Der Anaesthesist
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The required characteristics of neuromuscular blockers for rapid sequence induction (RSI) are clearly defined: nearly immediate effectiveness and short duration of effect. These demands are not only necessary for ideal conditions of quick endotracheal intubation without mask-bag intermediate ventilation but are also essential to enable a quick return to sufficient spontaneous breathing in case of a cannot intubate cannot ventilate situation. Until recently only succinylcholine had these characteristics; however, a considerable number of dangerous side effects and contraindications had to be accepted. In 1996, rocuronium was introduced, which was capable of immediately establishing good intubation conditions similar to succinylcholine. However, the median duration of effect is 45-60 min and it therefore contains a risk if the patient cannot be ventilated and oxygenated. Therefore, rocuronium is considered a good alternative but not a complete substitute for succinylcholine. The introduction of sugammadex in 2008 for quick reversal of rocuronium changed matters. Comparative studies from the past 4 years dealing with rocuronium/sugammadex versus uccinylcholine in RSI showed that rocuronium and sugammadex combined enabled a significantly faster return to sufficient spontaneous ventilation in emergency situations and also proved that the use of rocuronium significantly reduced the degree of desaturation during the interval between injection and ventilation postintubation. ⋯ rocuronium used in hospital is a very good substitute for succinylcholine as a neuromuscular blocker during RSI as long as sugammadex is at hand for reversal. It remains to be considered that in a situation with severe problems of the airway and breathing, which are the main preclinical indications for intubation, a forward strategy for ventilation of the patient is the only acceptable way in most cases and the return to spontaneous breathing is not an alternative. Therefore, the value of sugammadex and also of succinylcholine is limited for these situations. Additionally, economic factors such as storage conditions for rocuronium and the cost of sugammadex must also be considered.
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There is a high level of evidence that parental presence during induction of anesthesia in children does not lead to a reduction of fear and better cooperation of the child. However, pediatric anesthetists often encounter the request of parents to be present during the induction of anesthesia which is current practice in many countries. This article explains the grounds and the premises for this practice and describes those factors which might be important to support parental presence during induction of anesthesia in children. Some practical advice and tips on how parental presence in the clinic can be practically implemented are given at the end of the article.
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Tragic accidents, e.g. involving celebrity patients or severe incidents in hospital occur suddenly without any advance warning, often produce substantial interest by the media and quickly overburden management personnel involved in both hospitals and emergency medical services. While doctors, hospitals and emergency medical services desire objective media reports, the media promote emotionalized and dramatized reports to ensure maximum attention and circulation. When briefing the media, the scales may quickly tilt from professional, well-deliberated information to unfortunate, often unintended disinformation. ⋯ Each hospital or emergency medical service should have a professional department for public relations, an exact knowledge of the regional and national media and strategies how to handle an incident that is of interest for the media. The media should be provided with information not only when a negative incident has happened but should be provided with regular positive messages as well. An interview must be carefully prepared to achieve a good image.
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Review Meta Analysis
[Current concepts of augmented spontaneous breathing : New modes of effort-adapted weaning.]
The use of augmented spontaneous breathing is an important component in a bundle concept of weaning from mechanical ventilation as it was demonstrated that controlled ventilation with diaphragmatic underuse induces rapid muscle atrophy and impairs successful weaning. On the other hand spontaneous breathing is often associated with disturbed patient-ventilator interaction resulting in asynchrony (e.g. ineffective triggering, early termination of inspiration and overflow or underflow). ⋯ It was shown in some smaller clinical investigations that these newer modes are able to improve patient-ventilator interaction, to reduce the burden on respiratory muscles and to increase ventilation comfort. Although large randomized controlled studies are lacking, effort-adapted modes of augmented breathing will become a routine part in the management of weaning from mechanical ventilation.