Der Anaesthesist
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A 22-year-old patient underwent surgery for a glass wound incision of the hand and anesthesia was carried out using an axillary brachial plexus block with prilocaine. Following surgery the patient developed methemoglobinemia which was treated with tolonium chloride. After administration of the drug the sinus rhythm changed into ventricular fibrillation. The current treatment options of methemoglobinemia will be discussed.
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A growing number of reports have been published in Germany related to problems with the operational readiness of mobile emergency physician services, although no systematic analyses have yet been presented. However, such investigations form the prerequisite for the deployment of countermeasures. ⋯ This tool enables the large-scale collation and analysis of the operational readiness of physician-based ambulance services. Currently the state does not suffer from a general lack of emergency physicians. However, rural areas as well as bases affiliated with small hospitals show a considerable deficit in operational readiness caused by a shortage of staff. These deficits may be partially compensated by optimized planning and disposition within rescue coordination centers. Moreover, they call for corrective actions in the light of health care politics. In addition, analyses of other elements of EMS (i.e. rescue helicopters) should be undertaken.
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Due to a variety of reasons (e.g. increase in outpatient surgery and legal restrictions related to working hours) it has become increasingly more difficult to have the pre-anesthesia visit and the anesthesia carried out by the same anesthetist. In the light of these organizational changes as well as increasing economical pressure it has become common practice to implement pre-anesthesia assessment clinics. It is unclear, however, if these changes in anesthetic patient care respect patient needs. ⋯ These results suggest that the integration of a pre-anesthesia assessment clinic in anesthetic patient care is not favorable from the patients' point of view because getting to know the anesthetist who will deliver anesthesia is of paramount importance to most patients. In cases where a pre-anesthetic assessment clinic is indispensable, other measures to build up confidence compensating for the lack of personal patient-physician relationship should be developed. In this respect, the promotion of a corporate identity of the whole anesthesia department may be beneficial. Furthermore, keeping the waiting time as short as possible should be a high priority as this item was rated the second most important factor.
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Retraction Of Publication
[Erratum to: Propofol administration systems. Handling, hemodynamics and propofol consumption].