Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift
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Wien Med Wochenschr · Jan 2008
Review Comparative StudyThe neonatal coagulation system and the vitamin K deficiency bleeding - a mini review.
Coagulation factors do not cross the placental barrier but are synthesized independently by the conceptus. At birth, activities of the vitamin K dependent factors II, VII, IX, and X and the concentrations of the contact factors XI and XII are reduced to about 50% of normal adult values. The levels of the factors V, VIII, XIII, and fibrinogen are similar to adult values. ⋯ Subsequently, the actual schedule of vitamin K prophylaxis as recommended by the "Osterreichische Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde" is given as follows: i) the oral treatment of healthy full-term babies and orally fed preterm babies, ii) the parenteral treatment of small preterm and sick full-term babies, and iii) the treatment of mothers under medication with enzyme-inducing drugs with vitamin K during the last 15-30 days of pregnancy. The regimes of prophylactic vitamin K treatment of different countries are also given. Finally, the therapeutic use of vitamin K is addressed; the potential use of fresh-frozen plasma, prothrombin complex preparations, and recombinant factor VIIa is discussed.
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Wien Med Wochenschr · Jan 2008
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyEarly Austrian multicenter experience with palonosetron as antiemetic treatment for patients undergoing highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.
Palonosetron is a new generation 5-HT3-receptor antagonist with a significantly prolonged half-life and a once-a-day administration compared to the conventional setrons. To evaluate the antiemetic efficacy of palonosetron in the daily hospital practice setting, a postmarketing study was carried out in Austria. ⋯ Palonosetron resulted in high antiemetic efficacy in this study. Female gender and age < or = 50 years should be particularly considered when the antiemetic regimen is selected.
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Wien Med Wochenschr · Jan 2008
Comparative Study[Standard operating procedures and operating room management: Improvement of patient safety and the efficiency of processes].
Financial pressures have led the way more efficiency in health care management. To decrease hospital costs a more proficient use of personal resources is required. The drive to increase efficiency with the concomitant increase in workload can cause a reduction in quality of patient care and of patient security. ⋯ OR management can control an efficient workflow and generate data concerning performance, costs and quality. SOPs lead to a standardisation of workflow in the OR and in patient treatment modalities. This guaranties a high quality in patient care and more safety despite an increase in work-load.
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Wien Med Wochenschr · Jan 2008
Review Comparative Study[Minimizing perioperative risk - an interdisciplinary effort].
Physicians involved in perioperative care have to face new challenges because of the continuing aging of the population and medical progress, which facilitates even more invasive surgery. The risk of surgical procedures is elevated in patients with cardiac co-morbidity necessitating an optimization of both clinical condition and preoperative therapy of these patients. ⋯ Physicians should start beforehand the interdisciplinary preparation of surgical patients as out-patients and should continue this approach during the stay in hospital. In this review, we describe the major perioperative cardiac, pulmonary and vascular risks for physicians involved in the treatment of surgical patients.
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Wien Med Wochenschr · Jan 2008
Review Comparative Study[Bleeding risk and perioperative management of patients anticoagulated with vitamin K antagnosists].
There is little consensus on the optimal perioperative management for most patients on oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists. Bridging therapy is not recommended for the majority of patients on oral anticoagulation as most are at low risk for perioperative stroke. Though most clinicians choose an aggressive perioperative strategy for patients with high thromboembolic risk (e.g., mechanical mitral valve replacement) by withholding warfarin perioperatively and the use of full-dose heparin, prophylactic dose heparin is given for lower risk cagegories (e.g., bileaflet aortic valve replacement and atrial fibrillation). ⋯ Rapid reversal of excessive anticoagulation should be undertaken in patients with serious bleeding at any degree of anticoagulation. Vitamin K therapy is an effective treatment for INR prolongation in patients with vitamin K-associated coagulopathy; coagulation factor replacement is required, in addition, in patients with major bleeding or with an indication for immediate correction of their INR. Patients receiving prothrombin complex concentrate have a more rapid and more complete reversal of their anticoagulation as compared with fresh frozen plasma.