Der Anaesthesist
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In primary and secondary brain diseases, increasing volumes of the three compartments of brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, or blood lead to a critical increase in intracranial pressure (ICP). A rising ICP is associated with typical clinical symptoms; however, during analgosedation it can only be detected by invasive ICP monitoring. ⋯ The most relevant parameter for brain perfusion is cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), which is calculated as the difference between the middle arterial pressure (MAP) and the ICP. A mixed body of evidence exists for the different ICP-reducing treatment measures, such as hyperventilation, hyperosmolar substances, hypothermia, glucocorticosteroids, CSF drainage, and decompressive surgery.
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Gitelman syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disease that affects the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransport channels and the magnesium channels of the distal renal tubuli. Characteristic features are hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, metabolic alkalosis and hypocalciuria. This case report presents the anesthesiological management of the Gitelman syndrome. The article demonstrates the pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis and therapy of this disease from the anesthesiologists point of view.
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For the evaluation of postoperative pain therapy, nausea and vomiting (PONV), the Children's Hospital in Lucerne acts as a member of the postoperative quality improvement project QUIPSi for children. Initial results and the potential for evaluation of the postoperative pain therapy and PONV are presented here. The central questions are whether the postoperative therapy concept is sufficient and if QUIPSi serves as an ideal tool for postoperative quality improvement? ⋯ The quality analysis showed that especially children with the requirement for more pain medicine and a high PONV incidence (inpatient group) need further improvement in postoperative care. Because of small numbers in some operation groups this qualitative evaluation of the postoperative pain and PONV management only gives an approximate overview. The results of QUIPSi uncovered gaps in the postoperative pain management which will help improve the quality in the postoperative setting. The QUIPSi approach should be integrated as a daily tool into all pediatric surgical departments.
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Many patients are victims of disastrous incidents during medical interventions. One of the obligations of physicians is to identify these incidents and to subsequently develop preventive strategies in order to prevent future events. Airway management and prehospital emergency medicine are of particular interest as both categories frequently show very dynamic developments. Incidents in this particular area can lead to serious injury but at the same time it has never been analyzed what kind of incidents might harm patients during prehospital airway management. ⋯ The incidents that were reported via the website http://www.cirs-notfallmedizin.de and that occurred during airway management in prehospital emergency medicine are described. To improve practical airway management skills of emergency physicians are one of the most important tasks in order to prevent critical incidents and are discussed in the article.
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Editorial Comment
[Second victim : Deliberations on dealing with treatment complications.]