Currently, there is a renewed interest in treatments with medical cannabis and cannabinoids. Based on an increasing number of publications over the last decades that permitted new insights into mechanisms, efficacy and safety of cannabinoids, the use of cannabinergic medications is authorised in an increasing number of European and non-European countries. The alleviation of chronic, painful conditions is, since thousands of years, one of the primary reasons for the use of cannabis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate the prevalence of advance directives, healthcare proxies, and legal representatives in Austrian intensive care units (ICUs), and to explore barriers faced by adults engaged in the contemplation and documentation phase of the advance care planning process.
Methods: Two studies were conducted: (1) A 4-week multicenter study covering seven Austrian ICUs. A retrospective chart review of 475 patients who presented to the ICUs between 1 January 2019 and 31 January 2019 was conducted.
Background: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the clinical feasibility of the supraclavicular ultrasound-guided cannulation of the brachiocephalic vein in infants weighing less than 1500 g.
Methods: The ultrasound probe was placed in the supraclavicular region so as to obtain the optimum sonographic long-axis view of the brachiocephalic vein. By using an in-plane approach the brachiocephalic vein was cannulated by using a 24-gauge intravenous cannula under real-time ultrasound guidance into the vein followed by the insertion of a 2-French single lumen catheter using the Seldinger technique.
Wien Klin Wochenschr
September 2019
Background: Emergency departments (ED) serve as a contact point for critically ill patients. According to experience, a fraction of patients visiting ED present with palliative symptoms and require palliative care; however, the prevalence of these patients has not been determined in Austria so far.
Methods: In the ED of a tertiary care medical centre in Carinthia all adult patients presenting between 8 January 2018 and 17 January 2018 were classified on arrival with the Manchester triage system (MTS) and were afterwards assessed with a validated 2‑tier screening tool for palliative care.
Objective: Dysphagia is a common disorder in neurological and non-neurological intensive care unit (ICU) patients and can lead to aspiration pneumonia, prolonged ventilation, and delayed extubation. Dysphagia is an independent predictor of increased mortality. In dysphagic stroke patients with tracheotomy, the use of pharyngeal electric stimulation (PES), an emerging technique to treat dysphagia, has been shown to improve airway protection and shorten time to decannulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Additional benefits of passive exposures to intermittent hypoxia and hyperoxia on cognitive performance and functional exercise capacity have been demonstrated in geriatric patients who performed a multimodal training program. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate effects of adding intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic training (IHHT) to a multimodal training intervention (MTI) on mobility and perceived health in old individuals at a Geriatric Day Hospital.
Methods: Thirty-four patients between 64 and 92 years participated in the double blind, randomized and controlled clinical trial.
Alzheimers Dement (N Y)
January 2017
Background: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the supraclavicular ultrasound-guided cannulation of the brachiocephalic vein in preterm infants.
Methods: The ultrasound probe was placed in the supraclavicular region so as to obtain the optimum sonographic long-axis view of the brachiocephalic vein. By using a strict in-plane approach the brachiocephalic vein was cannulated by advancing a 22- or 24-gauge iv cannula from lateral to medial under the long axis of the ultrasound probe under real-time ultrasound guidance into the vein.
Background And Aim: In the last days of life the clinical symptom of death rattle breathing is manifested in many awake or semiconscious patients in palliative care. Scientific studies on relevant influencing factors on the characteristics of the clinical symptom of death rattle breathing in patients in palliative care are rare.
Material And Methods: The design of the study is based on a non-interventional prospective study with questionnaire evaluation and was implemented at the palliative care unit at the Center for Interdisciplinary Pain Therapy, Oncology and Palliative Care at the Clinical Center Klagenfurt, Austria.
Background: The supraclavicular ultrasound (US)-guided cannulation of the brachiocephalic vein (BCV) is one option of central venous line placement in infants.
Aim: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate whether there was an association between the optimum ultrasonographic view as obtained of the entire longitudinal extension of the right BCV and the ease of supraclavicular cannulation when using a strict in-plane technique via a linear US probe in small infants.
Methods: The US probe was placed in the right supraclavicular region.
Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of the topical 5% lidocaine medicated plaster in the treatment of localized neuropathic pain.
Study Design: This was a case series at an Austrian pain clinic, using retrospective analysis.
Patients And Methods: Data of 27 patients treated for localized neuropathic pain with the 5% lidocaine medicated plaster were retrospectively analyzed.