Der Anaesthesist
-
Approximately 8000 patients with multiple trauma are admitted annually to an emergency room in Germany. The prognosis of these severely injured patients is influenced in particular by concomitant craniocerebral injury, an abdominal wound, or thoracic trauma. ⋯ Management of patients with multiple trauma poses a particular challenge to the responding team. This article in the continuing education series deals with current algorithms for preclinical management of patients with multiple injuries with particular focus on the significant factor of time.
-
Review Historical Article
[Nitrous oxide. Sense or nonsense for today's anaesthesia].
Nitrous oxide has been used in addition to other volatile anaesthetics to provide general anaesthesia and short time sedation for more than 150 years. However, the exact mechanisms of action remain unclear. For decades nitrous oxide was considered to be the ideal anaesthetic because of his favourable physical properties and low cardiovascular side effects. ⋯ Nitrous oxide is still frequently used for mask induction primarily in paediatric anaesthesia and gynaecology. However, recent studies have shown that omitting nitrous oxide can also be a risk factor because of an increased susceptibility to intraoperative awareness. Careful consideration of the illustrated contraindications and side effects as well as the available alternatives, shows that nitrous oxide is still an option in general anaesthesia.