Der Anaesthesist
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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is becoming more and more clinically important. The extracorporeal circuit for membrane oxygenation consists of a pump, a membrane oxygenator and large volume tubing. ⋯ As a consequence, the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (pk-pd) target parameters cannot be achieved. The selection of an appropriate substance and the mode of application, combined with therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), can significantly improve the therapeutic outcome of critically ill patients.
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A 58-year-old female was admitted due to a suspected seizure. A blue colored pharyngeal fluid was visualized during intubation, which is indicative of poisoning. Clinical research revealed an ingestion of 2.4 g of alpha-chloralose, a rodenticide with a lethal dose of 1 g. ⋯ Substance detection was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectometry of a urine sample. There are only a few cases reporting poisoning by this substance. Coma and bilateral myoclonus have been reported but blue gastric fluid as the "red flag" in this case has never been described.
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Review
[Regional anesthesia in daily clinical practice: an economic analysis based on case vignettes].
The economic effect is a crucial aspect of every medical procedure. This article analyzes the economic implications of various methods in anesthesia based on three case vignettes. ⋯ Even considering that this cost analysis was calculated based on data from only one medical institution (General Hospital of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna), regional anesthesia appeared to be cost efficient compared with other anesthesia procedures. Main cost drivers in this example were personnel costs.
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Case Reports
Perioperative analgesia during thymectomy via median sternotomy : Ultrasound-guided bilateral parasternal block.
Thymectomy is sometimes carried out via median sternotomy; however, patients undergoing thymectomy via median sternotomy may experience severe postoperative pain. In this study, an ultrasound-guided regional anesthetic technique called a parasternal block, which can be used to relieve postoperative surgical pain after thymectomy via median sternotomy by blocking the medial nerve branch of the anterior cutaneous branch is presented. ⋯ While these are preliminary findings, further confirmatory clinical trials will be conducted. In summary, ultrasound-guided bilateral parasternal block appears to be a safe, simple, effective and minimally invasive technique for surgery via median sternotomy.