Der Anaesthesist
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Human and vehicle resource management indicates a good emergency medical system (EMS). Frequently, an emergency medical technician (EMT) is the first responder to the emergency, which negates the necessity for an emergency physician (EP) and is just as sensible as handing over a stable patient to the EMT for transport to the hospital. The Austrian EMS is utilized by EMTs, in cases of potential life-threatening emergencies the dispatch center dispatches an additional team with an on-board EP. During the years 2017-2018 nearly every fifth EP mission in Innsbruck (including surrounding areas) ended in a cancellation. The numbers of patient handovers from EP to EMT are slightly lower with mission cancellations resulting in every fourth patient. Therefore, due to the high number of cancellations and handovers evaluated in this study, the findings suggest that there is a potential need to re-evaluate procedures. The re-evaluation of these procedures could determine whether these cancellations/handovers were justified or if an over hasty decision making was at fault. All cases considered in this study were from the Innsbruck and Telfs EP bases between 1 January 2017 and 13 December 2018. ⋯ In Austria, the introduction of a standardized emergency indication checklist might help dispatch centers to provide a more accurate dispatch as well as all EMS team members. Furthermore, a better traceability system (according to EP cancellations and patient handovers from the EP to the EMT) could be achieved. The documentation requirements should be more precise by all members of the EMT staff, not only for the legal aspects but also for improving the overall management quality. Intense education and training as well as diagnosis feedbacks could help to reduce the number of risky cancellations/patient handovers.
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A young patient experienced a generalized seizure during the placement of an axillary plexus block. The mechanisms, essentially the presumed intravascular administration, which led to the local anesthetic toxicity as the cause of this event, are discussed. This case is an example of how visualization of the anatomy by ultrasound can give a false impression when certain details are not respected. It is assumed that the main mechanism in this case was venous compression by the ultrasound transducer.
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In the context of COVID-19, the German CEOsys project (COVID-19 Evidenz Ökosystem, www.covid-evidenz.de ) identifies, evaluates and summarizes the results of scientific studies to obtain evidence on this disease. The evidence syntheses are used to derive specific recommendations for clinical practice and to contribute to national guidelines. Besides the necessity of conducting good quality evidence syntheses during a pandemic, just as important is that the dissemination of evidence needs to be quick and efficient, especially in a health crisis. The CEOsys project has set itself this challenge. ⋯ Even though universally valid, evidence syntheses should be actively brought to the target audience, especially during a health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic with its exceptional challenges including lack of time and uncertainties in patient care. The contents should be clear, short (short versions, algorithms) and with free access. E‑mail newsletters, websites or medical journals should continuously report on new evidence syntheses. Professional societies and the governmental institute for infections and public health should be involved in dissemination due to their obvious trustworthiness.
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Porphyrias are a group of rare, mostly inherited metabolic disorders of heme biosynthesis. Each type of porphyria results from a specific deficiency of one of the pathway enzymes, causing a characteristic accumulation and excretion of heme precursors. Diagnosis is confirmed by the biochemical detection of these porphyrins and the precursors in urine, feces and blood. ⋯ The four acute hepatic porphyrias are relevant for anesthesiologists as precipitating factors are commonly found in the perioperative setting. Safe anesthetic management in cases of known porphyria is possible by adherence to current recommendations. The immediate administration of heme arginate as specific treatment for acute attacks is decisive for the outcome.