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Biomedical subjects

C Kulke

Publications and source records attributed to C Kulke.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

[Evidence based community psychiatric community health care services in Germany: taking inventory].

PURPOSE AND METHODS: One of the outcomes of reforming mental health care in Germany has been the establishment of a range of community mental health services. However, current evidence for the effectiveness of these services is slight. Based on a literature search this article provides a systematic overview of empirical research in this sphere. In detail, social psychiatric services, crisis centres, psychosocial contact points, day care centres, and various models of supported housing and work/employment are assessed. Available results on effectiveness are classified according to their level of scientific evidence. RESULTS: The current state of research is characterised by the situation that effectiveness of the care approach provided by social psychiatric services and some types of supported housing and work/employment has been demonstrated at a medium level of scientific evidence. In contrast, the evidence level of mental health care provided in crisis centres, psychosocial contact points, and day care centres is poor. CONCLUSION: The major reasons for this lack of research are: heterogeneity of care models and staffing levels in the different community mental health services, lack of standardised documentation and reporting system in these services, and lack of research culture to utilise routine outcome data. The consequences of aiming at increasing the level of scientific evidence in this sphere would be to intensify funding of research projects and to implement high quality research designs such as randomised controlled trials.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

In vitro studies of temporary vena cava filters.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clot trapping capacity of different temporary vena cava filters in a vena cava model. METHODS: A vena cava flow model was built using PVC tubing, a hemodialysis membrane and a pulsatile pump. Blood was imitated by a Dextran 40 solution. Five different temporary vena cava filters and two prototypes were tested using human thrombi. The mechanism of clot capture was observed. RESULTS: Decreasing rank order according to decreasing percentage of clots captured for the 21-mm diameter vena cava model was Cook (C) > Angiocor (A) > Cordis (CD) > Antheor (TF-6) > DIL for thrombi with a diameter of 3 mm and A > C > CD > TF-6 > DIL for 5-mm thrombi. In a cava with diameter of 28 mm, decreasing rank order was C > CD = A > TF-6 > DIL and C > CD = A > DIL > TF-6 for 3- and 5-mm thrombi, respectively. Two new prototypes, the TF-8 and TF-10 filters, achieved better results than the TF-6 filter and were in most conditions comparable to the A and CD filters. In most cases, thrombi were trapped between filter and cava wall. CONCLUSION: The vena cava flow model demonstrates significant differences in rates of clot capture (range 22%-98%) depending on cava diameter, thrombus size, and filter type.

Equipment Design↗

Clinical experience with temporary vena caval filters.

PURPOSE: To look at the benefits and complications of different vena caval filters inserted prophylactically. Three temporarily implantable caval filter systems were used in 67 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve Cook filters (six transjugular, six transfemoral), 11 Angiocor filters (one transjugular, 10 transbrachial), and 44 Antheor filters (three transjugular, four transfemoral, 37 transbrachial) were successfully implanted. In known iliac vein or caval thrombosis, the prophylactic filters were placed during thrombolytic therapy in 46 cases, surgery in 17 cases, thrombosis in pregnancy in three cases, and high-dose heparinization without lysis in one case. RESULTS: One patient had a fatal pulmonary embolism during treatment; seven thrombi were detected in the filter. Other complications were caused either by the underlying therapy alone (one fatal outcome of abdominal aorta aneurysmal surgery, two cases of cerebral hemorrhage, two cases of retroperitoneal hematomas, two cases of streptokinase fever reactions, one compartment syndrome, two cases of macrohematuria), by the combination of therapy and caval filter implantation (three cases of groin hematomas, three cases of arm hematomas), or by filter implantation alone (two cases of subclavian vein thrombosis, one catheter infection, one dislocation, one air embolism, one basket rupture). The bleeding complications were related to the aggressive thrombolytic therapy and would have occurred without filter implantation. CONCLUSION: Because temporary caval filters have no long-term complications per se, their use seems sensible as long as there are stringent indications, including the presence of iliac vein or caval thrombosis and risk of thrombus mobilization. The Antheor filter system was the most convenient system for implantation.

Adolescent↗