Der Anaesthesist
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Vasopressin and terlipressin are increasingly used as alternative non-adrenergic vasopressors for hemodynamic support of septic patients with arterial hypotension. Despite excellent vasopressive effects, vasopressin analogues may potentially impair macro-hemodynamics, oxygen transport and microvascular blood flow. ⋯ Although vasopressin analogues are emerging as promising alternatives to treat catecholamine-refractory hypotension, there is no evidence that vasopressin receptor agonists improve outcome. To date, vasopressin and terlipressin can, therefore, not be recommended for routine clinical use.
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The main goal of a medical risk management system is reduction of treatment errors and the primary focus is patient safety. ⋯ Prerequisites for the implementation of an effective CIRS are support from the department head, anonymity, independence of the task force from the department head and competence of the task force to initiate changes and improvements. CIRS is a powerful tool to register and analyse critical incidents and may influence the following domains: education and training (human factors), medical equipment (technical factors), quality of working processes and departmental communication (organisational factors).
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A 27-year-old female patient was continuously treated with a psoas compartment catheter for pain therapy. The catheter was placed under strictly aseptic conditions. After 5 days a painful swelling and erythema were observed at the catheter introduction site and the catheter was removed. ⋯ An abscess of the psoas muscle is a rare complication of psoas compartment catheters. Erythema, pain or swelling at the site of introduction can be a sign of infection and the catheter must be removed immediately. In addition to the case report a review of the literature is given with data on risk management and own infection rates by 2304 peripheral pain catheters.
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The transpulmonary thermal-dye dilution (TDD) is the clinical gold standard for measurement of intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) and extravascular lung water (EVLW). Recently, experimental and clinical studies found that ITBV and EVLW can be derived reliably by single transpulmonary thermodilution (TD), however, dependency from various factors of lung function has been discussed. ⋯ Single transpulmonary thermodilution for estimation of ITBV or EVLW is reliable in patients with severe lung injury for normal and higher values.
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Comment Letter Historical Article
[Joseph Priestley, nitrous oxide and oxygen].