0000000000959632

AUTHOR

T. Kerz

How long should patients refrain from oral food and fluid intake after general anaesthesia? An assessment of the swallowing reflex of postoperative neurosurgical patients.

Objective Our aim was to detect swallowing abnormalities in patients after short-term neurosurgical interventions under general anaesthesia, comparing patients with supratentorial operations with a group undergoing extracranial neurosurgery (nucleotomy). Methods 20 patients in each group were examined by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) after general anaesthesia. Results No patient demonstrated dysphagia, aspiration, or oxygen desaturation. Conclusion In these patient groups, early postoperative feeding was safe. Postoperative food intake can probably be allowed early after general anaesthesia.

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Entscheidungsgrundlagen in der Neurochirurgie

Entscheidungen uber Therapiebegrenzungen bei neurologisch-neurochirurgischen Patienten sind aufgrund der Unsicherheiten einer individuellen Prognose oft problematisch. Nur unter Wurdigung der Gesamtsituation, insbesondere aber der Wunsche des Patienten fur oder gegen ein Uberleben mit schwerster funktionell-neurologischer Behinderung, kann fur den Einzelfall eine ethisch vertretbare Entscheidung getroffen werden.

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Comparison of European ICU patients in 2012 (ICON) versus 2002 (SOAP)

Purpose: To evaluate differences in the characteristics and outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU) patients over time. Methods: We reviewed all epidemiological data, including comorbidities, types and severity of organ failure, interventions, lengths of stay and outcome, for patients from the Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely ill Patients (SOAP) study, an observational study conducted in European intensive care units in 2002, and the Intensive Care Over Nations (ICON) audit, a survey of intensive care unit patients conducted in 2012. Results: We compared the 3147 patients from the SOAP study with the 4852 patients from the ICON audit admitted to intensive care units in the same countries as those…

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Assessment of the worldwide burden of critical illness: The Intensive Care Over Nations (ICON) audit

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: Global epidemiological data regarding outcomes for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are scarce, but are important in understanding the worldwide burden of critical illness. We, therefore, did an international audit of ICU patients worldwide and assessed variations between hospitals and countries in terms of ICU mortality. METHODS: 730 participating centres in 84 countries prospectively collected data on all adult (>16 years) patients admitted to their ICU between May 8 and May 18, 2012, except those admitted for fewer than 24 h for routine postoperative monitoring. Participation was voluntary. Data were collected daily for a maximum of 28 da…

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