Der Anaesthesist
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Case Reports
[Successful resuscitation of a patient with hyperkalemic cardiac arrest by emergency hemodiafiltration].
The combination of spironolactone with an ACE inhibitor for patients with heart failure may cause severe hyperkalemia. We report the case of a female patient, who developed hyperkalemic (11.4 mmol/l) cardiac arrest probably induced by combined spironolactone and ACE-inhibitor therapy. She was treated successfully by hemodiafiltration under on-going resuscitation which resulted in restoration of spontaneous circulation within 30 min of starting CPR. She was discharged 2 weeks later without any residual neurological effects.
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In the last 20 years molecular biology has expanded the horizons of medical research including anaesthesia. Preoperative identification of genetic disorders relevant to anaesthesia or increased perioperative risk will be available in the near future using molecular biology techniques. There has been a global increase of such publications, but the contributions from Germany, Switzerland and Austria are unknown. ⋯ The results of this study show the quantitative development of molecular biology research that has been done in anaesthesia institutions in Germany, Switzerland and Austria from 1988 to 2002. A continuous increase of publications with a molecular biology content occurred only in Germany.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
[Modified ECG-guidance for optimal central venous catheter tip positioning. A transesophageal echocardiography controlled study].
Intraatrial electrocardiography (ECG) is a well-established method for central-venous catheter (CVC) placement and an intraatrial position is assumed, when a significantly increased P-wave is registered. However, an increase in P-wave amplitude also occurs in other positions. Therefore we evaluated CVC tip positioning by means of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at a maximum P-wave amplitude. ⋯ A maximum P-wave is derived even at the entrance to the right atrium. This explains why ECG-guided CVC placement -- based on the largest P-wave amplitude -- consistently resulted in correct positioning of the CVC tip at the transition from the superior vena cava to the right atrium.
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Invasive fungal infections are associated with a high mortality and have been increasing in incidence over the last few decades. Candidemia and, less commonly, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis are the most relevant fungal infections in critical care medicine. Risk factors for systemic Candida infections are the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit and gastrointestinal injury or surgery. ⋯ The therapeutic spectrum includes fluconazol, conventional and liposomal amphotericin B, and the recently introduced agents caspofungin and voriconazol. For rational and cost-effective use, the clinician requires precise knowledge of the indications and limitations of these agents. This review focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic options in severe Candida infections and invasive aspergillosis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
[Is a blockade of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh an alternative to the classical femoral nerve blockade for knee joint arthroscopy? A randomised controlled study].
Gaps in the distribution area of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) are assumed to be the reason for pain caused by a thigh tourniquet when performing a femoral nerve (FN) block according to Winnie. The aim of the study was to evaluate if a direct single blockade of the LFCN in patients undergoing knee surgery resulted in a better tolerance to the tourniquet with equally good analgesic quality during surgery. ⋯ An LFCN block is not a suitable alternative to an FN block for regional anaesthesia. For patients with contraindications for an FN block according to Winnie (e.g. vessel surgery in the groin) other more effective methods are available.