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.

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).

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.

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.

[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.

[Nocebo effects with the informed consent].

Side effects are more frequent and severe, or simply appear by just talking about them. But not the informed consent is to be challenged, rather the form of giving risk information. Nocebo effects mainly originate from induced negative expectations, not from the information itself.

Standardized application of laxatives and physical measures in neurosurgical intensive care patients improves defecation pattern but is not associated with lower intracranial pressure.

Background. Inadequate bowel movements might be associated with an increase in intracranial pressure in neurosurgical patients. In this study we investigated the influence of a structured application of laxatives and physical measures following a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) on bowel movement, intracranial pressure (ICP), and length of hospital stay in patients with a serious acute cerebral disorder.

[Case report: Aneurysmatic subarachnoid hemorrhage -- complicated course due to coincidental manifestation of an inverted Tako-Tsubo-cardiomyopathy].

We report the case of a patient who suffered a serious subarachnoid hemorrhage with a cardialaffection and development of an inverted Tako-Tsubo-cardiomyopathy. To avoid apparent cerebral ischemia due to severe cerebral vasospasm after exhaustion of conservative therapeutic options a temporarily endovascular therapy with continuous intra-arterial application of Nimodipine was necessary. In the overall protracted and complicated course the special challenge were the therapeutic efforts to avoid apparent cerebral ischemia in context to the significant cardial affection.

The impact of sedation on brain mapping: a prospective, interdisciplinary, clinical trial.

Background: During awake craniotomies, patients may either be awake for the entire duration of the surgical intervention (awake-awake-awake craniotomy, AAA) or initially sedated (asleep-awake-asleep craniotomy, SAS).

Objective: To examine whether prior sedation in SAS may restrict brain mapping, we conducted neuropsychological tests in patients by means of a standardized anesthetic regimen comparable to an SAS.

Methods: We prospectively examined patients undergoing surgery either under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) or under regional anesthesia with slight sedation (RAS).

Awake craniotomies without any sedation: the awake-awake-awake technique.

Background: Temporary anaesthesia or analgosedation used for awake craniotomies carry substantial risks like hemodynamic instabilities, airway obstruction, hypoventilation, nausea and vomiting, agitation, and interference with test performances. We tested the actual need for sedatives and opioids in 50 patients undergoing awake craniotomy for brain tumour resection in eloquent or motoric brain areas when cranial nerve blocks, permanent presence of a contact person, and therapeutic communication are provided.

Methods: Therapeutic communication was based on the assumption that patients in such an extreme medical situation enter a natural trance-like state with elevated suggestibility.