Der Anaesthesist
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Delayed awakening after general anaesthesia is in the majority of cases due to prolonged effects of anaesthetic drugs. However, intracerebral processes are also associated with disturbances of consciousness. Here, we report a case of a female patient who developed an intracerebral haemorrhage because of an arteriovenous malformation during routine surgery. This shows that in the case of delayed awakening after general anaesthesia the possibility of an intracerebral process should be considered early even after routine surgery.
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More efficacious anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents have been introduced in vascular medicine and in the prevention of perioperative venous thromboembolisms. Patient management should be guided by familiarity with the pharmacology of coagulation-altering drugs and by consensus statements. The present paper reviews recommendations from the Austrian Task Force for Perioperative Coagulation which are based on thorough evaluation of the available pharmacological information and case reports. The consensus statement focuses on neuraxial and peripheral techniques and is designed to encourage safe and quality patient care.