[Palliative needs of geriatric patients].

In Germany, the group of geriatric patients is the biggest part of all decedents. That is the reason why the medical staff, who is taking care of elderly patients, needs not only curative, rehabilitative and preventive competencies but also palliative skills. Recently, three guidelines were published (national guideline palliative care for patients with incurable cancer diseases, national guideline pain assessment in resident homes and German guideline geriatric assessment level 2).

'Who is going to explain it to me so that I understand?' Health care needs and experiences of older patients with advanced heart failure.

Heart failure is a leading cause of death and can result in significant palliative care needs. The aim of this study was to explore the needs of older patients with advanced heart failure, and their experiences with health care delivery in Germany. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 12 patients (6 men, 6 women; age 73-94 years; heart failure in an advanced stage according to the New York Heart Association Functional Classification) recruited in two geriatric hospitals.

[Urinary incontinence].

Urinary incontinence is a common health problem of older adults and affects more than 50% of nursing home residents. Different types of urinary incontinence can be distinguished: urgency, stress, overflow (urinary retention) and extra-urethral incontinence. The pathogenesis of urinary incontinence in older patients is multifactorial.

Geriatric patients' preferences for treatment of urinary incontinence: a study of hospitalized, cognitively competent adults aged 80 and older.

Objectives: To elicit preferences for different urinary incontinence (UI) treatments of geriatric patients, to contrast these answers with answers from potential health proxies and providers, and to understand how select demographic factors might explain differences in patients' preferences.

Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive.

Setting: German geriatric hospital.

Efficacy and safety of enoxaparin versus unfractionated heparin in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction also treated with clopidogrel.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of enoxaparin (ENOX) versus unfractionated heparin (UFH) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving fibrinolytic therapy with and without clopidogrel.

Background: The efficacy and safety of ENOX and clopidogrel given together in STEMI remains to be defined.

Methods: We compared the rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as well as the rates of bleeding in medically managed patients randomized to ENOX versus UFH in the ExTRACT-TIMI 25 (Enoxaparin and Thrombolysis Reperfusion for Acute Myocardial Infarction Treatment-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 25) trial, stratified by concomitant clopidogrel use.

Parameters of bladder function in pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal continent women without detrusor overactivity.

Aims: To determine normative data for lower urinary tract function in asymptomatic continent women without detrusor overactivity (DO) across the age span.

Methods: Healthy female volunteers aged > or =20 years were recruited from the community. Comprehensive assessment included bladder diary, physical examination, uroflowmetry, and video-urodynamics.

Ventricular tachycardia in an ice-hockey player after a blunt chest trauma.

A case of a professional ice-hockey with a blunt chest trauma is presented. A year after the first cardiac evaluation, he experienced sustained ventricular tachycardia after another slight chest trauma. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted.

The impact of detrusor overactivity on bladder function in younger and older women.

Purpose: We examined the relationship of DO and aging, and bladder function in female volunteers.

Materials And Methods: We recruited 85 cognitively competent, fully functional female volunteers who were 22 to 90 years old (median age 54) with and without symptoms suggestive of DO. Comprehensive assessment included a bladder diary, uroflowmetry and videourodynamics.

The effect of age on lower urinary tract function: a study in women.

Objectives: To identify age-associated changes in female lower urinary tract function across a wide age spectrum, controlling for detrusor overactivity (DO).

Design: Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study of DO and aging. Eligible volunteers were stratified by age group and presence of DO.

Cardiac resynchronization in severe heart failure and left bundle branch block: a single center experience.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and longterm outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with impaired left ventricular function (LVEF <35%), left bundle branch block (QRS >120 ms) and dyspnoea NYHA 0 III at a single centre.

Methods And Results: Forty-seven patients were referred for implantation of a CRT device. In only 4 patients (9%) the device could not be implanted due to technical problems during the procedure.

Cognitive impairment decreases postural control during dual tasks in geriatric patients with a history of severe falls.

Objectives: To investigate the influence of dual tasks, cognitive strategies, and fear of falling on postural control in geriatric patients with or without cognitive impairment and with a history of falls resulting in injury.

Design: Experimental three-group design.

Setting: Geriatric hospital.

Two years later: a prospective long-term follow-up of a training intervention in geriatric patients with a history of severe falls.

Objective: To study the long-term outcome of a physical training regimen of ambulant postward rehabilitation in community-dwelling geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls.

Design: Prospective 2-year follow-up of a randomized placebo-controlled intervention trial.

Setting: Postward rehabilitation in a geriatric hospital in Germany.