Anesteziologie a intenzivní medicína, 2005 (vol. 16), issue 5
Development in anaesthetic technique in the extremely low weight infant, 1998-2003Anaesthesiology - Original Paper
V. Mixa, K. Cvachovec, J. Kalousová, M. Rygl
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):229-234 
Objective:Analysis of anaesthetic techniques in the extremely low weight infants, 1998-2003. Establishing the optimum general anaesthetic technique. Design:Retrospective observational study. Setting:Dept. of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital, Prague, Dept. of Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital, Prague. Materials and Methods:Using the medical documentation of 118 paediatric patients (135 surgical procedures) weighing less than 2,500 g on the day of surgery, we recorded the basic demographic data, surgical diagnoses and methods of general anaesthesia and/or neuromuscular blockade....
Some prognostic indicators in elderly patients in intensive careAnaesthesiology - Original Paper
J. Špunda, J. Lejsek, P. Cvrčková, M. Hladíková
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):235-241
Objective:The study was focused on the challenges in geriatric critical care and establishing the criteria for morbidity and mortality reduction. Design:Retrospective patient's data study. Setting:Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care of the University Hospital. Materials and Methods:Our study included 124 patients of over 70 years of age admitted to critical care. The analyzed set consisted of 78 surgical and 46 medical patients (internal diseases, admission after CPR). We analysed the admission and in-hospital data with the objective to identify mortality co-factors and statistically...
Curare: Alternative methods of administrationAnaesthesiology - Comprehensive Report
L. Hess, V. Rogozov, M. Svítek, J. Schreiberová
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):242-245
Nowadays curare-related drugs are usually administered intravenously. South-American Indians used to use curare intramuscularly and indeed the early researchers studied this route of administration. As late as in the 19th and in the first half of the 20th century curare was given intramuscularly for the treatment of tetanus and for muscle relaxation during surgery. Suxamethonium was used in the 1950s for immobilisation of large animals. Several minutes after administration, immobilisation was achieved with the consciousness of the animal preserved. Nowadays the intramuscular administration of neuromuscular blocking drugs is reserved for emergency situations,...
Curare: Some historical factsHistory
V. Rogozov
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):246-253
The article gives a summary of the history of human experience with curare until its introduction to clinical practice. The text refers to the personalities, landmark publications, events and facts that played an important role in the development of knowledge of curare. The author presents a historical summary of some alternative methods of administration of neuromuscular blocking agents. The article contains information and materials gained thanks to the Wood Library-Museum Fellowship 2000.
Historians of Anaesthesia Organized (Anesthesia History Association, The History of Anaesthesia Society and Sections of Anaesthesia History)History
J. Rupreht
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):254-259
The first steps leading to formation of History of Anaesthesia Society are described. The first International Symposium on the History of Anaesthesia (ISHA) in Rotterdam 1982 was a catalyzing event. During next 20 years series of successful meetings throughout the world took place in London, Atlanta, Hamburg and Santiago de Compostela. Two bigger societies for study of anaesthetic history - The Anesthesia History Association (AHA) in U. S. and international The History of Anaesthesia Society (HAS) in UK traced their history to 1st ISHA meeting. Several examples of national societies of anaesthesia historians are mentioned and the need for international...
History of regional anaesthesia in former Czechoslovakia and worldwideHistory
D. Miloschewsky
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):260-264
The author - himself a pioneer of regional anaesthesia - describes the historical landmarks of regional anaesthesia in both the national and international context. An overview of local anaesthetic techniques and agents is mingled with the author's personal reminiscences of the implementation of epidural anaesthesia in Bulovka Hospital - one of Prague's major hospitals.
The training of military anaesthetists for mass casualties, 1960-1980History
J. Pokorný
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):265-267
Thanks to their successful post-war efforts, Czech pioneers of anaesthesiology led by L. Spinadel achieved the recognition of anaesthesiology as a higher medical specialization, published in the decree of Ministry of Health 'On the Professional Education of Physicians' No. 258/1952. In this document the administration of anaesthesia was declared a medical procedure, whereas until then it had been delegated by the surgeons mostly to nurses or even to trained orderlies. Following this, the Army Medical Service was requested to train a sufficient number of physicians able to anaesthetise in field conditions. From the late fifties the anaesthetic departments...
The Czech contribution to the advance in the interpretation of acid-base disturbancesHistory
A. Jabor
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):268-271
The article gives an overview of the development of our understanding of the acid-base balance, both nationally and internationally. Particular emphasis is put on the importance of acid-base balance interpretation in various clinical conditions and critical illness settings. The contribution of the most prominent personalities (profs. Kazda, Brodan, Englis, Nejedly, Fencl) is revealed. A note, submitted by prof. Kazda, describes the article author's own contribution to our understanding of mixed acid-base balance disorders
Fighting disease and accepting dyingEthics and Medicine Law
V. Dobiáš
Anest. intenziv. Med. 2005;16(5):272-273
This ethics essay is dedicated to the attitudes of the late Pope John Paul II who, aware of the inevitability of his own demise, chose to die in the home environment and refused mechanical ventilation.