Der Anaesthesist
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The demographic change is accompanied by an increasing number of elderly trauma patients. Geriatric patients with trauma often show several comorbidities and as a result have a high perioperative risk to develop postoperative morbidity and mortality. The 30-day mortality is high. ⋯ The level of evidence in the perioperative management of elderly trauma patients is poor; therefore, there is an urgent need for large prospective studies in order to define uniform standards and guidelines.
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Anesthesiological challenges during craniotomy result from the anatomically related low compensatory capacity of the intracranial space in response to increased volume and the low ischemic tolerance of brain tissue. The anesthetic agents used should therefore not increase the intracranial volume and improve the ischemic tolerance. ⋯ Optimal implementation of anesthesia necessitates a detailed knowledge of the surgical approach and potential complications. Postoperatively, patients should be extubated as soon as possible to closely monitor cognitive function so that potential deterioration can be detected.
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Critically ill patients in intensive-care units are at high risk for pulmonary embolism (PE). As a result of modern multi-detector computed tomographic angiography (MDCT) increased visualization of peripheral pulmonary arteries, isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolisms (ISSPE) are increasingly being detected. ⋯ Critically ill patients are at relevant risk for ISSPE. ISSPE was associated with a poor 24 h outcome. In addition, in our cohort, contrast media application was not associated with increased serum creatinine.
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Review Meta Analysis
[Estimation of the optimal tube length : Systematic review article on published formulae for infants and children].
The correct placement of an endotracheal tube in children is essential as incorrect placement following unilateral ventilation and tube displacement may lead to far-reaching consequences, such as volutrauma and hypoxia, respectively. Different formulae referring to the correct placement of nasotracheal and orotracheal tubes have been published with reference to body weight and age. ⋯ The published formulae were comparatively simply to apply but had notable limitations. Correlating the position of the endotracheal tubes with chest x-rays, the concordance analysis showed that for the age-based formulae using orotracheal as well as nasotracheal intubation and in both age groups, an accordance could only be achieved in a maximum of 81%. In the presence of a lack of alternative possibilities, only one formula based on the gestational age seemed to have an impact on estimation of correct endotracheal tube depth placement in newborns and infants. Therefore, a generally valid formula cannot be recommended without verification by auscultation or chest x-ray.
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Case Reports
Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the pudendal nerve in chronic pelvic pain.
Chronic pelvic pain is a condition that can be caused by pudendal neuralgia, interstitial cystitis, piriformis syndrome and neuropathy of the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric and genitofemoral nerves. Based on three case reports this article discusses the clinical effectiveness of pulsed high-frequency radiofrequency (PRF) treatment applied to the pudendal nerve under ultrasound guidance in medicinally treated patients with chronic pelvic pain.