[Palliative aspects in clinical acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care medicine : Consensus paper of the DGIIN, DGK, DGP, DGHO, DGfN, DGNI, DGG, DGAI, DGINA and DGPalliativmedizin]. / Palliativmedizinische Aspekte in der klinischen Akut- und Notfallmedizin sowie Intensivmedizin : Konsensuspapier der DGIIN, DGK, DGP, DGHO, DGfN, DGNI, DGG, DGAI, DGINA und DGPalliativmedizin.

The timely integration of palliative medicine is an important component in the treatment of various advanced diseases. While a German S­3-guideline on palliative medicine exists for patients with incurable cancer, a recommendation for non-oncological patients and especially for palliative patients presenting in the emergency department or intensive care unit is missing to date. Based on the present consensus paper, the palliative care aspects of the respective medical disciplines are addressed. The timely integration of palliative care aims to improve quality of life and symptom control in clinical acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care.

[Palliative aspects in clinical acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care medicine: consensus paper of the DGIIN, DGK, DGP, DGHO, DGfN, DGNI, DGG, DGAI, DGINA and DGPalliativmedizin]. / Palliativmedizinische Aspekte in der klinischen Akut- und Notfallmedizin sowie Intensivmedizin: Konsensuspapier der DGIIN, DGK, DGP, DGHO, DGfN, DGNI, DGG, DGAI, DGINA und DGPalliativmedizin.

The timely integration of palliative medicine is an important component in the treatment of various advanced diseases. While a German S-3-guideline on palliative medicine exists for patients with incurable cancer, a recommendation for non-oncological patients and especially for palliative patients being treated in the emergency department or intensive care unit is missing to date. Based on the present consensus paper, the palliative care aspects of the respective medical disciplines are addressed. The timely integration of palliative care aims to improve quality of life and symptom control in clinical acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care.

The expenditure of computer-related worktime using clinical decision support systems in chronic pain therapy.

BACKGROUND: Estimate the expenditure of computer-related worktime resulting from the use of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) to prevent adverse drug reactions (ADR) among patients undergoing chronic pain therapy and compare the employed check systems with respect to performance and practicability. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from 113 medical records of patients under chronic pain therapy during 2012/2013. Patient-specific medications were checked for potential drug-drug interactions (DDI) using two publicly available CDSS, Apotheken Umschau (AU) and Medscape (MS), and a commercially available CDSS AiDKlinik® (AID). The time needed to analyze patient pharmacotherapy for DDIs was taken with a stopwatch. Measurements included the time needed for running the analysis and printing the results. CDSS were compared with respect to the expenditure of time and usability. Only patient pharmacotherapies with at least two prescribed drugs and fitting the criteria of the corresponding CDSS were analyzed. Additionally, a qualitative evaluation of the used check systems was performed, employing a questionnaire asking five pain physicians to compare and rate the performance and practicability of the three CDSSs. RESULTS: The AU tool took a total of 3:55:45 h with an average of 0:02:32 h for 93 analyzed patient regimens and led to the discovery of 261 DDIs. Using the Medscape interaction checker required a total of 1:28:35 h for 38 patients with an average of 0:01:58 h and a yield of 178 interactions. The CDSS AID required a total of 3:12:27 h for 97 patients with an average time of analysis of 0:01:59 h and the discovery of 170 DDIs. According to the pain physicians the CDSS AID was chosen as the preferred tool. CONCLUSIONS: Applying a CDSS to examine a patients drug regimen for potential DDIs causes an average extra expenditure of work time of 2:09 min, which extends patient treatment time by 25 % on average. Nevertheless, the authors believe that the extra expenditure of time employing a CDSS is outweighed by their benefits, including reduced ADR risks and safer clinical drug management.

The use of the laryngeal tube disposable by paramedics during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a prospectively observational study (2008-2012).

SUMMARY: In the previous and the current guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), endotracheal intubation (ETI), as an instrument for ventilation during resuscitation, was confirmed as less important for paramedics not trained in this method. For those, during resuscitation, the laryngeal tube is recommended by the ERC as a supraglottic airway device. The present study investigated prospectively the use of the laryngeal tube disposable (LT-D) by paramedics in prehospital emergency cases. METHODS: During a 42-month period (Sept 2008-Feb 2012), we prospectively registered all prehospital cardiac arrest situations in which the LT-D had been applied by paramedics (from one emergency medical service in Germany). RESULTS: During the defined period, 133 attempts, recorded on standardised data sheets, were enrolled into the investigation. Three were excluded from the study because of use during a trauma situation. Therefore, 130 patients were evaluated in this study. For this, the LT-D was used in 98% of all cases during resuscitation, and in about 2% of other emergencies (eg, trauma). With regard to resuscitation, adequate ventilation/oxygenation was described as possible in 83% of all included cases. In 66% of all cases, no problems concerning the insertion of the LT-D were described by the paramedics. No significant problems were reported in 93%. In 7% (n=9 cases), no insertion of the LT-D was possible. Instead of bag-mask-valve ventilation, the LT-D was used as a first-line airway device in about 66%. Between the two defined groups, no statistically significant differences were found (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As an alternative airway device during resuscitation, recommended by the ERC in 2005 and 2010, the LT-D may enable ventilation rapidly and, as in most of our described cases, effectively. Additionally, by using the LT-D in a case of cardiac arrest, a reduced 'hands-off time' and, therefore, a high chest compression rate may be possible. Our investigation showed that the LT-D was often used as an alternative to bag-mask-ventilation and to ETI as well. However, we were able to describe more problems in the use of the LT-D than earlier investigations. Therefore, in future, more studies concerning the use of alternative airway devices in comparison with ETI and/or video-laryngoscopy seem to be necessary.

[Palliative aspects in clinical acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care medicine : Consensus paper of the DGIIN, DGK, DGP, DGHO, DGfN, DGNI, DGG, DGAI, DGINA and DGPalliativmedizin]. / Palliativmedizinische Aspekte in der klinischen Akut- und Notfallmedizin sowie Intensivmedizin : Konsensuspapier der DGIIN, DGK, DGP, DGHO, DGfN, DGNI, DGG, DGAI, DGINA und DGPalliativmedizin.

The timely integration of palliative medicine is an important component in the treatment of various advanced diseases. While a German S­3-guideline on palliative medicine exists for patients with incurable cancer, a recommendation for non-oncological patients and especially for palliative patients presenting in the emergency department or intensive care unit is missing to date. Based on the present consensus paper, the palliative care aspects of the respective medical disciplines are addressed. The timely integration of palliative care aims to improve quality of life and symptom control in clinical acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care.

[Palliative aspects in clinical acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care medicine : Consensus paper of the DGIIN, DGK, DGP, DGHO, DGfN, DGNI, DGG, DGAI, DGINA and DG Palliativmedizin]. / Palliativmedizinische Aspekte in der klinischen Akut- und Notfallmedizin sowie Intensivmedizin : Konsensuspapier der DGIIN, DGK, DGP, DGHO, DGfN, DGNI, DGG, DGAI, DGINA und DG Palliativmedizin.

The integration of palliative medicine is an important component in the treatment of various advanced diseases. While a German S3 guideline on palliative medicine exists for patients with incurable cancer, a recommendation for non-oncological patients and especially for palliative patients presenting in the emergency department or intensive care unit is missing to date. Based on the present consensus paper, the palliative care aspects of the respective medical disciplines are addressed. The timely integration of palliative care aims to improve quality of life and symptom control in clinical acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care.

Knowledge levels of pharmaceutical sales representatives in pain therapy: a descriptive questionnaire-based study.

PURPOSE: Pain is a common physiological reaction. The development and sale of medication against pain is a main focus of pharmaceutical companies, with total sales of prescription analgesics amounting to US$50 billion in 2009. In this market, advertising is necessary. One way to market both new and old drugs is through direct physician-to-pharmaceutical sales representative (PSR) contact. PSRs see themselves ideally as equal partners to the physicians they advise, thereby setting high standards for themselves. In this setting, PSRs should therefore have an adequate knowledge of pain therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether these standards can be met by PSRs working in the area of pain medicine in terms of their level of education and knowledge of pain topics. METHODS: We distributed 114 questionnaires that were divided into demographic and knowledge sections. Of these, 90 questionnaires (79%) were returned completed. Since there is no complete list of PSRs working in pain medicine in Germany, we could not draw a representative sample for our study. RESULTS: We collected general demographic data on PSRs as well as on their educational backgrounds. Analysis of the completed questionnaires revealed that there was a high requirement for PSRs to acquire further education in pain therapy. In the knowledge section, PSRs were asked to rate a total of 70 statements on pain therapy as to whether they were true or false. The mean total of correctly rated statements was 48 (69%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, we conclude that most PSRs do not meet their ideal high standards of being equal partners to the specialist physicians they visit. More education is needed to achieve this goal.

Paramedics experiences and expectations concerning advance directives: a prospective, questionnaire-based, bi-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Advance directives and palliative crisis cards are means by which palliative care patients can exert their autonomy in end-of-life decisions. AIM: To examine paramedics' attitudes towards advance directives and end-of-life care. DESIGN: Questionnaire-based investigation using a self-administered survey instrument. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Paramedics of two cities (Hamburg and Goettingen, Germany) were included. Participants were questioned as to (1) their attitudes about advance directives, (2) their clinical experiences in connection with end-of-life situations (e.g. resuscitation), (3) their suggestions in regard to advance directives, 'Do not attempt resuscitation' orders and palliative crisis cards. RESULTS: Questionnaires were returned by 728 paramedics (response rate: 81%). The majority of paramedics (71%) had dealt with advance directives and end-of-life decisions in emergency situations. Most participants (84%) found that cardiopulmonary resuscitation in end-of-life patients is not useful and 75% stated that they would withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the case of legal possibility. Participants also mentioned that more extensive discussion of legal aspects concerning advance directives should be included in paramedic training curricula. They suggested that palliative crisis cards should be integrated into end-of-life care. CONCLUSIONS: Decision making in prehospital end-of-life care is a challenge for all paramedics. The present investigation demonstrates that a dialogue bridging emergency medical and palliative care issues is necessary. The paramedics indicated that improved guidelines on end-of-life decisions and the termination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in palliative care patients may be essential. Participants do not feel adequately trained in end-of-life care and the content of advance directives. Other recent studies have also demonstrated that there is a need for training curricula in end-of-life care for paramedics.

Using a laryngeal tube suction-device (LTS-D) reduces the "no flow time" in a single rescuer manikin study.

BACKGROUND: In 2005, the European Resuscitation Council and the American Heart Association published new guidelines for Advanced Life Support. One of the points was to reduce the time without chest compressions in the first phase of cardiac arrest. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated in a manikin model whether using the single-use laryngeal tube with suction option (LTS-D) instead of endotracheal intubation (ET) and bag-mask-valve ventilation (BMV) for emergency airway management could reduce the "no-flow time" (NFT). The NFT is defined as the time during resuscitation when no chest compressions take place. METHODS: A randomized, prospective study was undertaken with 150 volunteers who performed management of a standardized simulated cardiac arrest in a manikin. Every participant was randomized to one of three different airway management groups (LTS-D vs. ET vs. BMV). RESULTS: The LTS-D was inserted significantly faster than the ET tube (15 s vs. 44 s, respectively, p < 0.01). During the cardiac arrest simulation, establishing and performing ventilation took an average of 57 s with the LTS-D compared to 116 s with ET and 111 s with the BMV. Using the LTS-D significantly reduced NFT compared to ET and the BMV (125 s vs. 207 s vs. 160 s; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our manikin study, NFT was reduced significantly when the LTS-D was used when compared to ET and BMV. The results of our manikin study suggest that for personnel not experienced in tracheal intubation, the LTS-D offers a good alternative to ET and BMV to manage the airway during resuscitation, and to avoid the failure to achieve tracheal intubation with the ET, and the failure to achieve adequate ventilation with the BMV.

[Strategic planning: an important economic action for German hospitals]. / Strategische Planung - Eine wichtige ökonomische Handlungsweise für deutsche Krankenhäuser.

In medical systems, economic issues and means of action are in the course of dwindling human (physicians and nurses) and financial resources are more important. For this reason, physicians must understand basic economic principles. Only in this way, there may be medical autonomy from social systems and hospital administrators. The current work is an approach to present a model for strategic planning of an anesthesia department. For this, a "strengths", "weaknesses", "opportunities", and "threats" (SWOT) analysis is used. This display is an example of an exemplary anaesthetic department.

Prehospital emergency treatment of palliative care patients with cardiac arrest: a retrolective investigation.

BACKGROUND: Today, prehospital emergency medical teams (EMTs) are confronted with emergent situations of cardiac arrest in palliative care patients. However, little is known about the out-of-hospital approach in this situation and the long-term survival rate of this specific patient type. The aim of the present investigation was to provide information about the strategic and therapeutic approach employed by EMTs in outpatient palliative care patients in cardiac arrest. METHODS: During a period of 2 years, we retrolectively analysed emergency medical calls with regard to palliative care emergency situations dealing with cardiac arrest. We evaluated the numbers of patients who were resuscitated, the prevalence of an advance directive or other end-of-life protocol, the first responder on cardiac arrest, the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and the survival rate. RESULTS: Eighty-eight palliative care patients in cardiac arrest were analysed. In 19 patients (22%), no resuscitation was started. Paramedics and prehospital emergency physicians began resuscitation in 61 cases (69%) and in 8 cases (9%), respectively. A total of 10 patients (11%) showed a ROSC; none survived after 48 h. Advance directives were available in 43% of cases. The start of resuscitation was independent of the presence of an advance directive or other end-of-life protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Strategic and therapeutic approaches in outpatient palliative care patients with cardiac arrest differ depending on medical qualification. Although many of these patients do not wish to be resuscitated, resuscitation was started independent of the presence of advance directive. To reduce legal insecurity and to avoid resuscitation and a possible lengthening of the dying process, advance directives and/or "Do not attempt resuscitation" orders should be more readily available and should be adhered to more closely.

[Ambulatory pain therapy in penetrating rectal cancer via epidural anesthesia]. / Ambulante Schmerztherapie. Behandlung bei penetrierendem Rektum-Karzinom mittels Periduralkatheter.

Treatment of cancer pain includes invasive techniques of pain therapy if necessary. Here we report the management of a 55-year-old female patient with penetrating rectal cancer using continuous lumbal epidural anesthesia. After placement and dose-finding our patient was discharged from hospital and further treatment occurred at home.

[Quality characteristics concerning pain therapy]. / Qualität in der Therapie chronischer Schmerzen - Methoden zur Messung des Therapieerfolges.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports "Crossing the Quality Chasm proposed 7 aims for high-quality healthcare: effective, safe, timely, efficient, equitable, patient-centred, and emphasized care coordination. The quality of pain treatment can also be shown by structure quality, process quality, and outcome quality. The present investigation shows methods of the qualitative capture of pain therapy. On this occasion, it is shown whether such a pain measurement with the available parameters is generally possible and which parameters are necessary for this. However, quality parameter and quality outcome must be regarded individually for every patient. Quality measurement concerning the therapy of chronic pain diseases is an interaction of several quality and outcome parameters. Furthermore patients' aims concerning his individual pain treatment must be taken into account.

Quality of out-of-hospital palliative emergency care depends on the expertise of the emergency medical team--a prospective multi-centre analysis.

BACKGROUND: The number of palliative care patients who live at home and have non-curable life-threatening diseases is increasing. This is largely a result of modern palliative care techniques (e.g. specialised out-of-hospital palliative medical care services), changes in healthcare policy and the availability of home care services. Accordingly, pre-hospital emergency physicians today are more likely to be involved in out-of-hospital emergency treatment of palliative care patients with advanced disease. METHODS: In a prospective multi-centre study, we analysed all palliative emergency care calls during a 24-month period across four emergency services in Germany. Participating pre-hospital emergency physicians were rated according to their expertise in emergency and palliative care as follows--group 1: pre-hospital emergency physicians with high experience in emergency and palliative medical care, group 2: pre-hospital emergency physicians with high experience in emergency medical care but less experience in palliative medical care and group 3: pre-hospital emergency physicians with low experience in palliative and emergency medical care. RESULTS: During the period of interest, the centres received 361 emergency calls requiring a response to palliative care patients (2.8% of all 12,996 emergency calls). Ten percent of all patients were treated by group 1; 42% were treated by group 2 and 47% were treated by group 3. There was a statistically significant difference in the treatment of palliative care patients (e.g. transfer to hospital, symptom control, end-of-life decision) as a result of the level of expertise of the investigated pre-hospital emergency physicians (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In Germany, out-of-hospital emergency medical treatment of palliative care patients depends on the expertise in palliative medical care of the pre-hospital emergency physicians who respond to the call. In our investigation, best out-of-hospital palliative medical care was given by pre-hospital emergency physicians who had significant expertise in palliative and emergency medical care. Our results suggest that it may be necessary to take the core principles of palliative care into consideration when conducting out-of-hospital emergency medical treatment of palliative care patients.

Lipid emulsion improves recovery from bupivacaine-induced cardiac arrest, but not from ropivacaine- or mepivacaine-induced cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac toxicity significantly correlates with the lipophilicity of local anesthetics (LAs). Recently, the infusion of lipid emulsions has been shown to be a promising approach to treat LA-induced cardiac arrest. As the postulated mechanism of action, the so-called "lipid sink" effect may depend on the lipophilicity of LAs. In this study, we investigated whether lipid effects differ with regard to the administered LAs. METHODS: In the isolated rat heart, cardiac arrest was induced by administration of equipotent doses of bupivacaine, ropivacaine, and mepivacaine, respectively, followed by cardiac perfusion with or without lipid emulsion (0.25 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)). Subsequently, the times from the start of perfusion to return of first heart activity and to recovery of heart rate and rate-pressure product (to 90% of baseline values) were assessed. RESULTS: In all groups, lipid infusion had no effects on the time to the return of any cardiac activity. However, recovery times of heart rate and rate-pressure product (to 90% of baseline values) were significantly shorter with the administration of lipids in bupivacaine-induced cardiac toxicity, but not in ropivacaine- or mepivacaine-induced cardiac toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the effects of lipid infusion on LA-induced cardiac arrest are strongly dependent on the administered LAs itself. We conclude that lipophilicity of LAs has a marked impact on the efficacy of lipid infusions to treat cardiac arrest induced by these drugs.

[Expectations of relatives concerning palliative home care]. / Erwartungen Angehöriger an die spezialisierte arnbulante Palliativversorgung.

BACKGROUND: Palliative home care gains in importance in Germany. In addition to administering pain and symptom control for patients a "Palliative Care Team" (PCT) tries to address the patients' psychosocial and spiritual needs. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of caregiving relatives' expectations of the support by a PCT. RESULTS: Most relatives expected a sufficient pain therapy and support of the PCT. Additionally they wished for further outreach afterthe death of the patient. CONCLUSION: Palliative homecare is perceived as a helpful supporting factor by the care-giving relatives of palliative patients.

Emergency calls and need for emergency care in patients looked after by a palliative care team: Retrospective interview study with bereaved relatives.

BACKGROUND: During the last stage of life, palliative care patients often experience episodes of respiratory distress, bleeding, pain or seizures. In such situations, caregivers may call emergency medical services leading to unwanted hospital admissions. The study aims to show the influence of our palliative care team to reducing emergency calls by cancer patients or their relatives during the last six month of life. METHODS: Fifty relatives of deceased patients who had been attended by our palliative care team were randomly selected. Data was obtained retrospectively during a structured interview. In addition to demographic data, the number of emergency calls made during the final six months of the patient's life, the reason for the call and the mental compound score (MCS-12) of the caregivers was registered. RESULTS: Forty-six relatives agreed to the interview. Emergency calls were placed for 18 patients (39%) during the final six months of their lives. There were a total of 23 emergency calls. In 16 cases (70%) the patient was admitted to the hospital. Twenty-one (91%) of the calls were made before patients had been enrolled to receive palliative care from the team, and two (9%) were made afterwards. The mean mental compound score of the caregivers at the time of the interview was 41 (range 28-57). There was a lack of correlation between MCS-12 and number of emergency calls. CONCLUSION: Emergency calls were more likely to occur if the patients were not being attended by our palliative care team. Because of the lack of correlation between MCS-12 and the number of emergency calls, the MCS-12 cannot indicate that acutely stressful situations triggered the calls. However, we conclude that special palliative care programs can reduce psychosocial strain in family caregivers. Therefore, the number of emergency calls may be reduced and this fact allows more palliative patients to die at home.

Using a laryngeal tube during cardiac arrest reduces "no flow time" in a manikin study: a comparison between laryngeal tube and endotracheal tube.

UNLABELLED: In 2005 the European Resuscitation Council published new guidelines for advanced life support. One of the issues was to reduce the "no flow time", which is defined as the time without chest compression in the first period of cardiac arrest. In a manikin study, we evaluated whether using the laryngeal tube instead of endotracheal intubation for airway management during cardiac arrest could reduce the "no flow time". METHODS: The study was prospective and included 50 volunteers who performed standardized management of simulated cardiac arrest in a manikin. All participants had completed an obligatory course in emergency medicine but had not been specifically trained in endotracheal intubation; they were therefore designated as unfamiliar in using the endotracheal tube to secure the airway, in accordance with the definition of the European Resuscitation Council. We defined two groups for the study: the LT group, who used the laryngeal tube to secure the airway; and the ET group, who used the endotracheal tube and bag-mask ventilation to ventilate the manikin. The participants were initially randomly assigned to one of the groups and thereafter completed the other scenario. Study endpoints were the total "no flow time" and adherence to guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council. RESULTS: Use of the laryngeal tube during cardiac arrest in the manikin significantly reduced the "no flow time" when compared with endotracheal intubation (109.3 s vs. 190.4 s; P < 0.01). The laryngeal tube was inserted significantly faster than the endotracheal tube (13 s vs. 52 s; P < 0.01) and was correctly positioned by 98% of the participants at the first attempt, compared with 72% using the endotracheal tube. CONCLUSION: With regard to the guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council, we are convinced that during cardiac arrest supraglottic airway devices should be used by emergency personnel unfamiliar with endotracheal intubation.

Influence of airway management strategy on "no-flow-time" during an "advanced life support course" for intensive care nurses - a single rescuer resuscitation manikin study.

BACKGROUND: In 1999, the laryngeal tube (VBM Medizintechnik, Sulz, Germany) was introduced as a new supraglottic airway. It was designed to allow either spontaneous breathing or controlled ventilation during anaesthesia; additionally it may serve as an alternative to endotracheal intubation, or bag-mask ventilation during resuscitation. Several variations of this supraglottic airway exist. In our study, we compared ventilation with the laryngeal tube suction for single use (LTS-D) and a bag-mask device. One of the main points of the revised ERC 2005 guidelines is a low no-flow-time (NFT). The NFT is defined as the time during which no chest compression occurs. Traditionally during the first few minutes of resuscitation NFT is very high. We evaluated the hypothesis that utilization of the LTS-D could reduce the NFT compared to bag-mask ventilation (BMV) during simulated cardiac arrest in a single rescuer manikin study. METHODS: Participants were studied during a one day advanced life support (ALS) course. Two scenarios of arrhythmias requiring defibrillation were simulated in a manikin. One scenario required subjects to establish the airway with a LTS-D; alternatively, the second scenario required them to use BMV. The scenario duration was 430 seconds for the LTS-D scenario, and 420 seconds for the BMV scenario, respectively. Experienced ICU nurses were recruited as study subjects. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups first (LTS-D and BMV) to establish the airway. Endpoints were the total NFT during the scenario, the successful airway management using the respective device, and participants' preference of one of the two strategies for airway management. RESULTS: Utilization of the LTS-D reduced NFT significantly (p < 0.01). Adherence to the time frame of ERC guidelines was 96% in the LTS-D group versus 30% in the BMV group. Two participants in the LTS-D group required more than one attempt to establish the LTS-D correctly. Once established, ventilation was effective in 100%. In a subjective evaluation all participants preferred the LTS-D over BMV to provide ventilation in a cardiac arrest scenario. CONCLUSION: In our manikin study, NFT was reduced significantly when using LTS-D compared to BMV. During cardiac arrest, the LTS-D might be a good alternative to BMV for providing and maintaining a patent airway. For personnel not experienced in endotracheal intubation it seems to be a safe airway device in a manikin use.

[Analgetics, co-analgetics and opioid-analgetics in the elderly]. / Perioperative Analgesie: Opioide, Nicht-Opioid-Analgetika und Co-Analgetika.

There is a continuous increase in the proportion of elderly patients. Therefore physicians should be aware of specifics according to pain therapy in the elderly. This review will concentrate on selected topics related to pain therapy in the elderly patient. Furthermore specific consequences according to drug therapy are shown.