Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jan 2022
[Wave riding - 12 months of COVID-19 in a German tertiary care center].
With more than 1400 COVID-19 inpatients, the university hospital of Essen is the main regional caregiver during COVID-19 pandemic. We present outcome data of our inpatients during the first 12 months of pandemic and our derived clinical care concepts. ⋯ The mortality of both patient groups ranges within the numbers published by other international groups. The vast impact of usual comorbidities could be observed as well as the high rate of complications in serious ill COVID-19 patients. The mean age of both patient groups was lower than expected (60 years standard care versus 63 years intermediate/ intensive care). A maximum of patient and staff protection measures, a fast and efficient testing strategy during primary triage, standardized concepts from emergency department to intensive care units and dynamic adjustment of resources to daily changing needs can ensure a high quality of care even during peak of pandemic.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jan 2022
Case Reports[A clear cerebrospinal fluid - but an unclear diagnosis].
A 35-year-old, previously healthy woman presented with short history of headache and fever. Several other family members reported active hand, foot, and mouth disease. ⋯ Our case emphasizes that, in patients with typical signs of meningeal irritation, normal cellular analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid does not exclude the presence of infectious meningitis. The astute clinician should be reminded that this constellation is highly suggestive of enteroviral meningitis.
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Monitoring the function of essential organ systems is a hallmark of critical care. In combination with the medical history, physical examination and selective diagnostic tests. ⋯ The availability of monitoring compensates in the very often complex and multimorbid patients and the very dynamic course of their diseases the lack of universally applicable treatment protocols, that are based on the results of randomized critical care trials. In the future clinical decision support systems based on artificial intelligence might support intensivists in the analysis of monitoring data in terms of individual prognosis assessment and choice of therapy.
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Adrenal masses are common incidental findings on imaging procedures. In most cases, adrenal incidentalomas are nonfunctioning adrenocortical adenomas, but in up to 20 % they require therapeutic intervention. The aim of this article is to provide essential guidance for clinicians regarding clinical management of patients with adrenal incidentalomas based on the respective current clinical guidelines. The following main questions are addressed: How to distinguish a nonfunctioning incidentaloma from a functioning one and how to assess risk of malignancy? How to define and manage low-level autonomous cortisol secretion, formerly called "subclinical" Cushing's syndrome? Which patients have to be treated surgically and which approach should be used? What follow-up is indicated if the adrenal incidentaloma is not surgically removed?
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jan 2022
[General practitioners, attitudes, procedures and challenges towards supporting family caregivers - results of a survey of primary care physicians].
General practitioners are considered to be well suited when it comes to addressing the information and care needs of family caregivers. The aim of the present study is to examine how general practitioners assess their possibilities to support caregivers, what priorities they set and to what extent they experience challenges. ⋯ GPs can play a central role in supporting family caregivers. A crucial prerequisite for this is that family caregivers are recognized and involved at an early stage. Consistent references to offers of help make it easier for family caregivers to organize care and to receive (psychosocial) support. In addition, it is important that GPs take into account the needs, desires and stresses of both caregivers and those being cared for.