Improved recall of handover information in a simulated emergency - A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Handovers during medical emergencies are challenging due to time-critical, dynamic and oftentimes unorderly and distracting situations. We evaluated the effect of distraction-reduced clinical surroundings during handover on (1) the recall of handover information, (2) the recall of information from the surroundings and (3) self-reported workload in a simulated in-hospital cardiac arrest scenario.

Methods: In a parallel group design, emergency team leaders were randomly assigned to receive a structured handover of a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) either inside the room ("inside group") right next to the ongoing CPR or in front of the room ("outside group") with no audio-visual distractions from the ongoing CPR.

Sevoflurane as opposed to propofol anesthesia preserves mitochondrial function and alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: Pharmacological interventions reducing myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury include the administration of anesthetics. Both sevoflurane as well as propofol have been shown to elicit cardiac protection via distinct molecular mechanisms. We investigated the hypothesis that sevoflurane in contrary to propofol anesthesia elicits cardiac protection against I/R-injury via mitochondrial mechanisms of disease.

Genome-wide association study of myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, acute stroke, acute kidney injury and delirium after cardiac surgery - a sub-analysis of the RIPHeart-Study.

Background: The aim of our study was the identification of genetic variants associated with postoperative complications after cardiac surgery.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, double-blind, multicenter, randomized trial (RIPHeart). We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 1170 patients of both genders (871 males, 299 females) from the RIPHeart-Study cohort.

RIPHeart (Remote Ischemic Preconditioning for Heart Surgery) Study: Myocardial Dysfunction, Postoperative Neurocognitive Dysfunction, and 1 Year Follow-Up.

Background: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been suggested to protect against certain forms of organ injury after cardiac surgery. Previously, we reported the main results of RIPHeart (Remote Ischemic Preconditioning for Heart Surgery) Study, a multicenter trial randomizing 1403 cardiac surgery patients receiving either RIPC or sham-RIPC.

Methods And Results: In this follow-up paper, we present 1-year follow-up of the composite primary end point and its individual components (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke and acute renal failure), in a sub-group of patients, intraoperative myocardial dysfunction assessed by transesophageal echocardiography and the incidence of postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction 5 to 7 days and 3 months after surgery.

[Nephroprotection--anaesthetic management of renal transplantation].

Kidney transplantation is a standard surgical procedure. Improvements of immunosuppressive therapy, donor management and surgical technique reduced perioperative complications and improved graft survival. In this review the authors discuss the anaesthetic management of kidney transplantation and nephroprotective strategies: reduction of ischemia-reperfusion injury, maintenance of optimal graft perfusion, avoidance of nephrotoxic agents and effective immunosuppression.

[Perioperative myocardial protection in non-cardiac surgery].

Due to ongoing demographic changes more and more older patients with co-existent cardiac diseases undergo non-cardiac surgery. The risk of postoperative complications, notably myocardial ischemia, is raised in these patients. An accurate preparation before surgery including the risk profile and the management of co-medication is of paramount importance.

The second window of desflurane-induced preconditioning is mediated by STAT3: role of Pim-1 kinase.

Background: Late ischemic preconditioning is mediated via nuclear transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Pim-1 kinase reduces infarct size in cardiomyocytes and is regulated by STAT3. We tested the hypothesis that late desflurane-induced preconditioning (DES-SWOP) is mediated via STAT3 and Pim-1.

The Role of Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in Sevoflurane-Induced Postconditioning Against Myocardial Infarction.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mediates ischemic pre- and postconditioning as well as anesthetic-induced preconditioning. However, the role of COX-1 and -2 in anesthetic-induced postconditioning has not been investigated. We evaluated the role of COX-1 and -2 in sevoflurane-induced postconditioning in vivo.

[Vascular cannulation and hemodynamic monitoring for cardiac and thoracic vascular surgery - a review].

Cardiac surgery requires cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with extracorporeal circulation (ECC) for intracardiac procedures. The surgical strategy determines access for monitoring and insertion sites with high-flow cannulas. The perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients requires adequate hemodynamic monitoring for reasonable catecholamine therapy and fluid management.

[Coagulation disorders in the context of cardiac surgery - Clinical basics and mechanism based therapy].

Intra- and postoperative bleeding disorders are common in cardiac surgery. The etiology of perioperative coagulopathy frequently becomes apparent as a combination of several acquired and inherited disorders. Differential diagnosis of microvascular bleeding include altered homeostasis (e.

[Indications, risk factors, specialities and after-care of surgical treatment for cardiac and thoracic vascular diseases].

Despite a known high risk and complexity in the operative therapy of cardio-thoracic patients, cardiac surgery is medical routine activity today. The German Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery regularly analyses the more than 100.000 cases a year in Germany.

Comparison of the Airtraq and the Macintosh laryngoscope for double-lumen tube intubation: a randomised clinical trial.

Context: The Airtraq is a disposable optical laryngoscope that is available in a double-lumen tube version. Inserting a double-lumen tube is generally more difficult compared to conventional endotracheal intubation, mainly due to its configuration.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the Airtraq with the Macintosh laryngoscope for intubation with a double-lumen tube in patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery.

Remote ischaemic preconditioning for heart surgery. The study design for a multi-center randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial--the RIPHeart-Study.

Aims: Transient ischaemia of non-vital tissue has been shown to enhance the tolerance of remote organs to cope with a subsequent prolonged ischaemic event in a number of clinical conditions, a phenomenon known as remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC). However, there remains uncertainty about the efficacy of RIPC in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The purpose of this report is to describe the design and methods used in the "Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning for Heart Surgery (RIPHeart)-Study".

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase mediates the first and inducible nitric oxide synthase mediates the second window of desflurane-induced preconditioning.

Objectives: Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) mediate the first window of anesthetic-induced preconditioning (APC). The authors tested the hypothesis that endothelial NOS (eNOS) mediates the first window and inducible NOS (iNOS) mediates the second window of APC.

Design: Randomized, prospective, blinded laboratory investigation.

Desflurane-induced and ischaemic postconditioning against myocardial infarction are mediated by Pim-1 kinase.

Background: Anaesthetic-induced (APOST) and ischaemic postconditioning (IPOST) against myocardial infarction are mediated via phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt. Pim-1 kinase is acting downstream of Akt and has recently been demonstrated to enhance cardiomyocyte survival. We tested the hypothesis that both APOST and IPOST are mediated by Pim-1 kinase.

Desflurane-induced post-conditioning against myocardial infarction is mediated by calcium-activated potassium channels: role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.

Background: Desflurane (DES)-induced preconditioning is mediated by large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK(Ca)). Whether BK(Ca) are involved in anaesthetic-induced post-conditioning is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that DES-induced post-conditioning is mediated by BK(Ca) upstream of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP).

Activation of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors α and γ mediates remote ischemic preconditioning against myocardial infarction in vivo.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (remote IPC) elicits a protective cardiac phenotype against myocardial ischemic injury. The remote stimulus has been hypothesized to act on major signaling pathways; however, its molecular targets remain largely undefined. We hypothesized that remote IPC exerts its effects by activating the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) α and γ, which have been previously implicated in cardioprotective signaling.

Propofol inhibits desflurane-induced preconditioning in rabbits.

Objectives: The authors tested the hypothesis that ischemic and desflurane-induced preconditioning are blocked by propofol.

Design: A prospective, randomized, vehicle-controlled study.

Setting: A university research laboratory.

Activation of adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase abolishes desflurane-induced preconditioning against myocardial infarction in vivo.

Objectives: Myocardial ischemia is accompanied by a rapid activation of adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, it is unclear whether this represents a potentially beneficial or detrimental event in the course of ischemic injury. The role of AMPK activation in the cardioprotective setting of desflurane-induced preconditioning has not been investigated to date.

Differential role of Pim-1 kinase in anesthetic-induced and ischemic preconditioning against myocardial infarction.

Background: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and anesthetic-induced preconditioning against myocardial infarction are mediated via protein kinase B. Pim-1 kinase acts downstream of protein kinase B and was recently shown to regulate cardiomyocyte survival. The authors tested the hypothesis that IPC and anesthetic-induced preconditioning are mediated by Pim-1 kinase.

Comparison of isoflurane-, sevoflurane-, and desflurane-induced pre- and postconditioning against myocardial infarction in mice in vivo.

The murine in vivo model of acute myocardial infarction is increasingly used to investigate anesthetic-induced preconditioning (APC) and postconditioning (APOST). However, in mice the potency of different volatile anesthetics to reduce myocardial infarct size (IS) has never been investigated systematically nor in a head to head comparison with regard to ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and postconditioning (IPOST). Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 45 min of coronary artery occlusion (CAO) and 180 min of reperfusion.

Time course of desflurane-induced preconditioning in rabbits.

Objectives: The authors tested the hypothesis that volatile anesthetic-induced preconditioning (APC) follows a similar time pattern as that described for ischemic preconditioning and that delayed APC is mediated by nitric oxide.

Design: A prospective randomized vehicle-controlled study.

Setting: A university research laboratory.

Desflurane-induced preconditioning has a threshold that is lowered by repetitive application and is mediated by beta 2-adrenergic receptors.

Objective: An optimal administration protocol to induce a maximal effect of anesthetic preconditioning has not been evaluated to date. In this study, desflurane preconditioning was characterized with respect to its threshold, dose dependency, and continuous versus repetitive application. Furthermore, the role of beta(2)-adrenergic receptors in anesthetic preconditioning was tested.

Desflurane-induced postconditioning is mediated by beta-adrenergic signaling: role of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors, protein kinase A, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

Background: Anesthetic preconditioning is mediated by beta-adrenergic signaling. This study was designed to elucidate the role of beta-adrenergic signaling in desflurane-induced postconditioning.

Methods: Pentobarbital-anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion and were randomly assigned to receive vehicle (control), 1.