[Quality Assurance in Intensive Care Medicine: Peer Reviews and Quality Indicators]. / Qualitätssicherung in der Intensivmedizin: Peer Reviews und Qualitätsindikatoren.

Goal-oriented quality management in health care is an essential tool to provide good medical practice and treatment. It aims at a patient-centred case management with high transparency of structural and clinical process aspects, as well as patient outcome. An objective and comprehensive description of clinical care includes the use of quality indicators. However, the appliance of those indicators falls short, when the evaluation of quality is not followed by recommendations for improvement.As a highly specified area in health care provided in hospitals, intensive care medicine is characterized by complex interprofessional and multidisciplinary approaches. In addition, critical care units are an expensive resource. In order to provide an economic and yet high quality patient care, treatments should be evidence-based, and cost-drivers must be analysed for their effectiveness on patient-outcome.Various methods of quality assurance allow for a formative evaluation of intensive care units by peer reviews, including the use of quality indicators. This article focuses on peer review systems currently applied in German hospitals, and particularly describes quality indicators that have been established by DIVI (German Interdisciplinary Society of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine). It also addresses the need for a professional dialogue between equal partners. This has to accompany each peer review that aims at an improvement in quality of critical patient care.

[Focused Abdominal Ultrasound in Emergency, Perioperative and Intensive Care Medicine]. / Abdominelle Notfallsonografie in der Intensiv- und Akutmedizin.

The rising impact of perioperative sonography is mainly based on mobile high quality ultrasound systems. Relevant bleedings or functional limitations of the abdomen are easy to identify with sonography. The FAST-Concept can be the first access to continue proceedings in ultrasound examination of the abdomen. This paper demonstrates some important ultrasound examinations of the abdomen. The clinical main issues are traumatic and atraumatic bleedings of heart, liver and spleen with haemodynamic instability and functional limitations of abdominal organs like bile cystitis, gastrointestinal passage disability and obstructive uropathy. Just outside of the normal working time the ultrasound experts are often not promptly available. The demonstrated techniques allow in acute medicine to make a diagnosis and to decide fast in critical situations. Perspective in view of the many benefits and possibilities, point-of-care ultrasound will be a high-ranking skill in the field of anaesthesia, emergency medicine or intensive care.

[Echocardiography in Acute Right Heart Insufficiency]. / Echokardiografie bei akuter Rechtsherzinsuffizienz.

The anesthetist is increasingly faced with more complex operations in combination with an aging patient population characterized by pre-existing conditions. Acute right heart failure is often not recognized as the cause of cardiopulmonary insufficiency. Echocardiography has emerged as an important diagnostic tool. Not only perioperatively and in the intensive care unit, transesophageal (TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) allow the diagnosis of right heart failure at bedside, promptly and with low invasiveness. Possible causes of right heart insufficiency on the level of afterload, preload and contractility can be clarified. Life-saving immediate measures can be initiated and, in addition, the success of the therapy can be visualized virtually "live". If indicated, a peri-/intraoperative echocardiographic examination also has a direct influence on therapy control. With a focused cardiac examination crucial information can be gained and the outcome of the patient can be positively influenced by adapted therapy control. By using standard ultrasound views, right heart failure can be detected as the cause of hemodynamic instability.

[Evaluation of the "TeleCOVID Hesse" project after 1 year in operation]. / Evaluation des Projekts "TeleCOVID Hessen" nach einjährigem Betrieb.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV­2 pandemic posed unexpected challenges for hospitals worldwide and in addition to the supply emergency, simultaneously caused a high pressure to innovate. Due to the high number of cases of COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care, structured networking of hospitals gained particular importance. The tele-ICU communication platform TeleCOVID was developed to improve the quality of intensive care both by enabling teleconsultations and by supporting patient transfers. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to survey user experiences with TeleCOVID. The study investigated the extent to which the app is used, the user experiences of the participating hospitals, and the resulting implications for the further development of the telemedicine application. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A user survey was conducted in May 2022 using an online questionnaire. The survey contained both closed and open questions with a free text field. It was sent via the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration (HMSI). All 135 hospitals in Hesse were contacted by e­mail and invited to participate in the study. The results of the closed questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the results of the open questions were clustered and thematically summarized using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The study showed that TeleCOVID was used primarily for transfer requests, followed by the need for a treatment consultation without a transfer request. Most often, ECMO treatment or treatment in a hospital of a higher care level was required. The content analysis showed that users particularly rated the possibility of a data protection-compliant and structured transfer of patient data as advantageous. It is also worth mentioning that in almost 25% of the cases a transfer of patients could be prevented by TeleCOVID. Disadvantages frequently mentioned by respondents were the lack of connection to the electronic hospital information system, the increased time required for the registration process, and the poor primary accessibility of contact persons. CONCLUSION: In a further development of the application the connection to the electronic hospital information system should be considered particularly urgent. In addition, the time expenditure should be reduced by a simplified login process. Due to interface barriers, an alternative data infrastructure would also be conceivable to create interoperability. The introduction of a web client could also increase usability. The main beneficiaries of hospital networking are physicians and patients in a context associated with a high workload and specific medical issues. Continuation and expansion of the app to intensive care medicine and beyond are therefore recommended. In further studies on the project, personal interviews with decision makers could be useful to conduct a more targeted needs analysis.

[Recommendations for Education in Sonography in Prehospital Emergency Medicine (pPOCUS): Consensus paper of DGINA, DGAI, BAND, BV-ÄLRD, DGU, DIVI and DGIIN]. / Empfehlungen zur Sonografieausbildung in der prähospitalen Notfallmedizin (pPOCUS): Konsensuspapier von DGINA, DGAI, BAND, BV-ÄLRD, DGU, DIVI und DGIIN.

Point-of-care sonography is a precondition in acute and emergency medicine for the diagnosis and initiation of therapy for critically ill and injured patients. While emergency sonography is a mandatory part of the training for clinical acute and emergency medicine, it is not everywhere required for prehospital emergency medicine. Although some medical societies in Germany have already established their own learning concepts for emergency ultrasound, a uniform national training concept for the use of emergency sonography in the out-of-hospital setting is still lacking. Experts of several professional medical societies have therefore joined forces and developed a structured training concept for emergency sonography in the prehospital setting. The consensus paper serves as quality assurance in prehospital emergency sonography.

[Recommendations for Education in Sonography in Prehospital Emergency Medicine (pPOCUS): Consensus paper of DGINA, DGAI, BAND, BV-ÄLRD, DGU, DIVI and DGIIN]. / Empfehlungen zur Sonografieausbildung in der prähospitalen Notfallmedizin (pPOCUS): Konsensuspapier von DGINA, DGAI, BAND, BV-ÄLRD, DGU, DIVI und DGIIN.

Point-of-care sonography is a precondition in acute and emergency medicine for the diagnosis and initiation of therapy for critically ill and injured patients. While emergency sonography is a mandatory part of the training for clinical acute and emergency medicine, it is not everywhere required for prehospital emergency medicine. Although some medical societies in Germany have already established their own learning concepts for emergency ultrasound, a uniform national training concept for the use of emergency sonography in the out-of-hospital setting is still lacking. Experts of several professional medical societies have therefore joined forces and developed a structured training concept for emergency sonography in the prehospital setting. The consensus paper serves as quality assurance in prehospital emergency sonography.

Quality indicators in intensive care medicine for Germany - fourth edition 2022.

The measurement of quality indicators supports quality improvement initiatives. The German Interdisciplinary Society of Intensive Care Medicine (DIVI) has published quality indicators for intensive care medicine for the fourth time now. After a scheduled evaluation after three years, changes in several indicators were made. Other indicators were not changed or only minimally. The focus remained strongly on relevant treatment processes like management of analgesia and sedation, mechanical ventilation and weaning, and infections in the ICU. Another focus was communication inside the ICU. The number of 10 indicators remained the same. The development method was more structured and transparency was increased by adding new features like evidence levels or author contribution and potential conflicts of interest. These quality indicators should be used in the peer review in intensive care, a method endorsed by the DIVI. Other forms of measurement and evaluation are also reasonable, for example in quality management. This fourth edition of the quality indicators will be updated in the future to reflect the recently published recommendations on the structure of intensive care units by the DIVI.

[Standardized contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in clinical acute and emergency medicine and critical care (CEUS Acute) : Consensus statement of DGIIN, DIVI, DGINA, DGAI, DGK, ÖGUM, SGUM and DEGUM]. / Standardisierte Kontrastmittelsonographie (CEUS) in der klinischen Akut- und Notfallmedizin sowie Intensivmedizin (CEUS Akut) : Konsensuspapier der DGIIN, DIVI, DGINA, DGAI, DGK, ÖGUM, SGUM und DEGUM.

The present document describes the possible applications of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in emergency examinations. Guidelines on contrast medium ultrasound in acute and emergency care and intensive care medicine have not yet been published. Evidence-based CEUS guidelines were first provided by the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) and the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB). The presented recommendations describe the possible applications and protocols of CEUS in acute care.

Evaluation of a Clinical Decision Support System for the most evidence-based approach to managing perioperative anticoagulation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We explored the feasibility of a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) to guide evidence-based perioperative anticoagulation. DESIGN: Prospective randomised clinical management simulation multicentre study. SETTING: Five University and 11 general hospitals in Germany. PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled physicians (anaesthesiologist (n = 73), trauma surgeons (n = 2), unknown (n = 1)) with different professional experience. INTERVENTIONS: A CDSS based on a multiple-choice test was developed and validated at the University Hospital of Frankfurt (phase-I). The CDSS comprised European guidelines for the management of anticoagulation in cardiology, cardio-thoracic, non-cardio-thoracic surgery and anaesthesiology. Phase-II compared the efficiency of physicians in identifying evidence-based approach of managing perioperative anticoagulation. In total 168 physicians were randomised to CDSS (PERI-KOAG) or CONTROL. MEASUREMENTS: Overall mean score and association of processing time and professional experience were analysed. The multiple-choice test consists of 11 cases and two correct answers per question were required to gain 100% success rate (=22 points). MAIN RESULTS: In total 76 physicians completed the questionnaire (n = 42 PERI-KOAG; n = 34 CONTROL; attrition rate 54%). Overall mean score (max. 100% = 22 points) was significantly higher in PERI-KOAG compared to CONTROL (82 ± 15% vs. 70 ± 10%; 18 ± 3 vs. 15 ± 2 points; P = 0.0003). A longer processing time is associated with significantly increased overall mean scores in PERI-KOAG (≥33 min. 89 ± 10% (20 ± 2 points) vs. <33 min. 73 ± 15% (16 ± 3 points), P = 0.0005) but not in CONTROL (≥33 min. 74 ± 13% (16 ± 3 points) vs. <33 min. 69 ± 9% (15 ± 2 points), P = 0.11). Within PERI-KOAG, there is a tendency towards higher results within the more experienced group (>5 years), but no significant difference to less (≤5 years) experienced colleagues (87 ± 10% (19 ± 2 points) vs. 78 ± 17% (17 ± 4 points), P = 0.08). However, an association between professional experience and success rate in CONTROL has not been shown (71 ± 8% vs. 70 ± 13%, 16 ± 2 vs. 15 ± 3 points; P = 0.66). CONCLUSIONS: CDSS significantly improved the identification of evidence-based treatment approaches. A precise usage of CDSS is mandatory to maximise efficiency.

[DGAI-certified course series anaesthesia focused sonography: module 1: basics of sonography]. / DGAI-zertifizierte Seminarreihe Anästhesie Fokussierte Sonografie - Modul 1: Grundlagen der Sonografie.

Understanding the principles of wave physics paves the way for appropriate utilization and interpretation of sonography. In module 1 of the course series "Anesthesia Focused Sonography", the course participants will learn by lectures and practical training, how ultrasonic waves emerge, how they travel in human tissue, and how a picture is generated from their echo signals. Furthermore, the technology of an ultrasound system and the development of artifacts will be demonstrated; moreover, the Doppler effect and its implementation into current sonographic procedures will be presented as a central theme.

[The DGAI training module 2 in anaesthetic focussed sonography: vascular sonography]. / DGAI-zertifizierte Seminarreihe Anästhesie Fokussierte Sonografie - Modul 2: Gefäßsonografie.

Modul 2 will provide the theory and practical training of the sonographically guided puncture of central and peripheral veins and arteries. In doing so patients of all age groups are taken into consideration. Combined with the content of the other modules this series of workshops, which was initiated by our society, might be a first step in defining a new core competency of our specialty. The confident use of ultrasound in vascular puncture sharpens our dedicated professional competence and will contribute to continuously improve the quality and safety of anaesthesiologic patient care.

[DGAI-certified seminar series: anaesthesia focussed echocardiography: module 4 cardiosonography]. / DGAI-zertifizierte Seminarreihe Anästhesie Fokussierte Sonografie - Modul 4: Kardiosonografie.

The use of ultrasonography in perioperative medicine has developed rapidly within the last decade. Today ultrasonic techniques are established methods for peripheral and central venous access as well as for regional anaesthesia. However, transthoracic ultrasonography by non-cardiologists has not yet been routinely established perioperatively, in intensive care medicine or in emergency medicine. With the current module 4: Cardiosonography of the DGAI-certified seminar series in Anaesthesia Focussed Sonography (AFS) it is intended to provide a basis for a quality assured training and implementation of transthoracic sonography in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine and emergency medicine.

[Lung ultrasound in COVID-19]. / Lungensonographie bei COVID­19.

Providing medical care to patients suffering from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major challenge for government healthcare systems around the world. The new coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), shows a high organ specificity for the lower respiratory tract. Since there is so far no effective treatment or vaccination against the virus, early diagnostic recognition is of great importance. Due to the specific aspects of the infection, which mainly begins in the peripheral lung parenchyma, lung ultrasonography is suitable as a diagnostic imaging method to identify suspected cases as such in the early stages of the disease. Serial ultrasound examinations on patients with confirmed COVID-19 can promptly detect changes in the affected lung tissue at the bedside. This article summarizes the diagnostic potential of lung ultrasound with respect to screening and therapeutic decision-making in patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV­2 pneumonia.

[Focused Abdominal Ultrasound in Emergency, Perioperative and Intensive Care Medicine]. / Abdominelle Notfallsonografie in der Intensiv- und Akutmedizin.

The rising impact of perioperative sonography is mainly based on mobile high quality ultrasound systems. Relevant bleedings or functional limitations of the abdomen are easy to identify with sonography. The FAST-Concept can be the first access to continue proceedings in ultrasound examination of the abdomen. This paper demonstrates some important ultrasound examinations of the abdomen. The clinical main issues are traumatic and atraumatic bleedings of heart, liver and spleen with haemodynamic instability and functional limitations of abdominal organs like bile cystitis, gastrointestinal passage disability and obstructive uropathy. Just outside of the normal working time the ultrasound experts are often not promptly available. The demonstrated techniques allow in acute medicine to make a diagnosis and to decide fast in critical situations. Perspective in view of the many benefits and possibilities, point-of-care ultrasound will be a high-ranking skill in the field of anaesthesia, emergency medicine or intensive care.

Multiorgan Point-of-Care Ultrasound in a Patient With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia Complicated by Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Pulmonary Embolism.

Morbidity and mortality associated with the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) are not only due to acute respiratory distress syndrome but also related to multiorgan involvement and dysfunction. In this report, we present a critically ill patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, during which he required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and suffered from multiple complications. Bedside sonography became an important tool to manage the patient by adapting artificial ventilation parameters and played a key role in the diagnosis of thrombotic events and the monitoring of subarachnoid hemorrhage that unexpectedly complicated the case.

The relationship between carotid blood-flow velocity and the left ventricular area during acute regional ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: Myocardial contractility can be described by the relationship between blood-flow velocity in the carotid artery and the left ventricular cross-sectional area. The authors investigated whether critical myocardial ischemia influences the derived contractility index, E'(es). DESIGN: A prospective animal study. SETTING: A university research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven Göttinger minipigs. INTERVENTIONS: Within the closed-chest model, the authors placed a U-shaped 8-MHz miniature Doppler probe around the left internal carotid artery and inserted a combined pressure-conductance catheter into the left ventricular cavity via the right internal carotid artery. A balloon occlusion catheter was placed into the inferior caval vein from a femoral vein and acquired transthoracic-view echocardiographic images. An active coronary perfusion catheter was positioned in the proximal left circumflex coronary (LCx) artery. The LCx bed was perfused with blood from the contralateral femoral artery by using a high-precision-output roller pump. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Stage analysis during normal perfusion revealed evidence for the following function: E'(es) = 0.066 + 0.121 E(es) (R = 0.96, R(2) = 0.92, and p < 0.0001), which agrees with previously determined equations. Under ischemic conditions, the relationship changed to E'(es) = 0.048 + 0.196.E(es) (R = 0.83, R(2) = 0.69, and p < 0.0001). The limits of precision to detect changes in contractility by E'(es) increased from 16% to 45%; the bias did not notably deviate from zero. The indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony (mechanical dyssynchrony and internal flow fraction) derived from conductance catheter measurements increased significantly. CONCLUSION: The ability of E'(es) to indicate contractility during acute reduced coronary blood flow is limited.

[Transesophageal echocardiography in critically ill patients--techniques, indications and possibilities]. / Transösophageale Echokardiografie in der Intensivmedizin--Technik, Indikationen, Möglichkeiten.

TEE is one of the most versatile modalities for diagnosing and guiding treatment of critically ill patients due to its ease of use at patient bedside, the high quality imaging, the rapid availability of diagnostic information and its low complication rate (2.6%). Numerous studies habe shown a significant diagnostic (67%) and therapeutic (36%) impact on patient management in critically ill patients, particularly in cardiological and cardiosurgical populations.

Quality indicators in intensive care medicine for Germany - third edition 2017.

Quality improvement in medicine is depending on measurement of relevant quality indicators. The quality indicators for intensive care medicine of the German Interdisciplinary Society of Intensive Care Medicine (DIVI) from the year 2013 underwent a scheduled evaluation after three years. There were major changes in several indicators but also some indicators were changed only minimally. The focus on treatment processes like ward rounds, management of analgesia and sedation, mechanical ventilation and weaning, as well as the number of 10 indicators were not changed. Most topics remained except for early mobilization which was introduced instead of hypothermia following resuscitation. Infection prevention was added as an outcome indicator. These quality indicators are used in the peer review in intensive care, a method endorsed by the DIVI. A validity period of three years is planned for the quality indicators.