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Biomedical subjects

M Ruoff

Publications and source records attributed to M Ruoff.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Development of a new closed-loop system for controlling mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade].

UNLABELLED: There are many closed-loop control systems for muscle relaxants reported, but only a few could cope with the introduction of the latest shorter acting neuromuscular blocking drugs. These new muscle relaxants such as mivacurium require a fast adapting closed-loop system for controlling an adequate infusion. METHODS: After approval of the local ethics committee and having the patients' informed consent a total number of 75 patients [ASA I and II] were included in the study and assigned either to a training-, prediction-, prediction-/feedback- or a validation phase, as needed. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol in a TCI-mode with a plasma level of 3 to 5 micrograms/ml and 0.1 mg fentanyl boli as needed in all patients. In the last validation phase, having 20 patients, the prediction error and the error of the whole system was taken and analysed. RESULTS: A closed-loop system using a neural network as a predictor could be established. In the final validation phase consisting of 20 patients the mean square prediction error was found to be 0.1% +/- 0.2% [mean +/- SD]. The mean square error of the whole system was 0.55% +/- 0.59% [mean +/- SD]. CONCLUSIONS: A closed-loop system for control of a mivacurium infusion could be established. The system proofed to be reliable for a closed-loop infusion of mivacurium in order to maintain a predefined degree of neuromuscular blockade of 95% during routine surgery. The performance of the described controller is comparable to all recent attempts and could therefore be useful for scientific studies. It should be further validated and established for other muscle relaxants, as well.

Adolescent↗

[Cost analysis concerning MRSA-infection in ICU].

OBJECTIVE: MRSA-infection incidences are still rising, because of unreflected use of antibiotic drugs in man and animals. Although some European countries already have an incidence as high as 30% of MRSA infection in ICU-patients, there is no additional financial support for the treatment of MRSA infected patients. METHODS: We investigated all MRSA infected patients of the operative ICU ward of the department of anaesthesia at the university Ulm within the last three years. We calculated all costs for decontamination and special treatment of the MRSA infection as well as the costs for closing beds, because of MRSA precaution and isolation reasons. RESULTS: The average monthly costs for MRSA infected patients is about 3848 EURO for decontamination and treatment, and another 5560 EURO fix costs. The average monthly ICU duration for MRSA patients was 5.8 days, which means a financial loss of 1622 EURO per "MRSA-patient day". This loss is more than two times the price the social security system pays for an ICU-patient. CONCLUSION: These extra costs should be calculated and additionally paid for patients with MRSA-infection in order to obtain a certain quality standard. By achieving this standard the total economy costs for MRSA infection treatment could be reduced.

Humans↗

[Effects of priming technique on onset profile of cisatracurium].

Compared to atracurium, cisatracurium releases less laudanosine and histamine, but it has a longer onset time. The primary objective of this study was a blinded, randomized comparison of intubation scores and onset times of a threefold ED 95 of cisatracurium using the priming technique with two priming substances cisatracurium itself and pancuronium. To test the effect of priming with cisatracurium or pancuronium on the onset of cisatracurium, 45 patients were anaesthetised with 0.15-0.25 mg/kg alfentanil, 0.25-0.3 mg/kg edomidate i.v. and O2/N2O, and were randomisely divided into one of three groups. After induction, 15 patients were primed with sodium chloride and thereafter received 0.15 mg/kg cisatracurium, 15 patients were primed with 0.01 mg/kg cisatracurium, another 15 patients were primed with 0.015 mg/kg pancuronium and the last two groups received 0.14 mg/kg cisatracurium three minutes later. Neuromuscular response was monitored by adductor pollicis electromyogram (EMG) by stimulating in a TOF pattern. Times for T1 reduction to 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% and T1 recovery to 25% were taken. Intubation was performed 120 seconds after the main relaxant dose and scored in four grades. The two priming groups showed a significantly faster onset of neuromuscular blockade than the control group (cisatracurium priming group: T1 = 0: 178.4 +/- 16.3 sec., pancuronium priming group 171.2 +/- 15.3 sec. vs. control group: T1 = 0: 205.5 +/- 18.9 sec.). Both primed groups showed no significantly better intubation scores, compared with the control group. Using the priming principle, cisatracurium will give good intubation scores 120 seconds after injection with a clinical duration profile comparable to an equipotent dose of atracurium.

Adult↗

[Medical controlling as a means for economic optimization of an anesthesiology clinic].

In these times of declining government financial resources, public interest is focussing increasingly on the health service. The Health Care Reforms of 1993 and 1996 fundamentally changed its financial basis. Hospitals now have to hold their own both medically and more and more economically. In this report, the principles of medical controlling are described and its effects on the clinical routine of a university anaesthesia department. Strict controlling reduces not only the costs of individual fields, but also those of whole departments through coordinated ordering. It can also bring to light organizational and training deficits. It is of particular importance for optimizing an anaesthesia department to digest and comply with figures presented by administrative departments. It only makes sense to do this at a departmental level.

Anesthesia Department, Hospital↗

Effects of a resistive training program on lipoprotein--lipid levels in obese women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a resistive training program on the time course of changes in strength, body mass index, lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins in sedentary obese women. Sixteen sedentary obese women strength trained 3 times . wk-1 for 12 wk performing three sets of six to eight repetitions per set with sets 1 and 2 at 60-70% of one-repetition maximum. During set 3, the subjects used the greatest weight possible so that failure occurred between six to eight repetitions. Six sedentary obese women served as controls. Blood samples for serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C), low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), TC/HDL-C ratio, apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), and apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100) were obtained pre, and after 4, 8, and 12 wk of training and approximately 3-4 d following the last training session. A 3-d dietary record was obtained on all subjects pre and post, and subjects were instructed not to alter their diet. The 12 wk of resistive training did not result in a significant change in body weight, BMI, or total kilocalories consumed per day but did show a mean improvement of 58% in muscular strength (P less than 0.05). The training program did not significantly alter the TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, TC/HDL-C ratio, apo A-I, or apo B-100 levels, which suggests that this increase in strength owing to resistive training in the absence of body weight loss did not alter the lipid profiles in these sedentary obese women.

Adult↗

Cementless total knee arthroplasty in patients with inflammatory arthritis and compromised bone.

Patients with bone compromised by inflammatory arthritis and medications are often excluded from cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) because of concerns regarding implant fixation and ingrowth. However, many such patients are young and at long-term risk for implant failure no matter what the fixation technique. Improved implant designs and technique may improve results. Cementless arthroplasty was performed in 45 patients with inflammatory arthritis. There were 38 patients with 53 implants available for follow-up evaluation during a 2- to 6.4-year period (average, 3.3 years). Medications included steroids (16 patients), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (36 patients), and cytotoxic agents (12 patients). Twenty-nine patients were using at least two types of medication. Prostheses included the Tricon P, Tricon M, Miller-Galante, and Anatomic Modular Knee (AMK) prosthesis. The procedures were performed using standard ligament-balancing techniques. Tibial resections were within 1 cm of the tibial plateau, thereby necessitating extensive bone grafts in ten patients. Tibial components were chosen for maximal cortical rim contact. Roentgenograms were reviewed for alignment, tibial rim contact, radiolucencies, gaps, sclerosis, and subsidence. Patients with no evidence of gap or lucency had spot films under image control. Hospital for Special Surgery knee scores averaged 47 preoperatively and 88 at follow-up examination. Alignment was from 3 degrees valgus to 9 degrees valgus (average, 6 degrees valgus), with a tibial axis of 0 degrees +/- 2 degrees. Plateau coverage was within 2.4 mm (average) of the cortical rim in all planes in the anteroposterior (AP) and lateral views. Tibial sclerosis occurred with equal frequency in all AP zones and was present equally in anterior and posterolateral zones. Gaps and lucencies were more common laterally. Fifteen femoral components showed a disturbing, localized osteopenia. Sclerosis, gap, and lucency were most common anteriorly. Cementless TKA with appropriate technique can produce results comparable to cemented surgery in patients with bone quality compromised by inflammatory arthritis, steroids, and nonsteroidal and cytotoxic agents. The femoral bone response suggests an intimate bone implant relationship. The tibia shows little direct coupling of prosthesis to bone. These responses are similar to reports from other studies. Fixation is sufficient to allow for continued analysis over time and results are encouraging.

Adult↗

Behcet's syndrome: an unusual cause of colonic ulceration and perforation.

Behcet's syndrome is a multisystem disease which may produce not only the original triad of relapsing iridocyclitis and recurrent oral and genital ulceration but also skin, central nervous system, joint and gastrointestinal disease. A fatal outcome is uncommon but may occur when the central nervous system or the gastrointestinal tract is involved. We present a patient with colonic ulceration progressing rapidly to free perforation and generalized peritonitis successfully treated by emergency resection.

Behcet Syndrome↗

Reoperation for amputation neuroma of the cystic duct.

Two cases of amputation neuroma of the cystic duct are reported. In both instances, significant symptoms were totally relieved by excision of the neuroma. Review of the literature reveals at least twenty similar cases with the same results. Emphasis is placed on the importance of considering this diagnosis in postcholecystectomy patients after all the usual causes of right upper quadrant symptoms have been ruled out.

Adult↗