Der Anaesthesist
-
The number of patients treated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) is continously increasing. Knowledge of the medical indications and technical mode of functioning of these devices is a basic prerequisite for the safe perioperative care of this patient cohort. ⋯ The safe performance of interventions is possible as long as some basic rules are followed. An interdisciplinary approach involving all participating disciplines is necessary in order to adequately deal with the high demands placed on the logistics.
-
A malignant hyperthermia (MH) crisis is a potentially fatal complication in anesthesia and intensive care units (ICU). Rapid administration and adequate dosage of dantrolene is the only known effective pharmacological and causal treatment of an MH crisis. International anesthesiology societies recommend an initial dose of 2.0-2.5 mg/kg body weight (BW). The necessary total dosage should be titrated up to 10 mg/kg BW depending on the effectiveness. ⋯ Almost all anesthesiologists participating in the online survey use volatile anesthethics and/or succinylcholine. Whereas almost all participants have access to dantrolene, more than half of the units have a stock of dantolene, which is less than that recommended by the DGAI. In the case of low dantrolene stock, only 61% of anesthesia departments have access to additional dantrolene within a time frame of 15min . The results of this online survey demonstrate that the stock of dantrolene may be insufficient in some German hospitals and anesthesiology practices.