Dtsch Arztebl Int
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Comment Letter
Significance of the respiratory rate in emergency medicine.
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25-90% of all patients undergoing elective surgery suffer from inadvertent postoperative hypothermia, i.e., a core body temperature below 36°C. Compared to normothermic patients, these patients have more frequent wound infections (relative risk [RR] 3.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-7.84), cardiac complications (RR 4.49, 95% CI 1.00-20.16), and blood transfusions (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.06-1.66). Hypothermic patients feel uncomfortable, and shivering raises oxygen consumption by about 40%. ⋯ Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia can adversely affect the outcome of surgery and the patient's postoperative course. It should be actively prevented.
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International studies show that aggressive behavior against primary care physicians is not an uncommon occurrence. There has been no systematic study to date of the nature and frequency of such occurrences in Germany. ⋯ The frequency and extent of aggression and violence against primary care physicians in Germany is comparable to those reported by international studies. Strategies for dealing with this problem should be developed. In particular, the issue of safety on emergency call needs to be addressed.