Systolic time intervals (STI), known for a long time, were revived in the early 1960s by Arnold Weissler. The first important papers came from him; they eval- uated STI measurements in larger populations, established norms, and compared STI measurements with other invasive methods. Since then, several hundred ex- cellent papers have appeared using and evaluating STI measurements for myo- cardial function studies. These have appeared in prominent cardiologic journals throughout the world as well as in the anesthesiologic and pediatric medical literature. When consent of subjects to medical experimentation became a prominent and necessary issue, the noninvasiveness of investigative methods in medicine, wher- ever possible, resolved the issue. Noninvasive measurements of STI proved to be an excellent monitoring parameter of cardiac function during anesthesia, and anesthesiologists wished to learn more from the long experience of cardiologists with STI. An organizing committee of List, Gravenstein, and Spodick was accordingly formed. Invitations were issued for an international conference on STI.With more than 40 clinical researchers using STI, it was, of course, difficult to hear them all within two days. A generous sponsor, the AVL Company, Graz-Schaffhausen, made possible the International Conference at Graz. Publication of the proceedings of the Confer- ence became feasible with help from Boehringer-Mannheim.

This volume on scientific advances in critical care testing com­ piles a number of clinical and laboratory studies related to criti­ cally ill patients that involve new technology, therapy options, application or interpretation of new tests, patient management and cost benefits. There were a total of 340 applicants for this first International Federation of Clinical Chemistry-AVL Award, and from these, National Winners were selected in 26 member countries of the IFCC. This publication presents the full papers of the ten finalists among the National Winners selected for the international final held in London in July 1996. These ten were chosen by the Inter­ national Awards Committee of the IFCC. In addition, the editors have decided also to include their choice of the best abstracts from the National Winners, thus giving a broad overview of cur­ rent research being conducted in the field of critical care medi­ cine among IFCC members. In keeping with the title of this volume, all major fields of in­ tensive care medicine are represented, including inflammation, infection, stress, hypoxia, ischaemia, cardiology, haemodynamics, blood gases, electrolytes, trace -elements, nephrology, gastroenter­ ology and haematology. In addition, there is also a chapter on new technology in critical care testing and on miscellaneous top­ ics.

This volume on scientific advances in critical care testing com­ piles a number of clinical and laboratory studies related to criti­ cally ill patients that involve new technology, therapy options, application or interpretation of new tests, patient management and cost benefits. There were a total of 340 applicants for this first International Federation of Clinical Chemistry-AVL Award, and from these, National Winners were selected in 26 member countries of the IFCC. This publication presents the full papers of the ten finalists among the National Winners selected for the international final held in London in July 1996. These ten were chosen by the Inter­ national Awards Committee of the IFCC. In addition, the editors have decided also to include their choice of the best abstracts from the National Winners, thus giving a broad overview of cur­ rent research being conducted in the field of critical care medi­ cine among IFCC members. In keeping with the title of this volume, all major fields of in­ tensive care medicine are represented, including inflammation, infection, stress, hypoxia, ischaemia, cardiology, haemodynamics, blood gases, electrolytes, trace -elements, nephrology, gastroenter­ ology and haematology. In addition, there is also a chapter on new technology in critical care testing and on miscellaneous top­ ics.

Neben den Grundlagen des Monitorings in Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin werden die Mindesterfordernisse der Patientenüberwachung bei Operationen sowie die gesetzlichen Aspekte (jeweils für Deutschland, Österreich und die Schweiz) und die Qualitätskontrolle beschrieben. Den Hauptteil des Buches nimmt die systembezogene Überwachung ein: die verschiedenen Überwachungsmöglichkeiten bei Herz/Kreislauf, Atmung, Gehirn; des weiteren: spezifische Probleme wie Narkosetiefe, neuromuskuläres System und insbesondere das biochemische Monitoring. Der letzte Teil befaßt sich mit speziellen Bereichen (Regionalanästhesie, Neuroanästhesie) und Risikogruppen (Patienten mit koronarer Herzkrankheit, Kinder).

Lebensbedrohliche Situationen im Operationssaal und auf der Intensivstation können nur bei exakter Diagnostik entsprechend therapiert werden. Eine umfassende apparative Überwachung hat sich in der Sorge um den bewußtlosen bzw. schwerstkranken Patienten neben der kontinuierlichen klinischen Beurteilung durch die fünf Sinne des behandelnden Arztes als unbedingt notwendig erwiesen. Die Ausweitung des Monitorings unter Einschluß elektronischer Meßgrößen und "intelligenter" Verarbeitung hat es ermöglicht, die Grenzen der operativen Medizin und der Intensivmedizin zu erweitern. Zweck dieses Buches über ein umfassendes Monitoring im OP und auf der Intensivstation ist es, Überwachungsparameter und -techniken aus beiden Bereichen und die Prinzipien, Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Überwachung zu präsentieren.

Systolic time intervals (STI), known for a long time, were revived in the early 1960s by Arnold Weissler. The first important papers came from him; they eval- uated STI measurements in larger populations, established norms, and compared STI measurements with other invasive methods. Since then, several hundred ex- cellent papers have appeared using and evaluating STI measurements for myo- cardial function studies. These have appeared in prominent cardiologic journals throughout the world as well as in the anesthesiologic and pediatric medical literature. When consent of subjects to medical experimentation became a prominent and necessary issue, the noninvasiveness of investigative methods in medicine, wher- ever possible, resolved the issue. Noninvasive measurements of STI proved to be an excellent monitoring parameter of cardiac function during anesthesia, and anesthesiologists wished to learn more from the long experience of cardiologists with STI. An organizing committee of List, Gravenstein, and Spodick was accordingly formed. Invitations were issued for an international conference on STI.With more than 40 clinical researchers using STI, it was, of course, difficult to hear them all within two days. A generous sponsor, the AVL Company, Graz-Schaffhausen, made possible the International Conference at Graz. Publication of the proceedings of the Confer- ence became feasible with help from Boehringer-Mannheim.

This volume on scientific advances in critical care testing com­ piles a number of clinical and laboratory studies related to criti­ cally ill patients that involve new technology, therapy options, application or interpretation of new tests, patient management and cost benefits. There were a total of 340 applicants for this first International Federation of Clinical Chemistry-AVL Award, and from these, National Winners were selected in 26 member countries of the IFCC. This publication presents the full papers of the ten finalists among the National Winners selected for the international final held in London in July 1996. These ten were chosen by the Inter­ national Awards Committee of the IFCC. In addition, the editors have decided also to include their choice of the best abstracts from the National Winners, thus giving a broad overview of cur­ rent research being conducted in the field of critical care medi­ cine among IFCC members. In keeping with the title of this volume, all major fields of in­ tensive care medicine are represented, including inflammation, infection, stress, hypoxia, ischaemia, cardiology, haemodynamics, blood gases, electrolytes, trace -elements, nephrology, gastroenter­ ology and haematology. In addition, there is also a chapter on new technology in critical care testing and on miscellaneous top­ ics.

This volume on scientific advances in critical care testing com­ piles a number of clinical and laboratory studies related to criti­ cally ill patients that involve new technology, therapy options, application or interpretation of new tests, patient management and cost benefits. There were a total of 340 applicants for this first International Federation of Clinical Chemistry-AVL Award, and from these, National Winners were selected in 26 member countries of the IFCC. This publication presents the full papers of the ten finalists among the National Winners selected for the international final held in London in July 1996. These ten were chosen by the Inter­ national Awards Committee of the IFCC. In addition, the editors have decided also to include their choice of the best abstracts from the National Winners, thus giving a broad overview of cur­ rent research being conducted in the field of critical care medi­ cine among IFCC members. In keeping with the title of this volume, all major fields of in­ tensive care medicine are represented, including inflammation, infection, stress, hypoxia, ischaemia, cardiology, haemodynamics, blood gases, electrolytes, trace -elements, nephrology, gastroenter­ ology and haematology. In addition, there is also a chapter on new technology in critical care testing and on miscellaneous top­ ics.

Neben den Grundlagen des Monitorings in Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin werden die Mindesterfordernisse der Patientenüberwachung bei Operationen sowie die gesetzlichen Aspekte (jeweils für Deutschland, Österreich und die Schweiz) und die Qualitätskontrolle beschrieben. Den Hauptteil des Buches nimmt die systembezogene Überwachung ein: die verschiedenen Überwachungsmöglichkeiten bei Herz/Kreislauf, Atmung, Gehirn; des weiteren: spezifische Probleme wie Narkosetiefe, neuromuskuläres System und insbesondere das biochemische Monitoring. Der letzte Teil befaßt sich mit speziellen Bereichen (Regionalanästhesie, Neuroanästhesie) und Risikogruppen (Patienten mit koronarer Herzkrankheit, Kinder).

Lebensbedrohliche Situationen im Operationssaal und auf der Intensivstation können nur bei exakter Diagnostik entsprechend therapiert werden. Eine umfassende apparative Überwachung hat sich in der Sorge um den bewußtlosen bzw. schwerstkranken Patienten neben der kontinuierlichen klinischen Beurteilung durch die fünf Sinne des behandelnden Arztes als unbedingt notwendig erwiesen. Die Ausweitung des Monitorings unter Einschluß elektronischer Meßgrößen und "intelligenter" Verarbeitung hat es ermöglicht, die Grenzen der operativen Medizin und der Intensivmedizin zu erweitern. Zweck dieses Buches über ein umfassendes Monitoring im OP und auf der Intensivstation ist es, Überwachungsparameter und -techniken aus beiden Bereichen und die Prinzipien, Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Überwachung zu präsentieren.