Der Anaesthesist
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The optimal methods of prophylaxis and therapy of postoperative respiratory complications in surgical patients are still open to discussion. In spite of numerous recent clinical investigations, there is still no specific and universally acceptable therapeutic concept. In our department, we identify patients at risk of pulmonary complications by adequate screening, i.e. medical history, physical examination, chest X-ray, and spirometry. ⋯ This process continues to some extent until, normally, a deep breath recruits the alveoli. Sighs to the limit of total lung capacity or oscillations of the expiratory baseline ought to be responsible for this effect in healthy humans; the same purpose is intended in incentive spirometry. For this therapy, it is mandatory that the central airways are not occluded by mucus and that the patient is able to breath volumes exceeding his normal tidal volume.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
[Decrease in paO2 following intratracheal application of a local anesthetic and a 0.9% sodium chloride solution. A prospective study on the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in ventilated patients during local anesthesia].
Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy of intubated patients can be performed in general or local anesthesia (LA). Up to now, no results have been published on the effects of LA for bronchoscopy in ventilated patients. We studied the hemodynamic changes caused by bronchoscopy under LA in mechanically ventilated patients and the effect of LA on the endoscopic decline in arterial pO2. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS. The study shows that in ventilator patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy in LA, the administration of the LA is an essential factor in the decline in paO2 associated with bronchoscopy. A similar fall in paO2 is observed by intratracheal
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Despite of the use of all the current intensive care measures, some patients develop dangerously high intracranial pressures (ICP) after head injury. We have studied the use of THAM for the rapid control of dangerously high ICP in these patients. PATIENT AND METHODS. ⋯ DISCUSSION. Our study indicates that THAM not only decreases an elevated ICP, but also improves CPP. These results are of note because only patients with otherwise unresponsive increases in ICP were included.
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The Christiansen-Douglas-Haldane effect describes the reduced CO2 binding capacity of oxygenated as compared to deoxygenated hemoglobin on the basis of its increased acidity. This study describes the development of the above effect during the first 2 min of hyperoxic intubation apnea. METHODS. ⋯ During early hyperoxic apnea, venoarterial pH and pCO2 reversal can be observed due to the Christiansen-Douglas-Haldane effect. pH reversal starts earlier than pCO2 reversal. Reversal time is dependent on arterial-mixed-venous pCO2 difference (avDpCO2) before apnea, arterial-mixed-venous O2 saturation difference (avDsO2) and cardiac output. The amount of reversal is dependent on avDsO2, i.e. the pH difference of arterial and m