Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Review[Coagulation disorders in liver cirrhosis - Diagnostics and management].
Patients with liver cirrhosis often exhibit complex alterations in their hemostatic system that can be associated with both bleeding and thrombotic complications. While prophylactic correction of abnormal coagulation parameters should be avoided, an individualized approach is recommended prior to invasive procedures, whereby specific preventive measures to stabilize hemostasis should be based on the periprocedural bleeding risk. ⋯ Since conventional coagulation tests do not adequately capture the complex changes in the hemostatic system in cirrhosis, functional analysis methods such as viscoelastic tests or thrombin generation assays can be used for evaluating the coagulation status. This review describes the underlying pathophysiological changes in the hemostatic system in liver cirrhosis, provides an overview of diagnostic methods and discusses therapeutic measures in case of bleeding and thrombotic complications.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Review[Monitoring of cardiovascular emergencies in the emergency department].
In the emergency department, patients with potential or confirmed cardiovascular diseases constitute a significant portion of the overall patient population. Monitoring for cardiovascular surveillance of these patients, until and during the diagnostics and acute therapy often presents an interdisciplinary and interprofessional challenge. This is partly due to the limited number of monitoring spaces in emergency departments. ⋯ The provision of an intensive care bed for further care within one hour is aimed for according to the directive of the Federal Joint Committee on staged emergency care in hospitals. Often, at the beginning of the emergency department visit, a definitive diagnosis is not yet established - this is addressed accordingly with symptom-oriented considerations. The present review article focuses on the practical Implementation and modalities of monitoring, as well as its application in a selection of cardiovascular diagnoses in the emergency department.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Review[Histo- and molecular pathology in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms].
Neuroendocrine neoplasms are classified according to the WHO classification based on morphological criteria into neuroendocrine tumors, neuroendocrine carcinomas, and mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms. Neuroendocrine tumors are well differentiated neoplasms and show characteristic site-specific histological and molecular features, which is important for their clinical management. In cases dealing with metastasis, pathology often can help to identify the primary tumors using a small immunohistochemical marker panel. ⋯ They are subdivided into neuroendocrine carcinomas of small cell and large cell type. The molecular profile of neuroendocrine carcinomas and mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms shows a close relationship to conventional adenocarcinomas with site-specific features. Molecular analysis of neuroendocrine carcinomas and neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms are not yet fully integrated in daily diagnostics and are mainly performed in the context of precision oncology.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Review[Hepatitis C: From diagnosis to global virus elimination].
Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common cause of complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is one of the most significant infectious diseases worldwide, posing a substantial health burden. Since the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), the treatment landscape has undergone a revolution. ⋯ Due to the availability of this effective therapeutic option, the World Health Organization (WHO) set an ambitious goal in 2015 to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030, a goal that the German government also embraced in 2016. The key tasks involve identifying previously undiagnosed cases and ensuring they receive antiviral treatment. Addressing at-risk populations through specific measures, including micro-elimination projects and population-wide campaigns, is essential to achieving the WHO's target both in Germany and globally.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Randomized Controlled Trial[Treatment of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) based on BEST-CLI and BASIL-2].
The rate of vascular recanalizations in CLTI is increasing worldwide. Safety and efficacy of surgical versus endovascular treatment in CLTI patients was investigated in 2 prospective randomized trials with contrasting results. The BEST-CLI trial randomized 1830 patients with CLTI, the Bypass versus Angioplasty for Severe Ischaemia of the Leg (BASIL-2) trial included 345 patients with CLTI. ⋯ The BEST-CLI study represents CLTI patients only to a limited degree, whereas the BASIL-2 study presents the treatment of CLTI patients with below-the-knee-lesions quite well. Both studies confirm that patients with CLTI should be treated in specialized centers that offer both crural surgery and endovascular therapy. Cardiovascular risk factor management must play a more important role in reducing the high mortality associated with CLTI.