Der Anaesthesist
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This special article for continued education begins with a broad definition of septic shock. The following section describes the fundamental organ dysfunctions and pathomechanisms. ⋯ The specific therapeutic interventions (only those which have been proven effective and recommendable for routine clinical use) will be presented. Monitoring of infection and organ function are discussed briefly.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
[Recovery of psychomotor and cognitive functions following anesthesia. Propofol/alfentanil and thiopental/isoflurane/ alfentanil].
Recent changes in the medical system have resulted in a significant increase of ambulatory surgical procedures. Therefore, a safe and short postoperative recovery period and, especially, the full recovery of complex psychological function after general anaesthesia have become increasingly important. In the present study we investigated the recovery of psychomotor and cognitive function after general anaesthesia with propofol/alfentanil and thiopentone/isoflurane/alfentanil. ⋯ Also in the digit span, the scores were significantly lower 30 min after recovery from the anaesthetic. Here again the propofol group tended to be a little better than the isoflurane group 30 min, 60 min and 240 min after anaesthesia. In the Munich Verbal Learning Test both groups had lower scores 30 min and 60 min, the isoflurane group also 240 min, after recovery...
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Although the incidence of difficult airway is very low, involving less than 1% of all patients, failed air-way management is the main cause of mortality or serious morbidity during anaesthesia. Successful management of a difficult airway starts with recognition of the potential problem. A careful preoperative history and clinical examination should elicit obvious problems to allow prediction of a potentially difficult airway. ⋯ The LMA is a new device developed to provide an airway for anaesthesia. However, since the LMA can be inserted quickly and blind, it can be used as an alternative airway in patients in whom the trachea is difficult to intubate. The lower incidence of post-operative complications than with endotracheal intubation is a further advantage, particularly during anaesthesia for day surgery.
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A marked decrease in both personal and environmental pollution with anaesthetic gases as well as in costs is possible with anaesthesia machines which can be run with a low fresh gas flow (FGF) [9]. Low-flow anaesthesia can be performed with appropriately equipped circle systems, although strongly reduced FGF minimises the control of depth of anaesthesia and gas concentrations. Microprocessor-controlled feedback systems allow the utilisation of closed-circuit systems throughout the whole duration of anaesthesia, maintaining full anaesthetic control [3,5]. ⋯ With the method of quantitative anaesthesia as performed by the PhysioFlex, it is now possible to reduce gas expenditure according to the requirements of the patient as well as maintaining full control of anaesthesia depth. Simultaneously, multiple secured feedback control systems guarantee adequate monitoring and storage of respiratory and metabolic parameters. The duration of nitrous oxide wash-out can be a problem, in particular, when a changeover to O2/air is required.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Ropivacaine 1% versus bupivacaine 0.75% without a vasoconstrictor. A comparative study of epidural anesthesia in orthopedic surgery].
The long-acting local anaesthetic agent ropivacaine, S(-)-1-propyl-2',6'-pipecoloxylidid, is characterised by lower lipid solubility and lower cardiotoxicity compared with bupivacaine. This study was designed to evaluate its clinical efficacy and motor blocking properties when using lower volumes and higher concentrations of both plain substances. METHODS. ⋯ Ropivacaine 1% produced a longer duration of analgesia and better clinical efficacy than bupivacaine 0.75%. The clinical difference in motor blockade was not statistically significant. The Bromage scale is not representative for a substance with good analgesic effects and moderate motor blocking properties, as has been shown in sophisticated studies on ropivacaine motor blockade.