Der Anaesthesist
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Sepsis is still a leading cause of death in many intensive care patients. The pathophysiology of the disease is dominated by complex immune cascades. Recent research demonstrates that immune cells respond to sepsis with an increased rate of programmed cell death. ⋯ Overexpression of Bcl-2 or inhibition of caspases resulted in an increased survival in animal models of sepsis. Recent reports indicate the relevance of apoptosis in patients with severe sepsis. These results may spawn novel immunomodulatory strategies in the treatment of sepsis.
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Clinical Trial
[Bispectral index and desflurane concentration below 1 MAC].
We investigated the relationship between bispectral index (BIS, A-2000, Aspect Medical Systems, USA) and end-tidal desflurane concentrations below 1 MAC which is especially the range of interest if desflurane is combined with remifentanil for fast-track anaesthesia. ⋯ We could demonstrate a relationship between bispectral index and end-tidal desflurane concentrations below 1 MAC with a BIS range of 49-40 being associated with approximately 0.5 MAC of desflurane during desflurane-remifentanil-anaesthesia.
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Intracerebral haemorrhage is a rare complication of spinal anaesthesia in obstetrics. A 37-year-old woman without any accompanying disease during a twin pregnancy, underwent an urgent caesarean section due to insufficiency of the placenta under spinal anaesthesia using hyperbaric bupivacain (0.5%) and a pencil-point spinal needle Sprotte 27 Gauge. The patient developed severe headache, a hemiparesis of the right upper limb and became somnolent and finally unconscious 80 min after the procedure. ⋯ On postoperative day 7 the remaining neurologic deficits included aphasis and severe hemiparesis of the right upper limb and a right extensor plantar response. The neurologic status did not improve substantially until 6 months after the complication. The case and the recent literature are discussed.