A new score for characterizing the visibility of anatomical structures during ultrasound guided regional anesthesia: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: To identify anatomical structures using sonography can be challenging, yet it is a basic requirement for effective and safe ultrasound guided nerve blocks. In clinical routine, we find a wide variety in the visibility of anatomical structures. Aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a newly developed visibility score for anatomical structures in ultrasound guided regional anesthesia.

Local infiltration anaesthesia versus sciatic nerve and adductor canal block for fast-track knee arthroplasty: A randomised controlled clinical trial.

Background: Local infiltration anaesthesia (LIA) was introduced as an innovative analgesic procedure for enhanced recovery after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, LIA has never been compared with analgesia based on an adductor canal catheter and a single-shot sciatic nerve block.

Objective: To evaluate two analgesic regimens for TKA comparing mobility, postoperative pain and patient satisfaction.

Utilization of echocardiography in Intensive Care Units: results of an online survey in Germany.

Background: In patients with hemodynamic instability echocardiography has been recommended as the preferred modality to evaluate the underlying pathophysiology. However, due to the fact that recent scientific data on the utilization of echocardiography in German Intensive Care Units (ICU) are scarce, we sought to investigate current practice.

Methods: A structured, web-based, anonymized survey was performed from May until July 2015 among members of the German Interdisciplinary Association of Critical Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) consisting of 14 questions.

The concept of protective nerve stimulation for ultrasound guided nerve blocks.

Regional plexus and nerve blocks are a common technique in modern anesthesia. Since ultrasound machines are available in many departments, the role of nerve stimulation is highly discussed and different approaches to perform the blocks are taken into account. Common technique for electrical nerve stimulation is searching for a stimulating threshold of 0.

Rapid molecular diagnosis of infective aortic valve endocarditis caused by Coxiella burnetii.

We describe a case of Q-fever endocarditis with severe destruction of the aortic valve with perivalvular abscess formation and cardiac failure. The patient needed urgent operative treatment and postoperative critical care. All specimens sent for microbiological examination were negative.