Development, Implementation, Evaluation, and Long-Term Outcome of a Program to Increase Student Interest in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Training.

Objectives: The increasing need for anesthetists has been coupled with a rising number of open training positions. Thus, there is an increased need to attract future anesthetists among students and graduates from medical universities. Using results from a questionnaire, we designed an information and training program to increase interest in anesthesia and intensive care.

Transvenous, intracardial cardioversion for the treatment of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) following cardiac surgery is an important factor contributing to postoperative morbidity. Transvenous, intracardial cardioversion (TIC) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic AF, but is an invasive and cost-intensive procedure. However, TIC would definitely be a beneficial approach if recurrence of AF following TIC is low and pharmacological treatment could be avoided.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis treated with rapid sternotomy followed by vacuum-assisted therapy.

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a life-threatening emergency after oropharyngeal infection. The diagnosis must be established rapidly. DNM is associated with septic shock and respiratory insufficiency.

[Brain natriuretic peptide for postoperative monitoring of the fluid balance in a cardiac surgery patient].

Brain natriuretic peptide is a neurohormone used for estimation of left ventricular wall tension and volume overload. We describe the use of this parameter in a postoperative cardiac surgery patient for detection and monitoring of left ventricular failure in a postoperative intensive care unit at a tertiary care center. Left ventricular failure was detected by brain natriuretic peptide levels, while x-ray and values obtained by the pulmonary artery catheter were inconclusive.