[Personality traits in anesthesiology : Results from a questionnaire-based requirements analysis]. / Persönlichkeitseigenschaften in der Anästhesiologie : Ergebnisse einer fragebogenbasierten Anforderungsanalyse.

BACKGROUND: Criteria for the identification of suitable applicants for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education are greatly and ubiquitously discussed. Apart from the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, certain personality traits are necessary for practicing the medical profession; however, little is known on the personality traits required for medical subspecialties. This study had two objectives: 1) identification and evaluation of personality traits which are essential for performing anesthesiology and 2) establishment of a job specification for anesthesiology. METHODS: We performed a survey among German anesthesiologists using an online questionnaire. This questionnaire collected demographic data, such as age, gender, level of postgraduate education and 28 personality traits from 5 categories: cognition, psychomotor, physical, sensory and social interactive properties. The participants were asked to rate the personality traits on a 5-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was performed using an ANOVA. RESULTS: A total of 714 questionnaires were analyzed. Social interactive skills and cognitive personality traits were considered as most important for a clinical career in anesthesiology. The three personality traits rated highest were a high decision-making ability, stress tolerance and speed of perception. Furthermore, a high apprehension, affability and patient-oriented behavior are needed. CONCLUSION: A job specification describing important personality traits can be useful to advise both undergraduates and postgraduates on their medical career and for medical team simulation tasks. For the clinical practice in anesthesiology, for example, high social interactive and cognitive personality traits are required.

Excision of epithelial tumors: CO2 laser versus conventional methods.

In a comparative experimental study, excisions of a transplanted Lewis lung carcinoma in BDF1 mice were performed by means of the CO2 laser and conventional methods, namely common scalpel and diathermy. The results showed a significant reduction in tumor recurrence and animal mortality rates (27.5% vs. 75% and 45%) after tumor excision with the laser in the early stage (5th day) of tumor development. This finding, in addition to the surgical properties of the CO2 laser, suggests that early excision using this modality is a rational treatment of this type of tumor.

Facilitation of mechanical ventilation in status asthmaticus with continuous intravenous thiopental.

Mechanical ventilation in status asthmaticus is associated with a significant mortality and morbidity. To facilitate intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV), we have used continuous IV thiopental (thiopentone) together with traditional ventilatory techniques. With this policy, we were able to achieve rapid correction of arterial blood gas tensions in a group of 20 severe asthmatics requiring IPPV. By 1 hour, peak airway pressure (PAP) had fallen from 58.6 +/- 15.7 to 30.2 +/- 10.9 cm H2O (p less than 0.001). During the same period, PaCO2 fell from 51.3 +/- 15.3 to 40.17 +/- 8.2 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) and pH rose from 7.25 +/- 0.1 to 7.33 +/- 0.1 (p less than 0.001). Morbidity was low and in particular, no episode of barotrauma was noted. All patients survived the acute attack and were successfully liberated from the ventilator. We conclude that these results are largely attributable to our use of early and continuous IV anesthesia induced by thiopental.

A controlled eye irrigation system.

Irrigation of the eye and adnexa is a way of removing damaging material and treating different diseases by applying medicants in the irrigant in humans and in laboratory animals. A system for controlled eye irrigation in animals is presented, suggesting possible use in human patients as well.

Healing of the operative fascial defect after repair of huge midline hernias with the reverse sheath method.

An experiment was carried out to ascertain the fate of the bared muscle following the repair of huge midline hernias with the "reverse sheath" method. Thirty-five patients have undergone operation by this method over the past five years, with excellent results. Experimental stripping of abdominal fascia was done on 35 rats. The bare rectus muscle was examined 1, 3, 5, 8 and 11 months after the operation. No regeneration of fascia was seen. The missing fascia was replaced by scar tissue. The results are important with regard to the support of the abdominal wall after repair of midline abdominal hernia by the above-mentioned method.

Stapes-replacing prosthesis (S.R.P.).

Any chronic inflammatory condition of the middle ear may bring about bone destruction. Today, in the antibiotic era, this destruction concerns mostly the ossicular chain. Any one of the ossicles or all of them together may be partially damaged or completely destroyed (Sadé et al, 1981). Hearing is usually impaired if the stapes or the incus or both of them are damaged. To overcome the resulting hearing deficit, various surgical techniques, using various materials, have been introduced, with various degrees of success. The most problematic situation encountered surgically is the one in which the stapes is missing, and it is with this situation that the present study deals. The surgical solution so far advocated has been in the form of a surgical bridge or columella between the mobile footplate and the drum. The columella (Fig. 1) is made out of bone or some non-organic biocompatible material. Often, however, this solution is not very successful, for two reasons: A. Instability of the columella (prosthesis) is often unavoidable because of its slim attachment to the footplate; B. Biologically, an incompatibility between the drum and the prosthesis is all too often present, when the latter is made of plastic materials. These columellas have been found, sooner of later, to extrude. It is the purpose of this communication to report a new technique and a new concept, which tries to overcome the above shortcomings, using a different type of stapes-replacing prosthesis.

An exploratory study of mother-child interaction during the second year of life.

The aim of this study was to further understanding of development during the crucial second year of life. The study employed a naturalistic, semistructured situation for the observation of mother-child behavior. The experimental stimulus was the progressive diversion of the mother's attention away from her child. This diversion evoked separation anxiety in the child and the individual and interactive regulatory behaviors of the mother-child pair. Concurrently, the child's behavior was observed in a play group situation. One set of rating scales was devised for assessment of the mother-child interaction, and another set for assessment of the child's functioning in the play group. The major hypothesis was that maternal and child behaviors that foster the child's successful handling of phase-specific stresses and developmental tasks will be positively correlated with the child's functioning in the play group. This hypothesis is supported by the findings of the study.

Bone growth alterations resulting from application of CO2 laser beam to the epiphyseal growth plates. An experimental study in rabbits.

The CO2 laser beam was used to create defects 3 mm in depth in the distal growth plate of one femur in a group of 59 rabbits. In most of the 32 rabbits in which the defect was created on the lateral aspect of the epiphyseal plate the procedure resulted in the subsequent development of valgus deformity and shortening of the femur. In most of the 27 rabbits in which defects were produced both medially and laterally to the epiphyseal plate there was a subsequent marked shortening of the bones. Histological studies revealed that the laser-induced defects of the growth cartilage led to epiphysiodesis and premature disappearance of the epiphyseal growth plates.

Experimental replacement of esophagus by tissue tube in dogs.

After subcutaneous implantation of a silastic rod 1.2 cm in diameter covered by a lacelike polyester fibre mesh an autogenous tissue tube can be prepared which was used for segmental esophageal replacement with satisfactory results in 5 out of 7 dogs.

A permanent plastic cannula for intraventricular injections into rat brain.

The construction and use of a permanent, implanted plastic camnula for intraventricular injections in rat brain is described. The cannula can be used in either acute or chronic experiments.