Zum Kenntnisstand von Patienten über die Aufgaben der Anästhesiologie

The anaesthesiologist's competence in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine, pain therapy and emergency medicine is accepted throughout the medical society. Nevertheless, during the last decades patient surveys demonstrated a considerable lack of information of the responsibility of our work. By continuous education and information anaesthesiologists have aimed to improve the information and decision-making process for the patient. This multicentre trial was designed to investigate the current public view on our profession in seven German hospitals. In-hospital patients were asked to fill out a standardised questionnaire prior to the anaesthesia premedication visit and a total of 692 questionnaires (77%) were analysed. Results demonstrated an increased level of knowledge for anaesthesia (>95%), intensive care medicine (74%), and pain therapy (50% acute pain; 32% severe pain). In the case of emergency medicine (10%) the in-hospital and out-of-hospital responsibilities were not clear among patients. We conclude that the continuous distribution of information in recent years has contributed to improving patients' knowledge on interdisciplinary responsibilities. Future efforts should focus on the gaps in patient's knowledge to allow the patient to ask the right questions necessary for decision-making.     

„Multi-targeting drugs“ und „multi-drug targeting“ beim metastasierten Nierenzellkarzinom

Ohne ZusammenfassungD. Rohde: Vorstandsmitglied der AUO.Association for Urogenital Oncology (AUO): Multi-targeting drug and multi-drug targeting in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Co-inhibition of EGF-R     

Innovative Sonographie beim Prostatakarzinom

Zusammenfassung Zur Früherkennung und Stadieneinteilung des Prostatakarzinoms wird heutzutage fast ausschließlich die sog. systematische Mehrfachbiopsie eingesetzt. Hierbei tritt das bildgebende Verfahren – der transrektale Ultraschall – als Diagnostikum mehr und mehr in den Hintergrund und dient fast ausschließlich zur Führung der Biopsienadel in spezifische anatomische Regionen. Doch selbst bei multiplen systematischen Biopsien wird eine hohe Zahl klinisch signifikanter Karzinome übersehen. Diese Tatsache hat zu einer drastischen Steigerung der Anzahl von Gewebeproben geführt. So finden sich Zentren, in denen 6, 10, 12, ja bis zu 143 Gewebeproben in einer Sitzung entnommen werden. Diese immer invasivere heterogene Vorgehensweise bestätigt den Bedarf an Verbesserung in der Ultraschalldiagnostik. Neue und innovative bildgebende Verfahren in der Prostatasonographie werden vorgestellt mit dem Ziel, die diagnostische Aussagekraft bei Erstdiagnose sowie in der Stadienvorhersage zu verbessern. Eine verbesserte Bildgebung bei Diagnosestellung und in der Stadieneinteilung würde zu einer erheblichen Verbesserung bei den Therapieentscheidungen führen.Dieser Beitrag ist dem kürzlich verstorbenen Pathologen J. E. McNeal gewidmet, der die zonale Anatomie der Prostata erstbeschrieben hat.     

Einsatz von gecufften Endotrachealtuben bei Kindern in der Notfall- und Rettungsmedizin

Cuffed pediatric tracheal tubes are increasingly used in pediatric anesthesia and pediatric intensive care for infants and small children. High chance to select a correct-fitting tube and reliable sealing of the trachea without the use of an oversized uncuffed tube are the most import advantages of using cuffed tubes for infants and small children in emergency situations. If cuffed tubes in pediatric emergency are used a well-designed tube with a correctly placed high volume-low pressure and an adequate intubation depth mark and the presence of a printed chart with recommendations for age-related tube size selection should be available. Confirmation of an air leak around the tracheal tube after intubation with the cuff not inflated, cuff inflation by cuff pressure monitoring and limitation of cuff pressure at 20 cmH₂O allows the safe use of cuffed tracheal tubes in infants and children. In case of lack of good pediatric cuffed tubes, lack of a chart with recommendations for age-related tube size selection and lack of a cuff pressure manometer, cuffed pediatric tubes should not be used in infants and children in the emergency setting.     

Palacos im Herzen

For more than 20 years percutaneous vertebroplasty has been used in the minimally invasive treatment of vertebral fractures. We report on a patient with embolisation of bone cement into the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle, which was perforated. The final diagnosis was delayed due to a combination of complications, previous disorders as well as a second embolisation.     

Prämedikationsqualität und Patientenzufriedenheit nach Prämedikation mit Midazolam, Clonidin oder Placebo

Background

Premedication aims at alleviating preoperative anxiety and nervousness and also at minimizing adverse effects. To our knowledge there is no study comparing efficacy and patient satisfaction of different premedications in age-adjusted dosage.

Methods

In 139 patients anxiety, sedation and adverse effects were measured at 6 consecutive perioperative time points after administration of midazolam, clonidine or a placebo.

Results

Midazolam showed the strongest sedative and anxiolytic effects, clonidine less and placebo none. Clonidine and midazolam reduced the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Midazolam showed minimal adverse effects and the best patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

Midazolam was the most anxiolytic, sedative and favored premedication with the least adverse effects. Most patients would choose midazolam next time.     

Hemikolektomie bei Kolonischämie

Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is rapidly spreading and has also become a common problem in Germany. Many cases with severe clinical presentation and death have been documented, especially in persons with underlying medical conditions. As of December 15, 2009, Germany has reported 119 H1N1-associated deaths. We report here the first H1N1-associated death in Germany, a 36-year-old woman with morbid obesity. The patient underwent a laparotomy with colon resection due to colon ischemia, a rare visceral complication in such cases. In this article an attempt has been made to reflect the state of requirements in terms of safety, occupational health, hygiene and working conditions with respect to activities involving logistics in the diagnostics, treatment (also surgical) and handling of such patients. Given the rapidly evolving nature the outbreak of human infection with the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, influenza vaccination is recommended as the only way to prevent the infection of health care workers and patients with underlying medical conditions.     

Ergebnisse und Komplikationen der Behandlung periprothetischer Femurfrakturen mit einem winkelstabilen Plattensystem

Background

Locked plate devices offer advantages in the treatment of periprosthetic femur fractures associated with fixed total hip or total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early results and complications with a locked plate system (NCB-DF®).

Patients and methods

A total of 31 patients (mean age 76 years, 7 males, 24 females) with a femur fracture above a fixed total knee arthroplasty (TKA, n=12) or a total hip arthroplasty (THA, n=19) were treated with a locked plate.

Results

There were 11 complications necessitating revision: 6 implant failures, 2 in patients with a THA and 4 in patients with a TKA, 4 hematomas and 1 infection and 2 patients died. After 6 months all fractures had healed securely but a secondary correction was necessary in one patient.

Conclusion

Fixation of periprosthetic femur fractures with a locked plate system provided satisfactory results in patients with a THA, however, the relatively high implant failure rate in fractures above a stable TKA is a cause for concern.     

Erste Ergebnisse der multidirektional-winkelstabilen palmaren Osteosynthese der distalen Radiusfraktur

Background

The management of fractures of the distal radius continues to evolve. New operative strategies have recently been developed including the use of fixed-angle plates. This study reviews the results of 20 patients with fractures of the distal radius treated with a new multidirectional fixed angle plate.

Method and materials

A total of 20 patients with closed Colles type fractures of the distal radius were treated with Medartis (Aptus 2.5) palmar fixed-angle plates. Surgery was performed under plexus anesthesia using the standard or extended flexor carpi radialis (FCR) approach. Patients were evaluated prospectively with a mean follow-up of 26 weeks (range 23–28 weeks). Pain, range of motion, grip strength, DASH score, modified Mayo wrist score and radiographs were obtained. The level of significance was set at 95% and the χ² and ANOVA tests in combination with a post hoc Tukey test were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The average range of motion (ROM) in extension-flexion was 87° (76% of the contralateral side) and in ulnar-radial deviation 42° (88% of the contralateral side). Pain values (visual analogue scale 0–100) at follow-up were 3 (without stress) and 24 (with stress). Grip strength improved to 84% of the contralateral side, the mean DASH score was 13 points and the modified Mayo wrist score confirmed the excellent results with a mean value of 83±27 points. Radiological examination showed a satisfactory result with an ulna variance of 0.9±0.4 mm, radio-ulnar inclination of 21±5° and palmar inclination of 4±6°.

Conclusions

Our data show that treating unstable distal radius fractures with multidirectional palmar fixed-angle plates is reliable and effective and produces good early functional and radiological results. However, long-term results with a larger number of patients and randomized prospective studies comparing this technique with other established procedures are required.     

Bildgebende Verfahren bei Primärdiagnose und Staging des Prostatakarzinoms

The new S3 guideline on prostate cancer includes imaging modalities applied for early detection, primary diagnosis, and staging of prostate cancer. Detection and primary diagnosis are based on digital rectal examination, serum PSA levels, and prostate biopsy. Among the imaging modalities, MRI shows the highest test quality parameters. Although MRI cannot replace biopsy to prove prostate cancer, its high negative predictive value can help to reduce the number of subsequent biopsies after negative prostate biopsy. For T-staging, MRI also demonstrates the highest test quality parameters. Its clinical application is limited, since therapeutic consequences are restricted. Due to its high specificity, MRI can save unnecessary pelvic lymph node dissections in patients at high risk for lymph node metastasis (N-staging). Risk-adjusted bone scans, complemented by additional radiological examinations if necessary, remain the standard to assess hematogenous metastasis (M staging).