Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Sepsis is one of the most frequent infectious problems at Intensive Care Units, and sepsis is associated with significant mortality. The latter could not be markedly reduced in the last years, despite a number of advances in the field of volume substitution, catecholamines, and endocrinologic therapy. The reason might be that important steps towards overcoming of sepsis are the surgical resection of infectious foci and an adequate antibiotic treatment. ⋯ Since no major progress in the development of new antibiotics can be expected for the next years, sepsis treatment must be focused on prevention of infection, and on an optimised application of current antibiotic substances. The key factors are a broad and high dose initial treatment, a de-escalation strategy according to the clinical course, and -with exceptions- a limitation of treatment to 7 to 10 days. Rotation of antibiotics should be performed, if problems with resistances exist or no specialist for infectious diseases is available on the Intensive Care Unit.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Nov 2004
[Subcutaneously tunnelled cuffed venous hemodialysis catheters in chronic renal failure].
Silastic cuffed catheters play an increasing role in providing long-term vascular access for hemodialysis. The reasons for this were related to increased patient age and an increased number of patients who had exhausted sites for vascular access. We report our experience with subcutaneously tunnelled cuffed hemodialysis catheters. ⋯ Subcutaneously tunnelled cuffed venous hemodialysis catheters are a safe und highly feasible vascular access with a low complication rate and a long use-life especially for elder patients with limited life expectancy, exhausted sites for vascular access or in case of failing hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas.