Anaesthesiologie und Reanimation
-
Since the beginning of this century, a few biopolymers have been used as basic materials for volume substitution. Aside from gelatin and dextran, modified starch (hydroxyethyl starch, HES) is currently the first-choice means. Due to special manufacturing processes, different hydroxyethyl starches are now available. ⋯ The molecular parameters of HES also influence other effects, such as cumulation in various organs and hemostasis. Critical reading of current HES literature shows that many questions still have to be answered. At the same time ways and means of optimizing differential volume substitution therapy and hemodilution therapy are emerging.
-
Anaesthesiol Reanim · Jan 1998
Review[Measuring muscle relaxation with mivacurium in comparison with mechano- and electromyography].
Based on survey of the literature, methodological problems of electromyographic and mechanomyographic neuromuscular monitoring are presented. Often mechanomyography (MMG) is accompanied by mechanical problems during the registration of the contractions in the operating theatre. In contrast to mechanomyography the registration of electromyographic signals is easier whereas the processing of electromyographic signals is more difficult. ⋯ A comparison of the mechanomyographic values and the electromyographic values leads to the following results: the MMG showed a significantly shorter onset time (p < 0.0001) and a significantly deeper maximum neuromuscular block (p = 0.0004) than the EMG. There were also significant differences between mechanomyographically and electromyographically measured recovery values regarding T1(75) (p = 0.0007), T1(90) (p < 0.0001), TOF0.8 (p = 0.0386) and T1(25-75) (p < 0.0001). On average, an ED95 of mivacurium showed a significantly slower recovery in the mechanomyogram than in the electromyogram.
-
Anaesthesiol Reanim · Jan 1998
Review[Ethics in preclinical emergency medicine--on the topic of medical futility and resuscitation efforts].
In prehospital emergency medicine, physicians are repeatedly faced with the question of when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts should be withheld or terminated since they are clearly futile. Here, futile means the goal of saving life cannot be achieved. Determining futility involves qualitative und quantitative aspects. ⋯ Thus, unilateral decisions by emergency physicians to withhold CPR are only justified in special cases when it is obvious that CPR and preservation of life would not be in the patient's interest. When in doubt, resuscitation attempts must be made. The futility of these efforts may emerge later in hospital, or information becomes available regarding the patient's will which justifies an end to therapy.
-
Anaesthesiol Reanim · Jan 1998
Review[Introduction of patient-controlled analgesia--an interim report].
In spite of improved therapeutic methods, the number of patients who suffer from moderate or severe postoperative pain remains high at 30 to 70%. It is accepted that improvement of the organization of postoperative pain therapy is a necessary precondition for changing this situation. Therefore, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) using pain-pumps should be recognized and the effect on the whole postoperative pain therapy of a university clinic observed. ⋯ Because of these fundamental changes, the frequency of the application of pain-pumps increased six-fold within one year. Additionally, rapid pain treatment based on patients' needs increased clearly from 9.2 to 30.8%. The standardized introduction of PCA had an extremely favourable effect on the whole postoperative pain therapy and can thus be wholeheartedly recommended.