Der Anaesthesist
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How do physicians in the specialty of anesthesiology perceive the working conditions regarding stress and job satisfaction? The health system in Germany has been confronted with a rapidly changing framework over the last 20 years: For example, an increased influence of economic patterns on the workflow and the medical decision of physicians has been established forcing them to always take the economic aspects into account. Moreover, a new generation (generation Y) of physicians with other requirements of the work place, meaning mainly a demand for a better work-life balance, has gained a foothold in hospitals. These changes make it very important to investigate the status quo of current working conditions. ⋯ This study revealed a high prevalence of unfavorable working conditions for anesthetists in hospitals. Taking the forthcoming shortage of qualified physicians in German hospitals into account, these results have to be considered as a cause for concern. Constant unfavorable working conditions have a negative effect on the mental and physical health of employees. Sooner or later a migration of qualified physicians abroad could be the consequence. To prevent a future shortage of qualified physicians and to make the hospital work place more appealing, working conditions have to be adapted to current needs and expectations of employees. The focus should be put on balanced working conditions according to stress models shown in this study.
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Chronic pain affects approximately 20 % of adults worldwide and is often associated with a decrease in the quality of life and various comorbidities. Conventional analgesic therapies are frequently insufficient and sometimes lead to severe side effects. ⋯ Epigenetic mechanisms which interfere with the regulation of gene expression are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases and are gaining increasing impetus in medical research. As they are also involved in pain processing, a modulation of these mechanisms might represent a novel option for the therapy of pain patients.
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In times of growing bacterial resistance against antimicrobiotic drugs the broad prescription of antibiotics in human medicine must be carefully considered. The perioperative antibiotic treatment is in the center of that conflict. On the one hand an efficient pathogen reduction for the preemptive treatment of infectious complications is desired but on the other hand it is suspected that this promotes the selection of multiresistant pathogens which could lead to an increase of more complicated nosocomial infections. The aim of this article is a critical appraisal of this subject on the basis of the 2012 guidelines of the German working group of Hygiene in Hospital and Practice (AWMF) and the 2010 recommendations of the Paul-Ehrlich-Gesellschaft.
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Hemophilia A and hemophilia B are X chromosome-linked congenital bleeding disorders caused by a deficiency or absence of activity of coagulation factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B), which are graded in different degrees of severity (mild, moderate, severe). Depending on the severity patients may experience spontaneous bleeding episodes or will develop excessive bleeding in the context of injuries or surgery. Hemophilia should not be a contraindication for an invasive procedure; however, a number of conditions are required to provide successful surgery and an uncomplicated and safe postoperative course. This review provides an overview of hemophilia and the key biochemical laboratory and clinical aspects as well as possible specific and non-specific treatment options and addresses the special needs for the perioperative care of these patients.