Der Anaesthesist
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Nutrition of intensive care patients is challenging due to complex metabolic changes. For this reason nutritional support adapted to the metabolic state is the only effective option to avoid hyperalimentation or hypoalimentation and thus has a direct influence on the prognosis. ⋯ Nowadays, most commercially available standard solutions are optimized concerning composition of nutrients; however, metabolic and gastrointestinal monitoring is recommended. In a selected group of patients the administration of immunomodulatory substances may be indicated but due to insufficient or conflicting study data an uncritical use of these supplements cannot be recommended.
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Fraud is as old as Mankind. There are an enormous number of historical documents which show the interaction between truth and untruth; therefore it is not really surprising that the prevalence of publication discrepancies is increasing. More surprising is that new cases especially in the medical field generate such a huge astonishment. ⋯ The manipulated abstract was detected by statistical means (difference in expected versus observed p<0.05). Statistics cannot prove whether the content is true or not but can give some serious hints to look into the details in such conspicuous material. These are the first results of a test for the distribution of numbers presented in medical research.
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Editorial Case Reports
[Panta rhei : blood, professional career and anesthesiological self-conception].
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Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a P2Y12 receptor blocker is a well-established strategy to prevent thrombotic complications in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Current practice guidelines for antiplatelet therapy advocate a 1 to 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy after bare metal stent PCI and an up to 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy after PCI in patients with ACS and drug-eluting stent PCI. ⋯ Based on the various available assays, the lack of validated cut-offs and the disappointing results of targeted antiplatelet therapy as demonstrated by the GRAVITAS trial, current guidelines of international societies recommend platelet function testing only for selected high risk patients despite the known association between clopidogrel low responsiveness and ischemic events. However, for individual patients taking clopidogrel, platelet function monitoring may be considered to safely shorten the preoperative waiting period, to assess the risk of bleeding and transfusion and to initiate specific therapy in bleeding patients.
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Caudal block is a safe procedure commonly used for pediatric perioperative analgesia. Complications are extremely rare but nevertheless local and systemic contraindications must be excluded. Optimal safety and quality result when strict attention is paid to technical details. ⋯ Inadvertent systemic LA intoxication is a rare but potentially fatal complication of regional anesthesia and measures for prevention and early detection are essential. Should circulatory arrest occur, immediate resuscitation following standard guidelines is to be initiated including the use of epinephrine as the first line drug. Intravenous administration of lipid solutions may be beneficial as a secondary adjunct to stabilize hemodynamics but is not an alternative to epinephrine.