Med Klin
-
In cancer pain management the application of opioids is established and follows the WHO guidelines. In the management of chronic non-cancer pain opioids are used increasingly but the effectiveness is less. ⋯ The psychomotor performance is not impaired in all patients but must be controlled in the individual patient. In chronic pain management opioids are a component of an interdisciplinary concept and can be used safely by considering therapy rules and supervision.
-
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is regarded as a cardiovascular risk factor. Therefore, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with OSAS before and under treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was investigated. ⋯ Cardiopulmonary exercise capacity is markedly reduced in patients with OSAS. Long-term CPAP therapy leads to a significant improvement of reduced cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in these patients.
-
Currently, endomyocardial biopsy is the most reliable method to detect an acute rejection after heart transplantation. However, as an invasive procedure it is associated with a definite risk for complications. Therefore, it was examined whether changes in QT time and QT dispersion on the surface ECG are able to predict an acute cellular rejection. ⋯ Provided that ECGs are performed regularly, measurements of QTc time and QTc dispersion can reliably be used to detect an acute rejection in the early phase after heart transplantation.