Objective and subjective consequences of pandemic-related study program changes for the perception of the practical year - a comparison of medical students in Germany with and without a second national board examination.

Background: Due to SARS-CoV-2, the Bavarian Ministry of Health decided in April 2020 to postpone the second national board examination in human medicine and to bring forward the start of the practical year (in German: Praktisches Jahr, further abbreviated with PJ) from May to April 2020. The different tertial times made it necessary for affected students to reorganise the PJ and rendered the preparation for the national board examination that had already taken place obsolete. As a result, students had to prepare for it again after the PJ and take it together with the third national board examination. Research question: How do students affected by the early PJ differ in their perception of the practical year and in their psychological well-being from the comparison groups with a regular PJ schedule? Methodology: The study is based on quantitative data from the Dean of Studies Office of the Medical Faculty of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) and an online survey. The sample consists of LMU students who started the early PJ in April 2020 (n=86) and two comparison groups: The cohort of LMU students who started their PJ regularly in May 2019 (n=50), and students from other German universities who started their PJ regularly in May 2020 (n=98) and took the second national board examination in human medicine in spring 2020. Results: For students affected by the early PJ, there were measurable negative effects on the choice of training institutions, the quality of the PJ content, preparation for the national board examinations, and career planning. Compared to regular students from other federal states, affected students reported higher psychological stress, with comparable resilience. Conclusion: It can be assumed that the insights gained apply to the entirety of medical students in the affected federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. As a conclusion, we make the recommendation to include the position of the students in decisions of great consequence.

Survival with Good Neurological Outcome despite Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Extreme Acidosis after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Due to Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

We report the case of a 49-year-old male who suffered from a myocardial infarction with subsequent cardiac arrest. The emergency medical team began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including defibrillation of ventricular fibrillation. Although a return of spontaneous circulation was achieved after approximately 30 min of continued efforts, the patient went back into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and resuscitation had to be resumed. On admission, the patient was severely acidotic with a pH of 6.67, lactatemia of 19 mmol/L, and pronounced hypercapnia (pCO2 127 mmHg). Despite the poor prognosis, all possible efforts including coronary intervention and therapeutic hypothermia were carried out and the patient made a quick recovery with discharge from the intensive care unit on day 5. Survival of extreme acidosis, such as in this case, is rare. This is the first report of survival with good neurologic outcome in a patient with myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, and pH of under 6.7 on admission at the clinic.

[Laboratory and calorimetric monitoring of medical nutrition therapy in intensive and intermediate care units : Second position paper of the Section Metabolism and Nutrition of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI)]. / Laborchemisches und kalorimetrisches Monitoring der medizinischen Ernährungstherapie auf der Intensiv- und Intermediate Care Station : Zweites Positionspapier der Sektion Metabolismus und Ernährung der Deutschen Interdisziplinären Vereinigung für Intensiv- und Notfallmedizin (DIVI).

This second position paper of the Section Metabolism and Nutrition of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) provides recommendations on the laboratory monitoring of macro- and micronutrient intake as well as the use of indirect calorimetry in the context of medical nutrition therapy of critically ill adult patients. In addition, recommendations are given for disease-related or individual (level determination) substitution and (high-dose) pharmacotherapy of vitamins and trace elements.

Performance of galactomannan testing from endotracheal aspirate to guide bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.

PURPOSE: Invasive aspergillosis is a major threat to immunocompromised individuals. Galactomannan (GM) is used as a biomarker for invasive aspergillosis. Investigations recommended in current guidelines include GM testing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. GM testing of endotracheal aspirate, the sampling of which is less invasive, less resource-intensive and less aerosol-generating, is not validated. We compared the performance of endotracheal aspirate GM as a screening tool to predict BAL fluid GM-positivity in patients with suspected invasive aspergillosis. METHODS: Of each patient, a pair of corresponding endotracheal aspirate and BAL fluid samples was tested and compared for GM results. Two sample sets were included. The first consisted of 140 consecutive BAL fluid/endotracheal aspirate pairs obtained from 133 patients. The pairs of the second sample set (n = 38) were selected based on the criterion that the BAL tested positive for GM. All specimens were obtained in a German 2,000 bed tertiary care center. RESULTS: Among BAL fluid GM-positive samples, endotracheal aspirate GM demonstrated poor specificity (72%) but high sensitivity (92% in predicting BAL fluid GM of ≥ 0.50 and 91% for BAL fluid GM of ≥ 1.00) and an excellent negative predictive value (98%). The use of a marginally elevated cutoff of 0.63 resulted in an improved specificity (72-81%), without loss of sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: For screening purposes, one might consider testing endotracheal aspirate for GM, which could help avoid unnecessary BAL.

[Assessment and technical monitoring of nutritional status of patients in intensive and intermediate care units : Position paper of the Section Metabolism and Nutrition of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and Emergency Medicine (DIVI)]. / Erfassung und apparatives Monitoring des Ernährungsstatus von Patient*innen auf der Intensiv- und Intermediate Care Station : Positionspapier der Sektion Metabolismus und Ernährung der Deutschen Interdisziplinären Vereinigung für Intensiv- und Notfallmedizin (DIVI).

At the time of admission to an intensive or intermediate care unit, assessment of the patients' nutritional status may have both prognostic and therapeutic relevance with regard to the planning of individualized medical nutrition therapy (MNT). MNT has definitely no priority in the initial treatment of a critically ill patient, but is often also neglected during the course of the disease. Especially with prolonged length of stay, there is an increasing risk of malnutrition with considerable prognostic macro- and/or micronutrient deficit. So far, there are no structured, evidence-based recommendations for assessing nutritional status in intensive or intermediate care patients. This position paper of the Section Metabolism and Nutrition of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) presents consensus-based recommendations for the assessment and technical monitoring of nutritional status of patients in intensive and intermediate care units. These recommendations supplement the current S2k guideline "Clinical Nutrition in Intensive Care Medicine" of the German Society for Nutritional Medicine (DGEM) and the DIVI.

A Case of Self-salvation in a Determined Chloroquine Suicide Attempt.

This report concerns a young man who attempted suicide by ingesting a cocktail with a lethal dose of chloroquine phosphate and large amounts of diazepam. On presentation, the patient was drowsy, unresponsive and in cardiogenic shock with severely impaired left ventricular function. Active charcoal and vasopressors were administered, and despite his intoxication with diazepam, a high-dose diazepam treatment was initiated in the hospital. It is concluded that diazepam in the cocktail played a vital role in the survival of this patient. With a rise in numbers, every emergency and intensive care physician should be familiar with chloroquine poisoning.

Translation of a scale measuring cognitive test anxiety (G-CTAS) and its psychometric examination among medical students in Germany.

Aim of the study: Test anxiety expresses itself in a variety of physical and cognitive processes. Due to its influence on test performance, the cognitive component in particular can have a negative impact on those affected. A measuring instrument for this is not yet available in the German-speaking world but does exist in the form of the "Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale" (CTAS), among other languages, in English. The aim of this work was the creation and psychometric review of a German version of the scale (G-CTAS). Methods: A German translation of the scale was created using a forward-backward procedure. Statistical investigations were then carried out on a cohort of medical students, which included an item analysis with calculation of difficulty, variance and item discrimination as well as the determination of the scale's internal consistency. The criterion validity was examined using test performance and gender-specific differences. Results: The final version contains 26 matching items with acceptable item parameters (mean values >1.46, <3.13; variances >0.48; part-whole-discrimination-indices >0.37). Cronbach's alpha was 0.92, the scale was therefore found to be a reliable measuring instrument. The scale validity could be confirmed by significant differences (p<0.01) between total values of female and male participants as well as significant correlations (p<0.001) between total values and test performance in the written and oral part of the first state examination. Conclusion: With G-CTAS a suitable measuring instrument for cognitive test anxiety within the German-speaking world is available, which can be used, among other things, for studies concerning the relationship between stress, exams and test anxiety among medical students.

Selenium and Selenoprotein P Deficiency Correlates With Complications and Adverse Outcome After Major Trauma.

BACKGROUND: A declining selenium (Se) status constitutes a characteristic of critical illness and may affect disease course and survival. The dynamics of trauma-induced changes in biomarkers of Se status are poorly characterized, and an association with multiple organ failure (MOF) and mortality can be hypothesized. It was the aim of this study to investigate Se and selenoprotein P (SELENOP) concentrations in major trauma patients during the early posttraumatic period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients after major trauma (ISS ≥16) were included at our level one trauma center. Se supplementation ever during the 90-day observation period was defined as an exclusion criterion. Serum samples were drawn within less than 60 min after trauma, and after 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Serum Se was analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and SELENOP concentrations by ELISA. The data were correlated to clinical parameters, occurrence of MOF defined by MOF and APACHE II score, lung injury defined by Horowitz index and clinical outcome (90-days survival). RESULTS: Serum Se and SELENOP concentrations of the trauma patients were significantly below the average of healthy European subjects (mean ±SD; Se, 41.2±8.1 vs. 84.7±23.3 µg/L, P < 0.001; SePP, 1.5±0.3 vs. 4.3±1.0 mg/L, P < 0.001). A strong deficit was present already at the first time point (Se; 33.6±10.5 µg/L, SELENOP: 1.4±0.5 mg/L). The clinical scores collectively showed an inverse relation between health status and Se biomarkers. Patients who did not survive the 90-day observation period exhibited significantly lower initial post-trauma Se status than the surviving patients (mean±SD; Se, 24.7±7.2 vs. 39.2±8.4 µg/L, P<0.05; SePP, 1.1±0.4 vs. 1.6±0.4 mg/L, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Very low Se and SELENOP concentrations occur fast after major trauma and are associated with poor survival odds. These findings support the notion that early Se substitution may constitute a meaningful adjuvant treatment strategy in trauma patients.

What do international health electives and state examination scores have in common? - A cohort study to compare the results of written medical licensing examinations with the participation in international health electives during the final year of undergraduate medical education in Germany.

Objective: The final year of undergraduate medical education in Germany is called the practical year (PY), where emphasis is placed on developing practical skills requisite of soon-to-be physicians. Many students choose to spend part of this year abroad, yet little is known about their results on the medical licensing examinations. Is there a predisposition of high-performing students to go abroad as compared to lower performers? Are international health electives during the PY followed by higher scores in the final section of the German medical licensing examination (GMLE2)? Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among undergraduate medical students at the LMU Munich, who participated in the final section of the German medical licensing examination between autumn 2009 and spring 2011. Of the 1,731 eligible students, 554 (32%) participated in our study. We analyzed for statistical associations of international health electives with written test scores of both sections of the medical licensing examination as well as grades earned during medical school training. We then used multiple regression analysis to identify relevant predictors of GMLE2 scores. Results: Approximately half of study participants pursued international health electives during the PY (51.1%). The number of students going abroad increased with the scores achieved on the first section of the medical licensing examination (GMLE1, p<0.001). Stratified by their GMLE1 scores students who pursued electives abroad during their PY achieved higher GMLE2 scores (p<0.001). The strongest predictor for GMLE2 scores were grades obtained during medical school training; age and study duration indicated lower scores; and those engaging in international health electives correlated with higher scores. Conclusions: Students with higher GMLE1 scores go abroad during PY more often. Beyond that, students who pursue international health electives achieve higher GMLE2 scores than those who stay in Germany during PY. There is an unmet need for additional research to identify which factors make these students perform better and what motivates them to go abroad.

Venlafaxine intoxication with development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy: successful use of extracorporeal life support, intravenous lipid emulsion and CytoSorb®.

We describe a young patient who ingested 18 g (240 times the daily therapeutic dose) of venlafaxine in a suicide attempt. She developed severe cardiomyopathy in a takotsubo distribution causing cardiogenic shock and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). She was successfully treated with intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE), extracorporeal life support (ECLS) and CytoSorb®. This is remarkable as, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the highest amount of venlafaxine intake seen in the literature with a nonfatal outcome.

Assessment of lung function in a large cohort of patients with acromegaly.

OBJECTIVE: Acromegaly is associated with increased mortality due to respiratory disease. To date, lung function in patients with acromegaly has only been assessed in small studies, with contradicting results. We assessed lung function parameters in a large cohort of patients with acromegaly. DESIGN: Lung function of acromegaly patients was prospectively assessed using spirometry, blood gas analysis and body plethysmography. Biochemical indicators of acromegaly were assessed through measurement of growth hormone and IGF-I levels. This study was performed at the endocrinology outpatient clinic of a tertiary referral center in Germany. METHODS: We prospectively tested lung function of 109 acromegaly patients (53 male, 56 female; aged 24-82 years; 80 with active acromegaly) without severe acute or chronic pulmonary disease. We compared lung volume, air flow, airway resistance and blood gases to normative data. RESULTS: Acromegaly patients had greater lung volumes (maximal vital capacity, intra-thoracic gas volume and residual volume: P < 0.001, total lung capacity: P = 0.006) and showed signs of small airway obstruction (reduced maximum expiratory flow when 75% of the forced vital capacity (FVC) has been exhaled: P < 0.001, lesser peak expiratory flow: P = 0.01). There was no significant difference between active and inactive acromegaly. Female patients had significantly altered lung function in terms of subclinical airway obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: In our cross-sectional analysis of lung function in 109 patients with acromegaly, lung volumes were increased compared to healthy controls. Additionally, female patients showed signs of subclinical airway obstruction. There was no difference between patients with active acromegaly compared with patients biochemically in remission.

How well do final year undergraduate medical students master practical clinical skills?

INTRODUCTION: The clinical examination and other practical clinical skills are fundamental to guide diagnosis and therapy. The teaching of such practical skills has gained significance through legislative changes and adjustments of the curricula of medical schools in Germany. We sought to find out how well final year undergraduate medical students master practical clinical skills. METHODS: We conducted a formative 4-station objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) focused on practical clinical skills during the final year of undergraduate medical education. Participation was voluntary. Besides the examination of heart, lungs, abdomen, vascular system, lymphatic system as well as the neurological, endocrinological or orthopaedic examination we assessed other basic clinical skills (e.g. interpretation of an ECG, reading a chest X-ray). Participants filled-out a questionnaire prior to the exam, inter alia to give an estimate of their performance. RESULTS: 214 final year students participated in our study and achieved a mean score of 72.8% of the total score obtainable. 9.3% of participants (n=20) scored insufficiently (<60%). We found no influence of sex, prior training in healthcare or place of study on performance. Only one third of the students correctly estimated their performance (35.3%), whereas 30.0% and 18.8% over-estimated their performance by 10% and 20% respectively. DISCUSSION: Final year undergraduate medical students demonstrate considerable deficits performing practical clinical skills in the context of a formative assessment. Half of the students over-estimate their own performance. We recommend an institutionalised and frequent assessment of practical clinical skills during undergraduate medical education, especially in the final year.

Use of computed tomography and mechanical CPR in cardiac arrest to confirm pulmonary embolism: a case study.

Precise therapeutic decision-making is vital in managing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We present an interesting approach where suspected pulmonary embolism could be confirmed by early computed tomography in cardiac arrest. Chest compressions were performed automatically by mechanical devices also during the acquisition of computed tomography data and subsequent thrombolysis.

Quality management of clinical-practical instruction for Practical Year medical students in Germany - proposal for a catalogue of criteria from the German Society of Medical Education.

OBJECTIVES: Amended in 2013, the current version of the German Medical Licensure Regulation contains structural specifications that are also required of non-university institutions involved in Practical Year clinical training. The criteria are worded in relatively general terms. Furthermore, not all of the structural specifications can be readily applied to every subject area. In order to ensure commensurability in Practical Year instruction in Germany, not least in light of recently introduced Practical Year mobility, it is necessary to define consistent quality criteria for Practical Year training. The authors therefore propose a catalogue of criteria for the quality management process in Practical Year instruction facilities. METHODS: In January 2014, the board of directors of the German Society for Medical Education decided to establish a committee comprised of representatives from various German medical faculties. In a process similar to the Delphi methodology, the group developed criteria for structure, process and outcome quality in Practical Year training in Germany. RESULTS: The criteria developed for structure, process and outcome quality apply to Practical Year training in academic teaching hospitals and university medical centres. Furthermore, modalities for review are proposed. CONCLUSIONS: The present catalogue of criteria is intended to contribute to the formation of a basis for the most consistent quality standards possible for Practical Year instruction in Germany.