been paid according to the calculated DRG C01Z. Because the extent of treatment mainly derives from the extent of eye damage, this DRG economically summarises very heterogeneous cases. It was the aim to check the cost recovery for the surgical treatment of penetrating eye injuries at a university eye hospital. ⋯ In consideration of a relative DRG weight of 1,177 and a base rate of EUR 2723.79 in Bavaria for 2005 and 2006, perforating eye injuries were compensated within the C01Z DRG at EUR 3205,96. Thus, for ppVs no costs are recovered, whereas "pure suture" procedures are overweighted. Due to this inhomogeneity, a split in the C01Z DRG is necessary.
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Since 2004 inpatient health care in Germany is paid according to calculated DRGs. Only a few university hospitals participated in distinct cost calculations of clinical treatment. It was the aim of this study to check the cost recovery at a University Eye Hospital for the surgical treatment of retinal and vitreal diseases by pars plana vitrectomy (ppV), which are included in DRGs C03Z and C17Z. ⋯ The reimbursement for inpatient ppVs in a University environment is not covered for complex procedures requiring more cost-effective material and personnel time. To consider an adequate cost recovery for these procedures a DRG split for both DRGs (C03Z and C17Z) in basic ppVs and complex ppVs is required. We recommend this proposal for the InEK.
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Morning glory disc anomaly (MGDA) is a rare congenital malformation of the optic disc, which can be associated with midline craniofacial abnormalities, such as basal encephalocele. A female neonate presented with MGDA in the right eye, pendular nystagmus, hypertelorism, a flattened nasal root and cleft lip and palate. MRI revealed a basal encephalocele, agenesis of the corpus callosum and ventricular enlargement. MGDA combined with midline facial clefting should always lead to the suspicion of a basal encephalocele.
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We report the case of a premature newborn (gestational age 33 weeks) with congenital glaucoma. After a trabeculotomy high intraocular pressure persisted, leading to adjuvant treatment with timolol and--when the infant was 3 weeks old--with brimonidine. ⋯ A review of the literature reveals that when used in young infants brimonidine eye drops can potentially have toxic effects on the central nervous system (e.g. respiratory depression). The use of topical brimonidine is therefore not advised in this age group.
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The article reports a medical malpractice claim in Germany against an ophthalmologist who implanted an artificial lens without informing the patient about the risk of losing the eye's accommodation ability before undertaking surgery. As informed consent was not obtained, in spite of the obligation to so, the court ruled that the physician should pay compensation for medical malpractice. The author shows how similar malpractice cases can be prevented in future.