Effects of two different dexamethasone dosing regimens on ventilator-free days and long-term mortality in COVID-19 patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS: the REMED randomized clinical trial.

Background: Dexamethasone 6 mg in patients with severe COVID-19 has been shown to decrease mortality and morbidity. The effects of higher doses of corticosteroid, that would further increase anti-inflammatory effects, are uncertain. The objective of our study was to assess the effect of 20 mg dexamethasone vs.

TEGEST as promising tool for assessing the risk of perioperative neurocognitive disorders.

Background: Perioperative neurocognitive disorders are often neglected and undiagnosed. There are known risk factors for these disorders (e.g.

Morphine Analgesia, Cannabinoid Receptor 2, and Opioid Growth Factor Receptor Cancer Tissue Expression Improve Survival after Pancreatic Cancer Surgery.

Pancreatic cancer (PDAC) has a poor prognosis despite surgical removal and adjuvant therapy. Additionally, the effects of postoperative analgesia with morphine and piritramide on survival among PDAC patients are unknown, as are their interactions with opioid/cannabinoid receptor gene expressions in PDAC tissue. Cancer-specific survival data for 71 PDAC patients who underwent radical surgery followed by postoperative analgesia with morphine ( = 48) or piritramide ( = 23) were therefore analyzed in conjunction with opioid/cannabinoid receptor gene expressions in the patients' tumors.

Influence of opioid analgesia type on circulating tumor cells in open colorectal cancer surgery (POACC-1): study protocol for a prospective randomized multicenter controlled trial.

Background: Opioids and epidural analgesia are a mainstay of perioperative analgesia but their influence on cancer recurrence remains unclear. Based on retrospective data, we found that cancer recurrence following colorectal cancer surgery correlates with the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the early postoperative period. Also, morphine- but not piritramide-based postoperative analgesia increases the presence of CTCs and shortens cancer-specific survival.

Effect of dexamethasone in patients with ARDS and COVID-19 (REMED trial)-study protocol for a prospective, multi-centre, open-label, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected millions of people worldwide. In patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in need of oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation, dexamethasone 6 mg per day is currently recommended. However, the dose of 6 mg of dexamethasone is currently being reappraised and may miss important therapeutic potential or may prevent potential deleterious effects of higher doses of corticosteroids.

Effect of dexamethasone in patients with ARDS and COVID-19 - prospective, multi-centre, open-label, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial (REMED trial): A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that administration of dexamethasone 20 mg is superior to a 6 mg dose in adult patients with moderate or severe ARDS due to confirmed COVID-19. The secondary objective is to investigate the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone 20 mg versus dexamethasone 6 mg. The exploratory objective of this study is to assess long-term consequences on mortality and quality of life at 180 and 360 days.

[Hospital-acquired pneumonia in the light of current recommendations - is there a space for improving patient care?].

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is an infection of the lung parenchyma. It is the second most frequent nosocomial infection and the leading cause of death from infection in critically ill patients. Hospital-acquired and, particularly, ventilator-associated pneumonia prolong the hospital stay and increase treatment costs.

Epidemiology of hospital-acquired pneumonia: Results of a Central European multicenter, prospective, observational study compared with data from the European region.

Background: Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is associated with high mortality. In Central Europe, there is a dearth of information on the prevalence and treatment of HAP. This project was aimed at collecting multicenter epidemiological data on patients with HAP in the Czech Republic and comparing them with supraregional data.

Surgical treatment of superior laryngeal neuralgia: A case report and review of the literature.

Superior laryngeal (SL) neuralgia is paroxysmal pain above the thyrohyoid membrane. We present a case of SL neuralgia that was resistant to conservative treatment and eventually required surgical intervention. The patient was a 39-year-old woman with a 5-year history of debilitating pain above the thyroid cartilage.

[Validity comparison of various biological samples from lower airway and their contribution for the detection of nosocomial pneumonia etiological agents].

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the validity of bronchial secretion sampling and bronchoscopy-assisted protected specimen brushing (PSB) in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).

Materials And Methods: In patients with HAP, bronchial secretion samples (aspiration of lower airway secretions from an orotracheal tube with a suctioning catheter) and PSB (bronchoscopy-assisted sampling from the most affected area of the lung, verified by CT scan) were taken at the same time. Both samples were processed by semiquantitative routine microbiological techniques.

Radiofrequency upper thoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of critical upper limb ischemia--a case series.

Background: Patients with significant medical and social problems resulting from impaired perfusion of the upper limbs caused by micro- or macro-angiopathy are now frequent in clinical practice. Vasospastic disease of the upper limbs of combined origin is a difficult condition to treat by conservative methods and therapeutic strategies are usually multidisciplinary. In addition to standard pharmacotherapy, treatment may involve regional anaesthesia, thoracoscopic or radiofrequency sympathectomy and surgical treatment of defects, including plastic surgery.

Influence of age and gender on the pharmacodynamic parameters of rocuronium during total intravenous anesthesia.

Aims: To compare the pharmacodynamics of 0.6 mg kg(-1) rocuronium in young and older patients of both genders during total intravenous anesthesia.

Methods: Following local ethics committee approval and informed consent, patients scheduled for surgery under total intravenous anesthesia (propofol/sufentanil) were divided into 4 study groups: 37 males aged 20-40, 40 males aged 60-75 yrs, 43 females aged 20-40 and 38 females aged 60-75 yrs.

Inter-observer reproducibility of 15 tests used for predicting difficult intubation.

Aim: To determine the inter-observer reproducibility of 15 tests used for predicting difficult tracheal intubation (DI).

Material And Methods: Following local ethics committee approval and informed consent, 101 volunteers were examined by two assessors using 15 tests for predicting DI. The two assessors who were blinded to the results of the other, examined each volunteer independently.

Intraoperative reversal of neuromuscular block with sugammadex or neostigmine during extreme lateral interbody fusion, a novel technique for spine surgery.

Purpose: Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) is a method for stabilization of the lumbar spine. Intraoperatively, the surgeon identifies the lumbar nerve roots with a stimulator to prevent their injury. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which shallow rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block must be intraoperatively reversed for reliable identification of nerve roots.

Mallampati test as a predictor of laryngoscopic view.

Aim: To determine the accuracy of the modified Mallampati test for predicting difficult tracheal intubation.

Design: A cross-sectional, clinical, observational, non-blinded study. A quality analysis of anesthetic care.

Percutaneous upper thoracic radiofrequency sympathectomy in Raynaud phenomenon: a comparison of T2/T3 procedure versus T2 lesion with phenol application.

Background And Objectives: Percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) thoracic sympathectomy is an alternative method to surgical procedures for the treatment of acral ischemia in Raynaud phenomenon. The procedure is indicated if conservative therapy fails to provide sufficient relief. The aim of this study was to compare classic T2 and T3 RF thermolesioning with a less invasive procedure at the level of T2 only.

Single injection paravertebral block for renal surgery in children.

Background: Continuous paravertebral block (PVB) has been successfully used for postoperative analgesia in children. However, data regarding the efficacy of a single injection technique for major renal surgery are still lacking.

Methods: Following the ethics committee approval and parent informed consent, 24 children (median 10.

Influence of gender on the onset and duration of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block.

Aims: To assess the influence of gender on the course of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block following a single bolus dose of 2 x ED(95) (0.6 mg kg(-1)).

Methods: Following the ethics committee approval and informed consent, 245 patients (121 men, 124 women) scheduled for elective general surgery under TIVA with muscle relaxation were studied.