Der Anaesthesist
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In recent years great efforts in clinical sepsis research have led to a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and new therapeutic approaches including drugs and supportive care. Despite this success, severe sepsis remains a serious health care problem. Each year approximately 75,000 patients in Germany and approximately 750,000 patients in the USA suffer from severe sepsis. ⋯ Some drugs and strategies already offer promising results and will probably play a major role in the future. Even though their cost-effectiveness is likely, intensive care medicine has to carry a substantial economic burden. This article summarizes studies focusing on the evaluation of direct or indirect costs of sepsis and the cost-effectiveness of new therapies.
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We report on a 21-year-old woman with a severe form of Lobstein's syndrome, who underwent a Cesarean section. The following issues are discussed: the risk of sustaining fractures during positioning, fractures by automatic blood pressure measurement, an almost always existing latex allergy, a susceptibility for malignant hyperthermia, potential cardiac defect, difficult endotracheal intubation, lowering of the conus medullaris to an area usually used for spinal puncture, severe spinal deformities resulting in difficult puncture, hemorrhagic diathesis, and unpredictability of the expansion of local anesthetics in the vertebral canal. In this case the procedure could be carried out in spinal anesthesia without encountering major problems.