Dtsch Arztebl Int
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The incidence of decubitus ulcers is an established quality indicator for external quality assurance in the inpatient setting. Epidemiologic analyses of the frequency of, and risk factors for, decubitus ulcers in routine care are lacking. ⋯ There are major differences between clinical care units in the risk of decubitus ulcers. Epidemiological analysis of routine quality management data is useful to assess the benefit of measures taken in medical care. Continuing evaluation is essential.
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Review Meta Analysis
Shortness of breath and cough in patients in palliative care.
Shortness of breath and cough are common, disturbing symptoms in patients receiving palliative care. They arise in 10% to 70% of patients with advanced cancer and in 60% to nearly 100% of patients with non-malignant underlying diseases, depending on the type of disease. ⋯ In most patients, shortness of breath and cough can be relieved by a series of therapeutic measures.
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Review
The perioperative management of treatment with anticoagulants and platelet aggregation inhibitors.
When giving anticoagulants and inhibitors of platelet aggregation either prophylactically or therapeutically, physicians face the challenge of protecting patients from thromboembolic events without inducing harmful bleeding. Especially in the perioperative period, the use of these drugs requires a carefully balanced evaluation of their risks and benefits. Moreover, the choice of drug is difficult, because many different substances have been approved for clinical use. ⋯ Anticoagulants and platelet aggregation inhibitors are commonly used drugs, but the evidence for their perioperative management is limited. The risks of thrombosis and of hemorrhage must be balanced against each other in the individual case. Anticoagulation need not be stopped for minor procedures.
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Multicenter Study
Extracorporeal lung support in H1N1 provoked acute respiratory failure: the experience of the German ARDS Network.
During the H1N1 pandemic of 2009 and 2010, the large number of patients with severe respiratory failure due to H1N1 infection strained the capacities of treatment facilities for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) around the world. No data on this topic have yet been published for Germany. ⋯ Even persons without any other accompanying disease developed life-threatening respiratory failure as a result of H1N1 infection, and many of these patients needed ECMO. This study reveals for the first time that the mortality of H1N1 infection in Germany is comparable to that in other countries. H1N1 patients with acute respiratory failure had a worse outcome if they also had serious accompanying diseases.