HGSHS-5:G-First results with the short version of the test for the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility and a comparison with the full version.

Introduction: The HGSHS:A is one of the most commonly used measures of hypnotic suggestibility. However, this test suffers from low feasibility due to a time requirement exceeding 1 h, and from a questionable representation of the normal population. Recently, a short version of HGSHS-5:G was developed and published, and now the first results are available.

Hypnosis measured with monitors of anesthetic depth - EEG changes during the test for Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility.

Introduction: Hypnotic trance can be defined as a non-ordinary state of consciousness that is accompanied by a number of neurophysiological changes, including brain electrophysiology. In addition to subjective measures, corresponding objective parameters are needed in experimental and clinical hypnosis research but are complex, impractical, or unspecific. A similar challenge exists for the measurement and monitoring of drug-induced hypnosis, namely general anesthesia.

[What's new … Patients are listening-communication under general anesthesia].

There is ample evidence of awareness of at least some unconscious patients. A recent multicenter study found significant reductions after therapeutic communication during general anesthesia in postoperative pain and analgesic consumption, as well as in postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and antiemetic requirements in high-risk patients. Thus, an intraoperatively presentet text represents a simple non-pharmacological method to reduce side effects of surgery and anesthesia.

Avoidance of nocebo effects by coincident naming of treatment benefits during the medical interview for informed consent-Evidence from dynamometry.

Introduction: In the context of giving risk information for obtaining informed consent, it is not easy to comply with the ethical principle of "primum nihil nocere." Carelessness, ignorance of nocebo effects and a misunderstood striving for legal certainty can lead doctors to comprehensive and brutal risk information. It is known that talking about risks and side effects can even trigger those and result in distress and nonadherence to medication or therapy.

Therapeutic Suggestions During General Anesthesia Reduce Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in High-Risk Patients - A Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are one of the most adverse events after general anesthesia, a distressing experience, and pose a risk to the patient. Despite advances in drug prophylaxis and PONV treatment, the incidence remains high and additional non-pharmacological treatments are needed. In this analysis of a recently published double-blind multicenter randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of intraoperative therapeutic suggestions on postoperative opioid dosage, we analyzed the effects of intraoperative therapeutic suggestions on PONV.

Nocebo Effects of Clinical Communication and Placebo Effects of Positive Suggestions on Respiratory Muscle Strength.

Introduction: The effects of specific suggestions are usually studied by measuring parameters that are directly addressed by these suggestions. We recently proposed the use of a uniform, unrelated, and objective measure like maximal muscle strength that allows comparison of suggestions to avoid nocebo effects and thus to improve communication. Since reduced breathing strength might impair respiration and increase the risk of post-operative pulmonary complications, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the suggestions on respiratory muscle power.

Neurocognitive Impairment After Propofol With Relevance for Neurosurgical Patients and Awake Craniotomies-A Prospective Observational Study.

Short-acting anesthetics are used for rapid recovery, especially for neurological testing during awake craniotomy. Extent and duration of neurocognitive impairment are ambiguous. Prospective evaluation of patients undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection during general anesthesia with propofol (N of craniotomies = 35).

German Norms of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) and Proposal of a 5-Item Short-Version (HGSHS-5:G).

The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A), is commonly used to test hypnotizability. There is still some controversy about what exactly hypnotizability is and whether and how it can be measured, especially by the HGSHS:A. Furthermore, a wider clinical use is limited, requiring a testing time of more than 1 hour.

Effect of therapeutic suggestions during general anaesthesia on postoperative pain and opioid use: multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of therapeutic suggestions played to patients through earphones during surgery on postoperative pain and opioid use.

Design: Blinded randomised controlled study.

Setting: Five tertiary care hospitals in Germany.

Time-Dependent Negative Effects of Verbal and Non-verbal Suggestions in Surgical Patients-A Study on Arm Muscle Strength.

Introduction: The medical environment is full of suggestions that affect patients and their healing. Most of them inadvertently are negative, thus evoking nocebo effects. Recently, we have reported on the effect of such verbal and non-verbal suggestions as well as alternative formulations on maximal muscular arm strength in healthy volunteers.

Nocebo Effects on Muscular Performance - An Experimental Study About Clinical Situations.

Nocebo effects are not only seen in studies of pharmacology and placebo/nocebo research but also in clinical everyday situations. For generation of objective and quantitative data on the impact of negative communication we have evaluated the immediate effects of common sentences, non-verbal signals and situations in the medical context on muscular performance. In an experimental study, 46 volunteers were tested by dynamometry of the deltoid muscle group to evaluate the maximal muscular strength during arm abduction.

Nocebo Effects and Negative Suggestions in Daily Clinical Practice - Forms, Impact and Approaches to Avoid Them.

Medical situations are hot spots in the life of a patient with potentially long lasting effects arising from the use of either negative expressions or encouraging statements, or the lack of empathy or a positive physician-patient relationship. Health care personnel should be aware of and evaluate what patients are exposed to, hear and see. Knowing more about the effects of nocebos and negative suggestions, combined with increased attention to these matters, provides the basis for better recognition of detrimental influences in their own clinical environment and to be able to avoid, stop or neutralize them.

Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery without Sedation.

Background: Sedatives and opioids used during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery interfere with optimal target localization and add to side effects and risks, and thus should be minimized.

Objective: To retrospectively test the actual need for sedatives and opioids when cranial nerve blocks and specific therapeutic communication are applied.

Methods: In a case series, 64 consecutive patients treated with a strong rapport, constant contact, non-verbal communication and hypnotic suggestions, such as dissociation to a "safe place," reframing of disturbing noises and self-confirmation, were compared to 22 preceding patients under standard general anaesthesia or conscious sedation.

Platelet sequestration with a new-generation autotransfusion device.

Background: Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can be used either to prevent platelets (PLTs) from lesions during extracorporeal circulation or for wound therapy, when processed into PLT gel. The aim of this study was to evaluate the PLT sequestration abilities of a new-generation autotransfusion device.

Study Design And Methods: In this experimental study the discontinuous, new-generation autotransfusion device XTRA was evaluated using fresh donor blood.

The impact of bowl size, program setup, and blood hematocrit on the performance of a discontinuous autotransfusion system.

Background: Cell salvage is an essential element in the concept of blood management. Modern devices provide different bowl sizes and sensor-directed programs to optimally adjust to varying clinical situations.

Study Design And Methods: In an experimental performance study, the discontinuous autotransfusion device XTRA (LivaNova/Sorin) was evaluated using fresh donor blood anticoagulated with heparin 5 U/mL and adjusted to a hematocrit of 10% or 25%, representing orthopedic or cardiac surgery.

Efficacy of therapeutic suggestions under general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: General anesthesia does not block central nervous processing of auditive information. Therefore, positive suggestions even given during surgery might have the potential to encourage well-being and recovery of patients. Aim of this review was to summarize the evidence on the efficacy of therapeutic suggestions under general anesthesia in adults undergoing surgery compared to an attention control (i.

The Efficacy, Safety and Applications of Medical Hypnosis.

Background: The efficacy and safety of hypnotic techniques in somatic medicine, known as medical hypnosis, have not been supported to date by adequate scientific evidence.

Methods: We systematically reviewed meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of medical hypnosis. Relevant publications (January 2005 to June 2015) were sought in the Cochrane databases CDSR and DARE, and in PubMed.

Fat removal during cell salvage: an optimized program for a discontinuous autotransfusion device.

Background: Fat in wound blood observed in orthopedic or cardiac surgery might pose a risk for fat embolism during blood salvage. Fat removal was optimized in the washing process.

Study Design And Methods: In an experimental study blood from fresh donations was adjusted to a hematocrit (Hct) of 25% and an admixture of 1.

[The premedication visit--suggestions for a patient-friendly design].

The premedication visit is often a difficult situation for the anaesthetist. On the one hand the patient needs to be informed in detail, but on the other he must not be alienated unnecessarily. Furthermore, a hospital stay represents an exceptional situation for the patient in which he behaves differently than in everyday life and shows a limited ability to process information.

Fat removal during cell salvage: a comparison of four different cell salvage devices.

Background: Fat embolism is a possible risk factor for pulmonic and cerebral dysfunction after orthopedic and heart surgery. It is unknown whether fat occasionally observed during cell salvage adds to the risk of fat embolism after retransfusion. We have examined the fat removal capacities of different cell salvage devices including discontinuous and a continuous system under various conditions.