Influence of timing of Levosimendan administration on outcomes in cardiac surgery.

Purpose: Though a subgroup analysis has shown improved survival for patients suffering severely reduced ventricular function undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, RCTs were not able to demonstrate overall beneficial effects of perioperative Levosimendan in cardiac surgery. This might be due to Levosimendan's pharmacokinetics reaching a steady-state concentration only 4-8 h after administration. Thus, this study now analysed the influence of timing of Levosimendan administration on perioperative outcome in cardiac surgery patients preoperatively presenting with severely reduced ventricular function and therefore considered at high-risk for intra- or postoperative low cardiac output syndrome.

Atopic Dermatitis in Children and Adults—Diagnosis and Treatment.

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronically recurring inflammatory skin disease. It gives rise to a high disease burden and is of major importance in social medicine.

Methods: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed, including the current German and European guidelines.

Why does a point of care guided transfusion algorithm not improve blood loss and transfusion practice in patients undergoing high-risk cardiac surgery? A prospective randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Adult cardiac surgery is often complicated by elevated blood losses that account for elevated transfusion requirements. Perioperative bleeding and transfusion of blood products are major risk factors for morbidity and mortality. Timely diagnostic and goal-directed therapies aim at the reduction of bleeding and need for allogeneic transfusions.

Generalized reactions during skin testing with clindamycin in drug hypersensitivity: a report of 3 cases and review of the literature.

Background: The diagnostic approach to drug hypersensitivity includes a detailed medical history, clinical examination, and skin testing and/or oral challenge with a culprit or alternative drug, depending on the type of reaction and the suspected drugs. Although skin testing is considered to be rather safe, cutaneous and systemic, including fatal, reactions have been described.

Objectives: To report 3 cases with generalized delayed reactions after skin testing with clindamycin, and to review the existing literature.

Less invasive surgical correction of adult degenerative scoliosis, part I: technique and radiographic results.

Background: Adult scoliosis is a condition with increasing prevalence and medical and socioeconomic importance. Surgery is fraught with a significant complication rate in an elderly multimorbid patient population.

Objective: To assess technical feasibility and radiographic results of image-guided less invasive correction of adult degenerative scoliosis.