Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jul 2020
Review[Basic Knowledge of Drug Pain Therapy in the Palliative Situation].
This review provides an overview of the basic knowledge of drug pain therapy in the palliative situation. Pain is one of the main symptoms in 60 to 90 % of cancer patients. Pain also develops with neurological and other diseases that occur in end-of-life situations. ⋯ Rapid release opioids should be used for cancer breakthrough pain. Transdermal opioid applications are recommended for swallowing disorders, but usually not to initiate pain control. An opioid switch can be performed if side effects such as hallucinations for the selected opioid are more pronounced than the pain reduction.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jul 2020
[COVID-19 from the Perspective of Haematology and Haemostaseology].
Infection with SARS-COV-2 leads to a number of pathologies in the hematopoetic system that have significant impact on clinical symptoms and mortality. There are 3 stages of infection: (1) early upper respiratory tract infection with fever and lymphopenia (2) pulmonary phase and (3) hyperinflammatory phase with the clinical signs of organ failure such as ARDS/shock. Hyperinflammation, which is triggered by activation of T cells and monocytes/macrophages, is essential for organ pathologies. ⋯ Guidelines for the prophylaxis and therapy of COVID-associated coagulopathy have been developed. Analogous to other viral infections, there are approaches to passive immunization using convalescent plasma. Its administration has shown promising activity in first uncontrolled case series and is currently being examined in clinical studies worldwide for its therapeutic activity.
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COVID-19 challenges GP practice and emergency rooms across Germany. In addition to hygiene, the correct assignment of patients to outpatient, inpatient or intensive care management is difficult. This article provides an overview of aspects of initial care, management and risk assessment in COVID-19 patients. ⋯ Age, male sex and overweight are among the most important risk factors for serious corona disease. Poor oxygen saturation (< 88 %) and increased signs of inflammation (CRP > 97 mg/l and/or IL-6 > 80 pg/ml) indicate a critical course and should be determined in symptomatic patients. Only through regular dialogue between hospital and practice can meaningful decisions be made to slowly move from individual cases to a basic care structure.
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The control and management of infection with the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus requires multidisciplinary work between specialists on all levels. This article aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge of COVID-19 from the view of infectious diseases physicians including all the uncertainties of our understanding of the pathogenesis and immunity.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jul 2020
Comparative Study[Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Atrial Fibrillation].
The number of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing due to the aging of the population. In addition, the number of patients with AF and an indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC) for the prevention of strokes increases, who are in need for a dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) plus a P2Y12-Inhibitor because of an acute coronary syndrome and/or coronary stent implantation. These patients did receive a triple therapy (TT) for 3-12 months in the past. ⋯ The current status is that a NOAC plus a single antiplatelet agent, mostly clopidogrel, is superior to TT with respect to the bleeding complications, without any obvious and statistically significant disadvantage for stroke rates or cardiac ischemic events. The international guidelines already recommend to treat with a NOAC and one antiplatelet agent instead of TT in case the patients bleeding risk is prevailing. Thus, TT seems not to be indicated anymore for most patients with AF and ACS or PCI.