Publications by authors named "Nikolaus Schreiber"
Background: Traumatic injuries, particularly those involving massive bleeding, remain a leading cause of preventable deaths in prehospital settings. The availability of appropriate emergency equipment is crucial for effectively managing these injuries, but the variability in equipment across different response units can impact the quality of trauma care. This prospective survey study evaluated the availability of prehospital equipment for managing bleeding trauma patients in Austria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Delirium is a frequent complication in critically ill patients and is associated with adverse outcomes such as long-term cognitive impairment and increased mortality. It is unknown whether there are sex-related differences in intensive care unit (ICU) delirium and associated outcomes. We aimed to assess sex-specific differences in short-term mortality following ICU-delirium.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * The main issue resulting from vitamin D toxicity is hypercalcemia, which can be difficult to treat and can stem from various causes, including genetic mutations and excessive intake.
- * The manuscript discusses possible treatments for vitamin D toxicity, highlighting the use of systemic corticosteroids as effective after traditional methods fail, as well as alternative options that could limit steroid side effects.
Is time to first CT scan in patients with isolated severe traumatic brain injury prolonged when prehospital arterial cannulation is performed? A retrospective non-inferiority study.
Michael Eichlseder Sebastian Labenbacher Alexander Pichler Michael Eichinger Thomas Kuenzer Nikolaus Schreiber
Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- Prehospital arterial cannulation for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is being studied to see if it delays the time to the first head CT scan compared to in-hospital cannulation.
- The retrospective study included 181 patients and found that the median time from on-scene arrival to the first head CT was similar for both groups, with only a 1-minute difference.
- The results suggest that prehospital arterial line insertion by experienced providers does not significantly delay care, supporting its use in urgent situations.*
Article Synopsis
- In rare cases, patients who are intoxicated may need extracorporeal procedures to help remove toxins from their bodies more effectively.
- The EXTRIP workgroup provides updated guidelines based on evidence and consensus for using these procedures in critically ill, poisoned patients.
- The best results for toxin removal occur with substances that have specific properties, and intermittent hemodialysis is the most effective method, while continuous procedures are better for patients with compromised blood flow.
Article Synopsis
- A study analyzed 581 cases of acute poisoning admitted to a medical ICU in Austria from 2007 to 2021, revealing that suicidal intent was the primary cause in nearly half of the cases and that 46.6% involved mixed intoxications.
- The research utilized various data sources, including ICU records and autopsy reports, and found that while ICU mortality was low at 4.1%, pre-existing psychiatric illnesses had increased significantly among patients over time.
- Compared to a historical dataset from 1992-1996, there was a notable shift away from gastric lavage as a detoxification method and a rise in alternative techniques, indicating changes in treatment approaches for intoxicated patients.
Article Synopsis
- Vaccination hesitancy among patients on chronic hemodialysis has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for strategies to address concerns and improve vaccination rates.
- A study involving 347 hemodialysis patients in Austria found that older patients preferred information from dialysis physicians, while younger patients were more likely to rely on online sources for vaccine information.
- Although 86% of patients expressed a desire to complete vaccinations, only 39% felt adequately informed about the vaccination plan, indicating a significant gap in knowledge that needs to be addressed.
Article Synopsis
- Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and the Anttila-Index are biomarkers that may indicate heavy alcohol use and could predict delirium and mortality in critically ill patients.
- In a study of 343 ICU patients, 35% experienced delirium, with those affected showing significantly higher levels of CDT and Anttila-Index upon admission.
- Higher CDT and Anttila-Index levels were linked to both the occurrence of delirium and longer duration of delirium, as well as increased hospital mortality risk.
Article Synopsis
- Hemodialysis (HD) patients are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to their compromised health, prompting a study to analyze the pandemic's impact on this group over time and identify severe risks.
- The study reviewed data from 274 HD patients in Austria from May 2020 to August 2022, examining factors like hospitalization, ICU admission, and mortality rates correlated with different COVID-19 waves.
- Findings revealed a significant decline in severe outcomes during the Omicron variant wave compared to earlier waves, with vaccination and prior infection offering some degree of protection, though only Omicron infection was a consistent predictor of reduced hospitalization and mortality.
Article Synopsis
- Ingestion of leaves from the European yew tree can lead to severe heart issues, including fatal arrhythmias and cardiogenic shock, due to toxic alkaloids blocking important cardiac channels.
- A case study of a 39-year-old patient who experienced toxic cardiogenic shock from yew poisoning highlights the potential for recovery using venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).
- This report underscores the importance of recognizing poisoning as a reversible cause of cardiac arrest and supports the early application of VA-ECMO in similar poisoning cases.
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to evaluate structural and inflammatory lesions in elderly individuals with hand osteoarthritis (HOA), comparing those with HOA symptoms, those with painless joint enlargement, and those without clinical issues.
- Conducted within the Bruneck study, it involved 293 participants aged 65 and older, assessed through clinical and ultrasound methods, scoring various abnormalities like synovitis and osteophytes.
- Results showed that most subjects had ultrasound abnormalities, with osteophytes being common across all groups, but GSS and PD signals were more prevalent in symptomatic HOA cases, indicating that functional restrictions are linked to structural and inflammatory changes.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to systematically review the literature on the effectiveness of musculoskeletal ultrasound in diagnosing and predicting outcomes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a treat to target (T2T) approach.
- After analyzing 4,632 records, it was found that ultrasound is better at predicting disease relapses compared to clinical examinations in patients who are in remission, although both methods are equally effective in evaluating therapy response and achieving remission.
- Overall, ultrasound is crucial for assessing joint inflammation in RA and identifying patients at risk for relapse, but further research is required to clarify its role in T2T management strategies for RA.
[Role of Dexamethasone for Pain Management in Intervertebral Disc Surgery].
Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther
February 2022
Article Synopsis
- Intervertebral disc surgeries are increasingly common, with postoperative pain being a frequent issue.
- This pain affects not just physical recovery but also psychosocial wellbeing, highlighting the need for effective treatment.
- Dexamethasone is emphasized as an important option for managing pain in a multimodal approach following these surgeries.
Article Synopsis
- Foodborne intoxications and toxicoinfections are increasing, often causing self-limiting symptoms, but severe cases can require hospitalization, especially those involving resistant toxins like cereulide.
- A case series is presented involving five healthy adults who became severely ill after consuming fried rice balls contaminated with high levels of cereulide, leading to symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to acute liver failure.
- The study highlights the risks of consuming contaminated rice meals that aren't freshly prepared and underscores the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and manage food poisoning cases effectively.