Praxis
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Percutaneous and endoscopic ultrasound are very useful complementary imaging tools in the detailed assessment of physiological as well as pathological lymph nodes in almost all anatomical regions of the human body. A comprehensive consideration of various features obtained by gray-scale and color Doppler sonography is the basis of the differentiation of benign from malignant lymphadenopathy. ⋯ Nevertheless the sonographic differential diagnosis of enlarged and structurally altered lymph nodes has some limitations. (Endoscopic) ultrasound guided biopsy permits histological diagnosis of pathological lymph nodes with minimal risk, low cost, and high diagnostic accuracy. The sonographical evaluation of lymph nodes is an essential adjunct to the clinical investigation in staging of malignant tumors and lymphoma, in the case of palpable lymph nodes, and in various benign diseases.
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Outpatient follow-up after intensive care unit (ICU) treatment is becoming increasingly important. The most relevant medical problems after hospital discharge are usually not directly linked to the medical condition that made intensive care necessary. The most frequent medical problem is muscle weakness. ⋯ Furthermore, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic attacks and sleep disturbances can limit the patients. Many of these problems last for months or more, the therapy is often challenging, and an interdisciplinary approach is warranted. Consequently, quality of life is generally reduced in ICU survivors.