[Involvement of the growth hormone in rapid increases of the potassium concentration of the serum].

As a rule, the infusion of arginine hydrochloride is followed by an increase in serum potassium. The investigation is concerned with the short-term effect of growth hormone, which can be stimulated by arginine (0.6 g/kg body weight), on potassium concentrations in rats and patients with cerebral death.

[Erosion hemorrhage from an esophago-aortic fistula in congenital anomaly of the thoracic aorta as a fatal complication of a stomach tube].

Unlabelled: A 6 year old boy was admitted to ICU because of severe polytrauma. He was ventilated for 4 weeks using a nasotracheal tube (high-volume-low-pressure cuff) and fed by nasogastric tube for 6 weeks. After this time severe haemorrhage from the oesophagus occurred, caused by an oesophago-aortic fistula.

[Resuscitation injuries].

This investigation is based on 140 autopsy protocols of unsuccessful resuscitation procedures (Resuscitation Center of the Army Hospital, Hamburg); injections and closed-chest cardiac massage had been performed in every case. - Most of the patients had collapsed because of cardiac shock; patients with thoracic or abdominal injury were excluded from this study. In individual cases only, the following severe complications originated from the resuscitation procedures: fracture of a chest vertebra, serial fractures of ribs resulting in an unstable thorax, bilateral haemothorax, tension pneumothorax, rupture of kidney and of spleen (but not of liver).

[Experiences with the steroid narcotic alfaxalone/alfadolone (Aurantex) in emergency patients in rescue service].

Prehospital emergency patients, especially with polytrauma and/or severe head injury need sedation for intubation and transportation. The use of relaxant drugs is dangerous under these circumstances. The "ideal drug" for this indication should not have any harmful effects on respiration, circulation, intracranial pressure, and should facilitate intubation.