Der Anaesthesist
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Diastolic heart failure leads to an increase in perioperative morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of this disease is rising and multiple risk factors have already been identified. Besides higher age and female gender, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease in particular have to be considered. ⋯ Data concerning the ideal anesthesia technique are for the most part lacking; however, the application of thoracic epidural anesthesia seems to be beneficial. A great deal of attention has to be paid to the intraoperative volume status of patients with diastolic dysfunction as hypovolemia and hypervolemia can both have detrimental effects. Arrhythmias and major changes in blood pressure put this special group of patients at additional risks.
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Germany has a nationwide and powerful helicopter emergency medical services system (HEMS), which executes primary rescue missions and interhospital transfer of intensive care patients. In recent years the range of HEMS missions has become modified due to demographic changes and structural changes in the healthcare system. ⋯ Moreover, it facilitates prompt transport of patients to a hospital suitable for definitive medical care and treatment can be initiated earlier which is a particular advantage for severely injured and critically ill patients. Because of complex challenges during air rescue missions the qualifications of the HEMS personnel have to be considerably higher in comparison with ground based emergency medical services.
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Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare hereditary, mostly subclinical myopathy. Trigger substances, such as volatile anesthetic agents and the depolarizing muscle relaxant succinylcholine can induce a potentially fatal metabolic increase in predisposed patients caused by a dysregulation of the myoplasmic calcium (Ca) concentration. Mutations in the dihydropyridine ryanodine receptor complex in combination with the trigger substances are responsible for an uncontrolled release of Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. ⋯ Following introduction of the hydantoin derivative dantrolene, the previously high mortality of fulminant MH episodes could be reduced to well under 10 %. An MH predisposition can be detected using the invasive in vitro contracture test (IVCT) or mutation analysis. Few elaborate diagnostic procedures are in the developmental stage.