Aluminium release and fluid warming: provocational setting and devices at risk.

BACKGROUND: Fluid warming, recommended for fluid rates of > 500 ml h-1, is an integral part of patient temperature management strategies. Fluid warming devices using an uncoated aluminium containing heating element have been reported to liberate aluminium resulting in critical aluminium concentrations in heated fluids. We investigated saline solution (0.9%), artificially spiked with organic acids to determine the influence of fluid composition on aluminium release using the uncoated enFlow® device. Additionally, the Level1® as a high volume fluid warming device and the ThermoSens® device were investigated with artificial spiked fluid at high risk for aluminum release and a clinically used crystalloid solution. RESULTS: Saline solution spiked with lactate more than acetate, especially at a non neutral pH, led to high aluminium release. Next to the enFlow® device, aluminium release was observed for the Level1® device, but not for the coated ThermoSens®-device. CONCLUSION: Uncoated aluminium containing fluid warming devices lead to potentially toxic levels of aluminium in heated fluids, especially in fluids with non-neutral pH containing organic acids and their salts like balanced electrolyte solutions.

[New challenges for intensive care medicine due to climate change and global warming]. / Neue intensivmedizinische Herausforderungen durch Klimawandel und globale Erderwärmung.

BACKGROUND: In the last five decades a continuous increase in the average global temperature has been recorded. Furthermore, natural disasters (e.g. heat waves, severe storms, floods and large forest fires) are becoming more frequent. The impact of global warming and climate change on health involves an increase in respiratory, cardiovascular, renal and cognitive mental diseases. Furthermore, a change in the frequency and patterns of infectious diseases can also be observed in Europe. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This article presents the most important studies that investigated diseases associated with the climate change, with special reference to those that represent a challenge for intensive care medicine. RESULTS: Currently available epidemiological data and statistical extrapolations indicate that diseases resulting from the climate change (acute infection-related respiratory and intestinal diseases, exacerbation of pre-existing pulmonary lesions, heat-related dehydration, cerebral insults and myocardial infarction) are relevant for intensive care medicine. Particular emphasis is placed on a significant increase in acute kidney damage during heat waves. A previously unknown pattern of infectious diseases necessitates new knowledge and targeted management. In some studies, persisting mental impairments were registered during heat waves and natural disasters, e.g. posttraumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSION: Intensive care medicine must be prepared for the challenges due to global warming and climate change. Slow but continuous changes (e.g. rise in temperature) as well as acute changes (e.g. heat waves and natural disasters) will induce an increased need for intensive medical care services (e.g. an increase in the need for renal replacement procedures). Intensive care physicians will need to be familiar with the diagnostics and management of diseases associated with the climate change. An initiative of the specialist societies involved would be welcomed.

The effectiveness of an oral opioid rescue medication algorithm for postoperative pain management compared to PCIA : A cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: Standard protocols or algorithms are considered essential to ensure adequate analgesia. Germany has widely adopted postoperative protocols for pain management including oral opioids for rescue medication, but the effectiveness of such protocols has only been evaluated longitudinally in a before and after setting. The aim of this cohort analysis was to compare the effectiveness of an oral opioid rescue medication algorithm for postoperative management of pain to the gold standard of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study compared cohorts of patients of two prospective observational studies undergoing elective total hip replacement. After surgery patients received piritramide to achieve a pain score of ≤3 on the numeric rating scale (NRS 0-10). A protocol was started consisting of oral long-acting oxycodone and ibuprofen (basic analgesia). Cohort 1 (C1, 126 patients) additionally received an oral opioid rescue medication (hydromorphone) when reporting pain >3 on the NRS. Cohort 2 (C2, 88 patients) was provided with an opioid by PCIA (piritramide) for opioid rescue medication. Primary endpoints were pain intensity at rest, during movement, and maximum pain intensity within the first 24 h postoperative. Secondary endpoints were opioid consumption, functional outcome and patient satisfaction with pain management. RESULTS: Pain during movement and maximum pain intensity were higher in C1 compared to C2: pain on movement median 1st-3rd quartile: 6 (3.75-8) vs. 5 (3-7), p = 0.023; maximum pain intensity: 7 (5-9) vs. 5 (3-8), p = 0.008. There were no differences in pain intensity at rest or between women and men in either group. The mean opioid consumption in all patients (combined PACU, baseline, and rescue medication; mean ± SD mg ME) was 126.6 ± 51.8 mg oral ME (median 120 (87.47-154.25) mg ME). Total opioid consumption was lower in C1 than C2 (117 ± 46 mg vs 140 ± 56 mg, p = 0.002) due to differences in rescue opioids (C1: 57 ± 37 mg ME, C2: 73 ± 43 mg ME, p = 0.006, Z = -2.730). Basic analgesia opioid use was comparable (C1: 54 ± 31 mg ME, C2: 60 ± 36 mg ME, p = 0.288, Z = -1.063). There were no differences in respect to the addition of non-opioids and reported quality of mobilization, sleep, frequency of nausea and vomiting, or general satisfaction with pain management. CONCLUSION: In this study PCIA provided a better reduction of pain intensity, when compared to a standardized protocol with oral opioid rescue medication. This effect was associated with increased opioid consumption. There were no differences in frequencies of opioid side effects. This study was a retrospective analysis of two cohorts of a major project. As with all retrospective studies, our analysis has several limitations to consider. Data can only represent the observation of clinical practice. It cannot reflect the quality of a statement of a randomized controlled trial. Observational studies do not permit conclusions on causal relationships.

Aluminium release by coated and uncoated fluid-warming devices.

The use of fluid-warming systems is recommended for infusion rates > 500 ml.h-1 to avoid peri-operative hypothermia. Some fluid-warming devices use disposable aluminium-heated plates for heat transfer, but there is no protective coating to separate the fluid from the heated aluminium surface. It is unknown if this could promote release of aluminium into infusion fluids. We investigated a coated (Fluido compact) and an uncoated (enFlow) fluid-warming device using normal saline or balanced electrolyte solution as infusion fluids, pumped through the heated disposables at flow rates of 2, 4 and 8 ml.min-1 for 60 min each. Aluminium concentrations in the fluid samples were analysed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. With saline the coated and uncoated devices yielded aluminium concentrations below the level of quantification (< 128 µg.l-1 ). Similarly, balanced electrolyte solution in the coated device yielded aluminium concentrations < 128 µg.l-1 . However, balanced electrolyte solution in the uncoated device yielded aluminium concentrations of up to 6794 (3465-8002 [1868-7421]) µg.l-1 . Repeating this last study at a flow rate of 2 ml.min-1 resulted in quite high aluminium concentrations when the uncoated device was not heated (~1000 µg.l-1 ) and higher concentrations after the device was heated. We conclude that using uncoated aluminium plates in fluid-warming systems can lead to a risk of administering potentially harmful concentrations of aluminium when balanced crystalloid solutions are used. The mechanism is unclear, but heat is in part involved. Coating for aluminium within medical devices in direct contact with infusion fluids should be recommended.

Effect of body mass index in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated in healthy subjects with a great reduction in functional residual capacity and with a stiffening of lung and chest wall elastance, which promote alveolar collapse and hypoxaemia. Likewise, obese patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) could present greater derangements of respiratory mechanics than patients of normal weight. METHODS: One hundred and one ARDS patients were enrolled. Partitioned respiratory mechanics and gas exchange were measured at 5 and 15 cm H2O of PEEP with a tidal volume of 6-8 ml kg(-1) of predicted body weight. At 5 and 45 cm H2O of PEEP, two lung computed tomography scans were performed. RESULTS: Patients were divided as follows according to BMI: normal weight (BMI≤25 kg m(-2)), overweight (BMI between 25 and 30 kg m(-2)), and obese (BMI>30 kg m(-2)). Obese, overweight, and normal-weight groups presented a similar lung elastance (median [interquartile range], respectively: 17.7 [14.2-24.8], 20.9 [16.1-30.2], and 20.5 [15.2-23.6] cm H2O litre(-1) at 5 cm H2O of PEEP and 19.3 [15.5-26.3], 21.1 [17.4-29.2], and 17.1 [13.4-20.4] cm H2O litre(-1) at 15 cm H2O of PEEP) and chest elastance (respectively: 4.9 [3.1-8.8], 5.9 [3.8-8.7], and 7.8 [3.9-9.8] cm H2O litre(-1) at 5 cm H2O of PEEP and 6.5 [4.5-9.6], 6.6 [4.2-9.2], and 4.9 [2.4-7.6] cm H2O litre(-1) at 15 cm H2O of PEEP). Lung recruitability was not affected by the body weight (15.6 [6.3-23.4], 15.7 [9.8-22.2], and 11.3 [6.2-15.6]% for normal-weight, overweight, and obese groups, respectively). Lung gas volume was significantly lower whereas total superimposed pressure was significantly higher in the obese compared with the normal-weight group (1148 [680-1815] vs 827 [686-1213] ml and 17.4 [15.8-19.3] vs 19.3 [18.6-21.7] cm H2O, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Obese ARDS patients do not present higher chest wall elastance and lung recruitability.

[Implementation of a new emergency room protocol at a University Medical Center in Germany: basis for improved flow of information, adequate quality management and scientific assessment]. / Implementierung eines neuen Schockraumprotokolls an einem Universitätsklinikum in Deutschland: Grundlage für einen verbesserten Informationsfluss, adäquates Qualitätsmanagement und wissenschaftliche Auswertungen.

BACKGROUND: After analyzing the existing documentation protocol for the emergency room (ER), the department of anesthesiology of the Medical University of Göttingen (UMG) developed a new department-specific ER protocol. AIM: The objective was to improve the flow of patient information from the preclinical situation through the emergency room to the early inpatient period. With this in mind a new emergency protocol was developed that encompasses the very heterogeneic patient collective in the ER as well as forming a basis for quality management and scientific investigation, taking user friendliness and efficiency into consideration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A strategical development of a new emergency room protocol is represented, which was realized using a self-developed 8-step approach. Technical support and realization was carried out using the Scribus 1.4.2 open source desktop and GIMP 2.8.4 GNU image manipulation graphic programs. RESULTS: The new emergency room protocol was developed based on scientific knowledge and defined targets. The following 13 sections represent the contents of the new protocol: general characteristics, emergency event, initial findings and interventions, vital parameters, injury pattern, vascular access, hemodynamics, hemogram/blood gas analysis (BGA), coagulopathy, diagnostics, emergency interventions, termination of ER treatment and final evaluation. CONCLUSION: The structured and elaborated documentation was limited to the target of two sides and succeeds in incorporating trauma patients as well as non-trauma patients in the ER.

Hypoglycaemia and predisposing factors among clinical subgroups treated with intensive insulin therapy.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, conflicting intensive insulin therapy (IIT) results have been observed, whereby IIT-related mortality seems to be lower in specific clinical subgroups. The aim of this study was to assess differences in glycaemic control, the risk of critical hypoglycaemia (≤ 2.2 mmol/l), the associated predisposing factors, and the in-hospital mortality in different clinical subgroups treated with IIT. METHODS: Prospective, observational study in a university-affiliated intensive care unit (ICU) conducted from 2004 to 2005. All patients (n = 1667) belonging to one of the six most common surgical intervention groups (cardiac, neuro, abdominal, vascular, orthopaedic, and spinal surgeries) and medical patients were included. IIT was performed with a target blood glucose level of 4.4-7.8 mmol/l. Different indices were analysed to evaluate glucose control and glycaemic variability. RESULTS: The rate of critical hypoglycaemia was significantly different within the different clinical subgroups and varied from 0.8% to 4.5%. Similar results were obtained for hyperglycaemia. Multivariable analyses for the predisposing factors of critical hypoglycaemia showed a heterogeneous distribution pattern among the different clinical subgroups. Similar results were obtained for the risk factors of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: The risk of critical hypoglycaemia and the associated predisposing factors depended on the clinical subgroup involved. Critical hypoglycaemia is a potential threat for our patients, and the high risk of critical hypoglycaemia in some clinical subgroups appeared to reverse the benefits of IIT. As a result, it is crucial that the different subgroups involved in a study are defined to further interpret the potential benefits of IIT and the risk of critical hypoglycaemia.

[Inpatient acute pain management in German hospitals: results from the national survey "Akutschmerzzensus 2012"]. / Akutschmerztherapie in der stationären Versorgung an deutschen Krankenhäusern : Ergebnisse des Akutschmerzzensus 2012.

BACKGROUND: In 2007, the German national guidelines on "Treatment of acute perioperative and post-traumatic pain" were published. The aim of this study was to describe current structure and process data for acute pain management in German hospitals and to compare how the guidelines and other initiatives such as benchmarking or certification changed the healthcare landscape in the last decade. METHODS: All directors of German departments of anesthesiology according to the DGAI ("Deutschen Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin", German Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care) were mailed a standardized questionnaire on structures and processes of acute pain management in their hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 403 completed questionnaires (46 %) could be evaluated. Of hospitals, 81 % had an acute pain service (ASD), whereby only 45 % met defined quality criteria. Written standards for acute pain management were available in 97 % of the hospitals on surgical wards and 51 % on nonsurgical wards. In 96 %, perioperative pain was regularly recorded (generally pain at rest and/or movement, pain-related functional impairment in 16 % only). Beside these routine measurements, only 38 % of hospitals monitored pain for effectiveness after acute medications. Often interdisciplinary working groups and/or pain managers are established for hospital-wide control. As specific therapy, the patient-controlled analgesia and epidural analgesia are largely prevalent (> 90 % of all hospitals). In the last decade, intravenous and oral opioid administration of opioids (including slow release preparations) has become established in acute pain management. CONCLUSION: The survey was representative by evaluating 20 % of all German hospitals. The organizational requirements for appropriate pain management recommended by the German guidelines for acute pain recommended have been established in the hospital sector in recent years. However, the organizational enforcement for acute pain management in nonsurgical areas is not adequate yet, compared to the perioperative care. In all hospitals modern medication and invasive techniques are widely available.

[Pre-existing pain as comorbidity in postoperative acute pain service]. / Vorbestehender Schmerz als Komorbidität im postoperativen Akutschmerzdienst.

BACKGROUND: Pre-existing or chronic pain is a relevant risk factor for severe postoperative pain. The prevalence of pre-existing and chronic pain in hospital depends on the time definition used and is approximately 44 % and 33%, at 3 or 6 months, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and importance of pre-existing pain in patients treated by a postoperative acute pain service (APS) and to evaluate the requirements for treatment and resources as well as its quality in this context. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study involved an evaluation of all visits by the APS of the University Hospital in Göttingen over an 8-week period including patient subjective quality assessment on the basis of the quality improvement in postoperative pain therapy (QUIPS) questionnaire. Pre-existing pain (>12 weeks) was assessed by recording patients history of pain by members of the APS. The results from patients with and without pre-existing pain were compared. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients (38% female, 62% male, aged 15-88 years old, mean age 59.8 ± 14.4 years) were seen by the APS on 633 occasions. Of these patients 91% had been admitted to hospital for surgery (66% for tumor surgery, 8% joint replacement, 9% other joint surgery and 16% other interventions), 50% had acute postoperative pain without pre-existing pain, 50% had had pre-existing pain for at least 12 weeks, 31% had chronic non-cancer pain and 19% pain possibly related to cancer. Patients with pre-existing pain showed no significant differences in the treatment requirements (e.g. adjustment of medication), use of resources (e.g. number of visits to the APS and time spent in hospital) and quality of care (e.g. pain intensity, functional aspects, side effects and complications) in the setting of the APS. However, there was an additional subsequent support by chronic pain and palliative care services. CONCLUSION: Pre-existing pain is a common comorbidity in surgery patients treated by the APS. There were no significant differences in treatment requirements and quality of care between the patients. This is in contrast to other studies of postoperative pain management which showed that patients with pre-existing postoperative pain had higher pain intensity. This indicates indirectly that the presence of pre-existing pain should be further evaluated as a potentially useful indication for the support by an APS. However there is an urgent need for further studies to clarify whether this indirect effect can be replicated at other hospitals or in other patient collectives. Also it has to be clarified what benefits pain patients have from this kind of treatment: if they benefit from the APS in general or from the special technique, if there is a long-term effect lasting beyond treatment in the APS or if this group of patients would benefit in general from multiprofessional and non-invasive concepts of acute pain treatment.

Ventilatory strategies in septic patients. Results from a nationwide observational trial.

BACKGROUND: Mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is affected by multiple variables. The possible impact of the mode of ventilation has not yet been clarified; therefore, a secondary analysis of the "epidemiology of sepsis in Germany" study was performed. The aims were (1) to describe the ventilation strategies currently applied in clinical practice, (2) to analyze the association of the different modes of ventilation with mortality and (3) to investigate whether the ratio between arterial partial pressure of oxygen and inspired fraction of oxygen (PF ratio) and/or other respiratory variables are associated with mortality in septic patients needing ventilatory support. METHODS: A total of 454 ICUs in 310 randomly selected hospitals participated in this national prospective observational 1-day point prevalence of sepsis study including 415 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock according to the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine criteria. RESULTS: Of the 415 patients, 331 required ventilatory support. Pressure controlled ventilation (PCV) was the most frequently used ventilatory mode (70.6 %) followed by assisted ventilation (AV 21.7 %) and volume controlled ventilation (VCV 7.7 %). Hospital mortality did not differ significantly among patients ventilated with PCV (57 %), VCV (71 %) or AV (51 %, p=0.23). A PF ratio equal or less than 300 mmHg was found in 83.2 % of invasively ventilated patients (n=316). In AV patients there was a clear trend to a higher PF ratio (204±70 mmHg) than in controlled ventilated patients (PCV 179±74 mmHg, VCV 175±75 mmHg, p=0.0551). Multiple regression analysis identified the tidal volume to pressure ratio (tidal volume divided by peak inspiratory airway pressure, odds ratio OR=0.94, 95 % confidence interval 95% CI=0.89-0.99), acute renal failure (OR=2.15, 95% CI=1.01-4.55) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR=1.09, 95% CI=1.03-1.15) but not the PF ratio (univariate analysis OR=0.998, 95 % CI=0.995-1.001) as independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This representative survey revealed that severe sepsis or septic shock was frequently associated with acute lung injury. Different ventilatory modes did not affect mortality. The tidal volume to inspiratory pressure ratio but not the PF ratio was independently associated with mortality.

The future of intensive care medicine.

Intensive care medical training, whether as a primary specialty or as secondary add-on training, should include key competences to ensure a uniform standard of care, and the number of intensive care physicians needs to increase to keep pace with the growing and anticipated need. The organisation of intensive care in multiple specialty or central units is heterogeneous and evolving, but appropriate early treatment and access to a trained intensivist should be assured at all times, and intensivists should play a pivotal role in ensuring communication and high-quality care across hospital departments. Structures now exist to support clinical research in intensive care medicine, which should become part of routine patient management. However, more translational research is urgently needed to identify areas that show clinical promise and to apply research principles to the real-life clinical setting. Likewise, electronic networks can be used to share expertise and support research. Individuals, physicians and policy makers need to allow for individual choices and priorities in the management of critically ill patients while remaining within the limits of economic reality. Professional scientific societies play a pivotal role in supporting the establishment of a defined minimum level of intensive health care and in ensuring standardised levels of training and patient care by promoting interaction between physicians and policy makers. The perception of intensive care medicine among the general public could be improved by concerted efforts to increase awareness of the services provided and of the successes achieved.

Magnetic resonance imaging study of the in vivo position of the extraglottic airway devices i-gel™ and LMA-Supreme™ in anaesthetized human volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Exact information on the anatomical in situ position of extraglottic airway (EGA) devices is lacking. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize the positions of the i-gel™ and the LMA-Supreme™ (LMA-S) relative to skeletal and soft-tissue structures. METHODS: Twelve volunteers participated in this randomized, prospective, cross-over study. Native MRI scans were performed before induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was induced, and the two EGAs were inserted in a randomized sequence. Their positions were assessed functionally, optically by fibrescope, and with MRI scans of the head and neck. RESULTS: The LMA-S protruded deeper into the upper oesophageal sphincter than the i-gel™ (P<0.001). Both devices reduced the area of the glottic aperture (P<0.001), and the LMA-S had the largest effect (P=0.049). The i-gel™ significantly compressed the tongue (P<0.001). Both devices displaced the hyoid bone ventrally (P<0.001); the i-gel™ to a greater degree (P=0.029). The fibreoptically determined position of the bowl of the devices was identical. CONCLUSIONS: The LMA-S and i-gel™ differ significantly with regard to in situ position and spatial relationship with adjacent structures assessed by MRI, despite similar clinical and fibreoptical findings. This could be relevant with regard to risk of aspiration, glottic narrowing, and airway resistance and soft-tissue morbidity.

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist vs. pressure support ventilation in critically ill patients: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: During neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA), the inspiratory support is controlled by the patients' respiratory drive influenced by an operator-controlled gain factor (NAVA level). The purpose of our observational study was to transfer patients from conventional pressure support ventilation (PSV) to NAVA safely. We compared two approaches to set the NAVA level and evaluated the effect of NAVA. METHODS: We studied mechanically ventilated patients capable of spontaneous breathing. For the change of the ventilator mode, we used a NAVA level calculated to generate a peak inspiratory pressure equal to PSV. We compared this NAVA level with a NAVA level determined by a NAVA level titration. Ventilatory and haemodynamic data were recorded during an observational period of 6 h. RESULTS: All 20 patients included in the study could be transferred from PSV to NAVA and completed the observation interval. Setting the NAVA level according to prior PSV settings proved to be a feasible approach, but in 75% of our patients, we modified the NAVA level according to the titration results. Gas exchange and ventilatory mechanics during the observation interval remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: The ventilator mode NAVA seems to be well tolerated in a heterogeneous group of critically ill patients. Pre-setting of the NAVA level during PSV can result in an overestimation of the required ventilator support. An additional titration of the NAVA level ads valuable information although difficult to interpret in some cases.

[Nosocomial pneumonia. Prevention and diagnostic]. / Nosokomiale Pneumonie. Prävention und Diagnostik.

Pneumonia occurring more than 48 h after induction of mechanical ventilation is called ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). VAP is the most common nosocomial infection in intensive care medicine and is associated with prolonged intensive care and hospital stay and a higher mortality. The main pathomechanism for development of ventilator-associated pneumonia is not so much the mechanical ventilation per se but more the pathogens passing along the tube towards the lungs. Avoidance of tracheal intubation, strict hygienic measures, reduction of oropharyngeal colonization and the avoidance of microaspiration are the most promising prevention strategies. Therapeutic success in treatment of VAP is coupled to an early diagnosis and therapy. Suspicion of pneumonia is based on clinical and radiologic criteria. Biomarkers and microbiological findings are important for follow-up and reevaluation of the suspected diagnosis.

Clinical relevance of eNOS T-786C polymorphism for hospital mortality and morbidity in cardiac surgical patients.

AIM: The endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) gene T-786C polymorphism may influence as a genetic risk factor cardiovascular diseases and shows association with cardiovascular mortality. We hypothesized that this polymorphism may lead to increase mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: In 500 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB we investigated the eNOS T-786C polymorphism by DNA-sequencing. The patients were grouped according to their genotype in three groups (TT, TC, and CC). RESULTS: The overall genotype distribution of T-786C polymorphism was TT=41.6%, TC=51.2%, and CC=7.2% respectively. The groups did not differ in age and gender. No significance was shown in preoperative risk factors, excluding peripheral disease (P=0.03). No difference was shown in Euroscore, APACHE II, and SAPS II. The usage of norepinephrine (P=0.03) and nitroglycerine (P=0.01) was significant higher in TC allele carrier. The mortality was quite uniform across elective and urgent subgroup. However, we found a significant difference concerning mortality and emergency cardiac procedures in homozygous C-allele carrier (P=0.014). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that this polymorphism contributes to a higher prevalence of postoperative mortality after emergency cardiac surgery. Thus, the eNOS T-786C polymorphism could serve as a possibility to differentiate high risk subgroups in heterogeneous population of individuals with cardiac diseases who need cardiac surgery with CPB.

[Extraglottic airway devices in the intensive care unit]. / Extraglottische Atemwegshilfen auf der Intensivstation.

Extraglottic airway devices (EGA) are not only used in routine anaesthesia practice, they also have a distinct value for in-hospital and out-of-hospital difficult airway management. In the environment of the intensive care unit (ICU) EGA are not used on a regular basis. However, expertise and knowledge regarding EGA coming from the operating theatre or the out-of-hospital setting may also be of value for the ICU setting. This review presents the potential indications for EGA on the ICU for the management of difficult airway situations as well as during percutaneous tracheotomy. Furthermore, the possible advantages of EGA during postoperative recovery from anaesthesia as well as termination of controlled ventilation for intensive care patients are discussed.

[Preoperative prewarming as a routine measure. First experiences]. / Präoperative Vorwärmung in der klinischen Routine. Erste Erfahrungen.

BACKGROUND: Despite the broad application of intraoperative warming new studies still show a high incidence of perioperative hypothermia. Therefore a prewarming program in the preoperative holding area was started. METHODS: The efficacy of the prewarming program was assessed with an accompanying quality assurance check sheet over a period of 3 months. RESULTS: During the 3 month test period 127 patients were included. The median length from arrival in the holding area to beginning prewarming was 6 min and the average duration of prewarming was 46±38 min. During prewarming the core temperature rose by 0.3±0.4°C to 37.1±0.5°C and decreased to 36.3±0.5°C after induction of anesthesia. At the end of the operation the core temperature was 36.4±0.5°C and 14% of the patients were hypothermic. CONCLUSION: These data allow 2 conclusions: 1. Prewarming in the holding area is possible with a sufficient duration. 2. Prewarming is highly efficient even when performed over a relatively short duration.