[Platelet Concentrates - Indication, Informed Consent, Transfusion and Adverse Events].

Transfusion of platelet concentrates (PC) can be a life-saving measure in case of severe thrombocytopenia or thrombocytopathy, particularly in bleeding patients. Although acaryote, platelets are involved in several important functions including immunomodulation, but their most important function is in primary and secondary haemostasis. In this German review, apheresis and whole blood derived PC are compared and indications as well as transfusion triggers and dosage of PC are discussed.

[Red Blood Cell Transfusion - Indications, Informed Consent and Associated Risks].

The aim of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is to prevent or treat anemic tissue hypoxia in acute or chronic anemia. In 2022, approximately 3.2 million red blood cell transfusions were conducted in Germany.

Intensive care unit-acquired dysphagia - change in feeding route after a standardized dysphagia assessment in neurocritical care patients.

Background: Dysphagia is a frequent finding on intensive care units (ICUs) and is associated with increased reintubation rates, pneumonia, and prolonged ICU-stay. Only a limited numbers of ICUs have access to a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP). Hence, it falls upon the critical care team to estimate dysphagia risk and define the safest feeding route.

[Cell salvage in obstetrics-Background and practical implementation].

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, with an increasing incidence in western countries over the past decades. During this period the numbers of PPH-related allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusions have also significantly increased. Given the increasing scarcity and risks of allogeneic RBC transfusions, which are also associated with adverse maternal outcomes, optimized blood management strategies are urgently needed in obstetrics.

Public e-learning opportunities in anesthesia on YouTube.

Background: The increasing knowledge in medicine makes continuous education for clinicians necessary more than ever. The range of skills to be covered in anesthesia is constantly growing. How to optimize complex training in practical skills in an increasingly economized environment remains unclear.

"Mind the Gap"-Differences between Documentation and Reality on Intensive Care Units: A Quantitative Observational Study.

Introduction: Digitalization in medicine is steadily increasing. Complex treatments, scarce personnel resources and a high level of documentation are a constant burden on healthcare systems. The balancing between correct manual documentation in the digital records and limited staff resources is rarely successful.

Standardized Solutions of Catecholamines in Intensive Care Medicine: Application, Safety and Economic Aspects.

: Catecholamines are among those agents that are indispensable in modern intensive care medicine. The rapid availability of hygienically impeccable and correctly concentrated injectable solutions, e.g.

Workload reduction through automated documentation in intensive and intermediate care - a monocentric observational study.

Objective: The global coronavirus pandemic has placed an unprecedented and enormous burden on health systems worldwide. In addition to a shortage of resources, nurses were also confronted with high levels of sick leave and an increasing exodus from the profession. Automating documentation obligations is an effective way of reducing the burden on the workplace.

Volatile versus propofol sedation after cardiac valve surgery: a single-center prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Optimal intensive care of patients undergoing valve surgery is a complex balancing act between sedation for monitoring and timely postoperative awakening. It remains unclear, if these requirements can be fulfilled by volatile sedations in intensive care medicine in an efficient manner. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the time to extubation and secondary the workload required.

Adjusting Current Hemoglobin Thresholds: A Way to Improve Outcome in Women Undergoing Major Surgery.

In the perioperative setting, a suboptimal total hemoglobin (Hb) mass puts women and men at an unreasonable disadvantage. Anemia is an independent risk factor for transfusion, postoperative complications, and mortality. The Hb cut-off value for women was set at <12.

Anaemia and red blood cell transfusion in women with placenta accreta spectrum: an analysis of 38,060 cases.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) has become a significant life-threatening issue due to its increased incidence and associated morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy is often associated with states of anaemia, and severe maternal haemorrhage represents a major risk factor for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. The present study retrospectively analyzed the prevalence of anaemia, transfusion requirements and outcome in women with PAS.

Management and Outcome of Women with Placenta Accreta Spectrum and Treatment with Uterine Artery Embolization.

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders are a continuum of placental pathologies with increased risk for hemorrhage, blood transfusion and maternal morbidity. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a safe approach to the standardization of complex PAS cases. The aim of this study is to analyze anemia and transfusion rate, outcome and anesthesiological management of women who underwent caesarean delivery with subsequent UAE for the management of PAS.

Current concepts in postpartum anemia management.

Purpose Of Review: Postpartum anemia (PPA) is common in women after childbirth and affects about 50-80% of all women worldwide. Iron deficiency (ID) is the main cause for anemia and constitutes a potentially preventable condition with great impact on the mother's physical and mental condition after delivery. In most cases, PPA is associated with antenatal ID and peripartum blood losses.

Red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing elective primary glioblastoma resection.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in patients undergoing major elective cranial surgery is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. This study aims to identify the clinical outcome of transfused glioblastoma patients undergoing primary surgical tumor resection and identify risk factors for RBC transfusion.

Material And Methods: Between 2009 and 2019, 406 patients underwent elective primary glioblastoma resection.

Use of cell salvage in obstetrics in Germany: analysis of national database of 305 610 cases with peripartum haemorrhage.

Background: One of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide is severe obstetric haemorrhage after childbirth. Use of intraoperative cell salvage is strongly recommended by international guidelines on patient blood management. Recent data provide strong evidence that use of cell salvage in obstetrics is effective and safe in women with postpartum haemorrhage resulting in fewer transfusion-related adverse events and shorter hospital stay.

Effect of using smaller blood volume tubes and closed blood collection devices on total blood loss in patients undergoing major cardiac and vascular surgery.

Background: Diagnostic laboratory tests are an integral part of managing hospitalized patients. In particular, patients in the intensive care units (ICUs) can experience a concerning amount of blood loss due to diagnostic testing, which can increase the risk developing iatrogenic anemia. Several interventions exist to curtail avoidable blood loss, for example computerized decision support, smaller phlebotomy tubes, and other blood conservation devices.

Treatment of very elderly glioblastoma patients ≥ 75 years of age: whom to treat.

Purpose: The prognosis of patients ≥ 75 years suffering from glioblastoma is poor. Novel therapies are usually reserved for patients ≤ 70 years. In an aging population, treatment of very elderly patients remains a challenge.

Anemia, red blood cell transfusion and administration of blood products in obstetrics: a nationwide analysis of more than 6 million cases from 2011-2020.

Background: The prevalence of anemia is high, especially in obstetrics. There is large evidence, that anemia during pregnancy is associated with increased maternal morbidity and mortality. Anemia and peripartum hemorrhage remain the main causes for transfusion of red blood cells (RBC).

Bleeding Complications in COVID-19 Critically Ill ARDS Patients Receiving VV-ECMO Therapy.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) therapy is rapidly expanding worldwide, yet this therapy has a serious risk of bleeding. Whether coagulation-activating viral infections such as COVID-19 may have an impact on the risk of bleeding is largely unknown. This study conducted a monocentric investigation of severely affected COVID-19 patients receiving VV-ECMO therapy with regard to the occurrence and possible influences of minor and major bleeding and transfusion requirements.

[Obstetric Anesthesia].

Patient safety and reduction of possible complications are the top priorities for anesthesiologists in everyday clinical practice. Thus, interdisciplinary early assessment and optimization of patient specific medical conditions and risk factors are crucial. In obstetrics, regional anesthesia and general anesthesia are routinely being performed.