Zentralblatt für Chirurgie
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Even though intraoperative fluid management during major intraabdominal surgery has frequently been addressed in the past, there is a lack of evidence-based recommendations. This report elucidates the topic from the surgeon's view. For the surgeon, the influence of larger fluid amounts on wound and anastomotic healing, bleeding complications and postoperative outcome (time of extubation, postoperative gastrointestinal function, hospital stay, etc.) is of interest. ⋯ The average intraoperatively infused fluid amount was 13.9 +/- 0.9 mL / kg / h. Catecholamines were administered in 74 % of all operations, while noradrenaline was used in 54 % of all cases. Although other factors might play a role in this setting, we can deduce from these data that application of a volume of 10-15 mL / kg / h has no negative influence on the outcome following pancreas resections and that the intraoperative fluid therapy should be targeted at these values.
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Comparative Study
[Lay assessment of health care services using therapy for rectal cancer as an example].
Multimodal treatment strategies make the assessment of health care services very difficult even for experts and almost impossible for lay persons. The aim of this project was to present complex data from scientific publications in a simplified way so that all essential information is preserved, but still assessable by lay persons and to compare their assessments with the recommendations of experts. ⋯ Complex scientific results can be prepared in such a way that their assessment by lay persons is feasible. Lay persons orientate their assessment according to the outcomes, while the recommendations of the guidelines are more directed by the outputs. These different viewpoints should be taken more into consideration for the development of guidelines than they are now.
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We report on the case of a 15-year-old female who developed a pneumomediastinum after heavy vomiting. A rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome) was excluded. In the CT of the chest, air was detected in the mediastinum and in the epidural space (epidural pneumatosis). ⋯ Air in the epidural space, associated with spontaneous pneumomediastinum, is an extremely rare condition. The air in the spinal canal arrives by migration through the intervertebral foramina from the posterior mediastinum and neck, where the fascial barrier is missing. Therapy consists of symptomatic, conservative treatment.
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The development of the public health system between an increasing market orientation (commercialisation) and social responsibility is critically reflected by examining the medical care of those who are deprived. Poverty in Germany is dramatically increasing. There are confirmed findings on the correlation of being poor and being ill. ⋯ Further interest groups affecting the political sphere, such as the pharmaceutical industry, the medical profession, patients and scientists are also examined with regard to public health-care. What are the premises of a health-care discussion that is controlled by economic considerations, particularly when keeping in mind the humanistic and Christian ethics of our society? And what does this mean for our responsibility for those who are handicapped and are in need of our help? Do decision makers and participants of the health-care discussion satisfy these ethical challenges? And what are the effects of the so-called "social peace" on social cooperation and economic power of a country? The increasing market orientation (commercialisation) of the public health sector can only be accepted on the basis of practiced humanity and social responsibility. In the light of a human public health-care, deprived people are in need of our solidarity.