Der Anaesthesist
-
[Silexan and narcosis : case report and possibilities of preoperative and perioperative management].
The increased use of phytotherapeutic drugs means that anesthetists are more often confronted with these drugs. In this case report possible problems which can occur are demonstrated exemplified by silexan. Silexan is a phytotherapeutic anxiolytic which is used in anxiety disorders. ⋯ The case of an 18-year-old girl who underwent an operation under general anesthesia while taking silexan as long-term medication is presented. The desired depth of narcosis could only be reached by inhalative induction with sevoflurane after unsuccessful induction attempts using intravenous propofol and thiopental. Possible explanations for this route and inhalative induction as a possible alternative are discussed.
-
The data of the German hospital nosocomial infection surveillance system (KISS) were used to investigate the association between the frequency of blood cultures (BC) and central venous catheter associated bloodstream infection (CVC-BSI) rates in intensive care units (ICU). ⋯ If an external benchmarking of ICU CVC-BSI rates is intended an adjustment according to the BC frequency is necessary. The BC frequency itself should be established as a quality indicator in intensive care.
-
Demographic development and changes in healthcare utilization have led to a rising number of calls for emergency services. In Germany life-threatening situations are responded by physician-staffed ambulances in a 2-tier system whereas paramedic-staffed ambulances are dispatched in non-life-threatening emergencies. A nationwide protocol guides dispatchers in triage decisions. In the years 1999 to 2009 a continuous rise in the number of calls for a physician-staffed ambulance in Münster was recorded. The degree of healthcare utilization according to socioeconomic status and age structure was retrospectively examined. ⋯ A low socioeconomic status of an urban district will result in more ambulance responses. However, the proportion of life-threatening emergencies is equal to districts with a high socioeconomic status. Thus, the greater need for physician-staffed ambulance responses matches clinical needs and legitimates current resource use in a 2-tier ambulance system. Indications for the abuse of physician-staffed ambulances were not found. Considering an aging population the number of emergency calls will rise in the future.