Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Oct 2020
[Abdominal Emergencies in The View of an Intensivist - Intra-abdominal Hypertension and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome].
In critically ill patients an intra-abdominal hypertension is a common phenomenon. An IAH is defined as an IAP persistent ≥ 12 mmHg, an abdominal compartment syndrome is defined as an IAP persistent ≥ 20 mmHg in combination with new organ failure. ⋯ The bladder pressure should be measured in a standardized manner. The therapy of IAH should be individualized.
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For decades there were only symptom-oriented therapies for the monogenetic disease cystic fibrosis. With the new modulator therapies there are new hopes to better influence the course of the disease, which has its manifestation in several organs such as the lungs, the liver or pancreas. In addition to ivacaftor, lumacaftor/ivacaftor and tezacaftor/ivacaftor, a triple combination with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor was developed. ⋯ The results are very promising as already after 4 weeks a significant improvement of FEV1 and a significant decrease of the sweat chloride content could be detected. In the USA all patients with at least one F508del mutation can be prescribed the drug. This corresponds to approximately 90 % of all patients with cystic fibrosis and has the potential to change the landscape of cystic fibrosis.
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Acute abdomen is a common and sometimes dramatic clinical condition, which can be fatal if diagnosis is not made in time. A large number of diseases can cause an acute abdomen which makes a targeted and rapid diagnostic approach utterly important. ⋯ Further diagnostics, including laboratory markers, imaging and - if necessary - interventional diagnostics should be initiated quickly after the first clinical assessment in order to confirm the suspected diagnosis or to further classify unclear cases. The clinical assessment is the leading diagnostic tool that determines further diagnostic approaches for patients with an acute abdomen and thus enables adequate and timely therapy.
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Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the upper extremity is much less frequent and aetiologically more heterogeneous than lower extremity PAD. The clinical approach to patients with upper extremity PAD must consider a range of distinctive features regarding symptoms, physical findings and diagnostic strategies. ⋯ Arteriosclerotic subclavian artery obstruction, large vessel vasculitis, thoracic outlet syndrome and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon are four pivotal causes and manifestations of upper extremity PAD. These four entities are exemplarily discussed.
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Risks of thrombosis, bleeding and renal impairment are increasing with age. The efficacy and safety of the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in fragile patients (age > 75 years and/or creatinine clearance levels < 50 ml/min and/or body weight below 50 kg) with indication for anticoagulation is one of the most challenging topic in cardiovascular medicine. New registry data from subgroup analyses of landmark studies and registries point towards to superiority of DOACs. This article summarizes new insights and describes pathways for anticoagulation in fragile patients.