Der Anaesthesist
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Case Reports
Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the pudendal nerve in chronic pelvic pain.
Chronic pelvic pain is a condition that can be caused by pudendal neuralgia, interstitial cystitis, piriformis syndrome and neuropathy of the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric and genitofemoral nerves. Based on three case reports this article discusses the clinical effectiveness of pulsed high-frequency radiofrequency (PRF) treatment applied to the pudendal nerve under ultrasound guidance in medicinally treated patients with chronic pelvic pain.
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The economic situation in German Hospitals is tense and needs the implementation of differentiated controlling instruments. Accordingly, parameters of revenue development of different organizational units within a hospital are needed. This is particularly necessary in the revenue and cost-intensive operating theater field. ⋯ Comparative analyses within different surgical fields on this data base should be avoided. The demonstrated method can be used as a guideline for other hospitals to calculate the DRG revenues within the OR. This enables pursuing cost-effectiveness analysis by comparing these revenues with cost data from the cost unit accounting at a DRG or case level.
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Critically ill patients in intensive-care units are at high risk for pulmonary embolism (PE). As a result of modern multi-detector computed tomographic angiography (MDCT) increased visualization of peripheral pulmonary arteries, isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolisms (ISSPE) are increasingly being detected. ⋯ Critically ill patients are at relevant risk for ISSPE. ISSPE was associated with a poor 24 h outcome. In addition, in our cohort, contrast media application was not associated with increased serum creatinine.
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Teamwork in the operating room and in the intensive care unit necessitates clear and precise communication; however, interruptions in communication frequently occur, especially in the perioperative phase. Patient are particularly susceptible to deficits in communication due to higher stress peaks, simultaneous admission of several patients and concomitant treatment of emergency cases etc. The German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) therefore recommends the implementation of the so-called SBAR concept (S: "situation", B: "background", A: "assessment", R: "recommendation") for standardization of patient handover. This concept was originally developed for high-risk areas and organizations with the aim of guaranteeing a rapid, effective and consistent transfer of information.
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Raoultella ornithinolytica is a species of gram-negative encapsulated and aerobic bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae and is mainly found in fish. The most distinctive feature of this bacterium is the ability to convert histidine to histamine; therefore, the consumption of decomposing fish infected by R. ornithinolytica causes rashes, diarrhea, flushing, sweating and vomiting. This food poisoning is also called histamine fish poisoning; however, human infections with R. ornithinolytica are extremely rare and have so far only affected patients with diseases suppressing the immune system. The current case report describes for the first time sepsis with evidence of bloodstream infection by R. ornithinolytica in an immunocompetent male patient and the successful antibiotic treatment.