Subjective and objective survival prediction in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: ICU risk assessment tools, routinely used for predicting population outcomes, are not recommended for evaluating individual risk. The state of health of single patients is mostly subjectively assessed to inform relatives and presumably to decide on treatment decisions. However, little is known how subjective and objective survival estimates compare.

Succinylcholine versus rocuronium for rapid sequence intubation in intensive care: a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Succinylcholine and rocuronium are widely used to facilitate rapid sequence induction (RSI) intubation in intensive care. Concerns relate to the side effects of succinylcholine and to slower onset and inferior intubation conditions associated with rocuronium. So far, succinylcholine and rocuronium have not been compared in an adequately powered randomized trial in intensive care.

Co-infection of Influenza B and Streptococci causing severe pneumonia and septic shock in healthy women.

Background: Since the Influenza A pandemic in 1819, the association between the influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae has been well described in literature. While a leading role has been so far attributed solely to Influenza A as the primary infective pathogen, Influenza B is generally considered to be less pathogenic with little impact on morbidity and mortality of otherwise healthy adults. This report documents the severe synergistic pathogenesis of Influenza B infection and bacterial pneumonia in previously healthy persons not belonging to a special risk population and outlines therapeutic options in this clinical setting.

[Perioperative management of chronic medication: to withhold, continue or intensify?].

All patients should undergo surgical procedures in the most stable and favourable condition with a continuation of chronic medication. Accordingly, this medication should be continued until the day before surgery in most patients. The preoperative period should be used to evaluate the completeness and quality of the medical treatment.