[Pyroban on New Year's Eve 2020 & 2021 - Analysis of firework-related injuries over the last 12 years]. / Pyroverbot Silvester 2020 & 2021 ­ Analyse von feuerwerksbedingten Verletzungen der letzten 12 Jahre.

There is an increase of firework-related injuries in Germany at the turn of the year. With regard to hearing, a distinction is made between blast (BT) and explosion trauma (ET). The study examines the prevalence and characteristics of firework-related injuries and the impact of the COVID-19-pandemic pyrotechnic ban on New Year's Eve 2020/21 and 2021/22 compared to the 10-year period prior to the pandemic.A retrospective chart review of all patients who presented themselves with the diagnosis blast trauma (H 83.3) or explosion trauma (T 70.8) at the Charité emergency service in the last 12 years from Dezember 28 to January 5 was performed.276 patients were recorded, 77% of whom were male. 1/3 each were assigned to the age group 10-19 and 20-29 years. 21% of the patients were admitted to the hospital. There was an isolated BT of the ear in 67%, hand injuries in 11%, head injuries in 8% and eye injuries in 4%. 87% had ear involvement with hearing loss; 5% of these with ET.8% of the patients underwent surgical interventions. The treatment of a tympanic membrane perforation was carried out by: 54% splinting, 38% tympanoplasty. Therapy with a glucocorticoid was administered i.v. in 48%. and initiated orally in 20%. Overall, there was a nearly 75% decrease in injuries in 2020 and 2021 compared to the previous 10-year period.The use of fireworks leads to increased utilization of health care resources. The ban on the sale of pyrotechnics as well as the introduction of pyro ban zones in 2020 and 2021 led to a relevant decrease in injuries. 2020 and 2021 were the only years in which there were no injuries in children. The BT of the ear is the most common firework-related injury.

A new score for characterizing the visibility of anatomical structures during ultrasound guided regional anesthesia: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To identify anatomical structures using sonography can be challenging, yet it is a basic requirement for effective and safe ultrasound guided nerve blocks. In clinical routine, we find a wide variety in the visibility of anatomical structures. Aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a newly developed visibility score for anatomical structures in ultrasound guided regional anesthesia. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the blockades from the routine documentation of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia over an arbitrary period of 15 months at a university hospital with a Visibility Score (VIS) of one (best) to five (worst visibility). RESULTS: The study analyzed 983 blockades (femoral, saphenous, infragluteal and popliteal sciatic, transversus abdominis plane, interscalene, supraclavicular, axillary and suprascapular blockades). The following VIS were found: 1: 80.6%; 2: 14.0%; 3: 4.0%; 4: 1.2%; 5: 0.2%. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 27.9 kg/m2. The best cut-off for poor VIS was a BMI of 28.9 kg/m2. For infragluteal sciatic nerve block VIS was significantly higher (mean VIS 1.71±1.0) compared to all the other recorded blockades except the supraclavicular block. CONCLUSIONS: VIS was feasible in clinical routine. Compared to the other evaluated blocks, the VIS for the infragluteal access to the sciatic nerve was rated worst. VIS is found to be worse in obese patients. Further research is needed to evaluate VIS and its suitability for specific questions as for instance anesthetists' learning curves, comparison of different patient populations, ultrasound devices or different nerve blocks.

[Late complications after tracheotomy in the nursing home]. / Spätkomplikationen nach Tracheotomie im ambulanten Pflegebereich.

BACKGROUND: Advances in modern intensive care have led to a sharp increase in the number of tracheotomies performed in intensive care units. In contrast to surgical epithelial tracheostomy (ST), a less sturdy stoma is created by means of percutaneous dilation of tracheotomy (PDT). The advantages of a PDT compared to ST are the simpler logistical efforts, associated cost reduction and minimally invasive nature of the process. However, due to variability in airway management, late complications can cause problems, especially in nursing homes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nursing facilities were given a standardized questionnaire which included information about patient type, tracheotomy type, cannula management protocol, TK management protocol, type of complications occuring at the tracheostoma as well as frequency. RESULTS: Nearly 66 % of the patients were treated with PDT. The complication rates of PDT patients were statistically and significantly higher for all observed complication types compared to the group of patients receiving ST care. 80 % of patients treated with PDT required readmission to clinic for tracheostoma revision, versus 23 % in the ST-patients. DISCUSSION: A PDT places special demands on the nursing staff in postoperative aftercare. The decision as to which form of tracheotomy is best suited to a particular patient should be made with a multidisciplinary team and depending on the indication. Given the probable long-term nature of the tracheotomy, a surgical tracheostomy should be the therapy of first choice.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux identified using a new catheter design: defining normal values and excluding artifacts.

OBJECTIVE: To define normal values for laryngopharyngeal reflux using an improved catheter design with adjustable electrode placement for pH monitoring. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study of normal volunteers. METHODS: The setting was an institutional-based gastroenterology practice. Subjects included 20 healthy volunteers with no history of laryngeal, pharyngeal, or reflux symptoms. These included 10 men and 10 women (mean age, 33 y; age range, 26-49 y). Ambulatory 24-hour triple-electrode monitoring of pH in distal esophagus, proximal esophagus, and pharynx using new bifurcated probe was performed. The distal electrode was placed 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter, with the proximal two electrodes straddling the upper sphincter. The main outcome measure was the number of true pharyngeal reflux episodes. RESULTS: Sixteen of 20 subjects had no episodes, and 2 subjects had only one episode of pharyngeal reflux. The two subjects exceeding this value (8 and 15 episodes, respectively) had abnormal distal and proximal esophageal reflux. Artifacts for pharyngeal reflux due to acidic meals or "pseudoreflux" were excluded. Subject tolerance of this new probe was excellent. CONCLUSION: The triple-electrode bifurcated adjustable pH probe provides a well-tolerated technique to identify true hypopharyngeal acid reflux episodes. When artifacts produced by meals and pseudoreflux are excluded, 90% of normal subjects show no episodes or a single episode over a 24-hour period.