"Ich wurde 1977 in Vorarlberg geboren. Nach meiner schulischen Ausbildung zog ich nach Wien, um hier die Studien der Humanmedizin und der Rechtswissenschaften zu absolvieren. Seit 2006 absolviere ich die Ausbildung zum Facharzt für Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin am Wiener AKH. Insbesonders während meiner Studienzeit habe ich als Notfallsanitäter beim Österreichischen Roten Kreuz (Landesverbände Wien und Vorarlberg) reichlich Erfahrung in der präklinischen Versorgung von schwer- und schwerstkranken und -verunfallten Personen sammeln dürfen. Viele dieser Erfahrungen stellen einen wesentlichen Ansporn für meine wissenschaftliche Tätigkeit dar. Schwerpunkte meiner wissenschaftlichen Tätigkeit sind unter anderem  `Perioperative Outcome Research` und `Atemwegsmanagement`.   

Ich wohne in Wien, bin verheiratet und habe zwei Kinder."

Ann Emerg Med. 2011 Jul;58(1):74-9. Epub 2011 Apr 2.

Accuracy of noninvasive multiwave pulse oximetry compared with carboxyhemoglobin from blood gas analysis in unselected emergency department patients.

Roth D, Herkner H, Schreiber W, Hubmann N, Gamper G, Laggner AN, Havel C.

Source

Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE:

Accurate and timely diagnosis of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is difficult because of nonspecific symptoms. Multiwave pulse oximetry might facilitate the screening for occult poisoning by noninvasive measurement of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), but its reliability is still unknown. We assess bias and precision of COHb oximetry compared with the criterion standard blood gas analysis.

METHODS:

This was a prospective diagnostic accuracy study according to STARD (Standards for the Reporting of Diagnostic accuracy studies) criteria, performed at a tertiary care hospital emergency department. We included all patients for whom both invasive and noninvasive measurement within 60 minutes was available, regardless of their complaints, during a 1-year period.

RESULTS:

One thousand five hundred seventy-eight subjects were studied, of whom 17 (1.1%) received a diagnosis of CO poisoning. In accordance with this limited patient cohort, we found a bias of 2.99% COHb (1.50% for smokers, 4.33% for nonsmokers) and a precision of 3.27% COHb (2.90% for smokers, 2.98% for nonsmokers), limits of agreement from -3.55% to 9.53% COHb (-4.30% to 7.30% for smokers, -1.63% to 10.29% for nonsmokers). Upper limit of normal cutoff of 6.6% COHb had the highest sensitivity in screening for CO poisoning. Smoking status and COHb level had the most influence on the deviation between measurements.

CONCLUSION:

Multiwave pulse oximetry was found to measure COHb with an acceptable bias and precision. These results suggest it can be used to screen large numbers of patients for occult CO poisoning.

Resuscitation. 2011 Aug;82(8):1060-3. Epub 2011 Apr 6.

Hands-off time during insertion of six airway devices during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a randomised manikin trial.

Ruetzler K, Gruber C, Nabecker S, Wohlfarth P, Priemayr A, Frass M, Kimberger O, Sessler DI, Roessler B.

Source

Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines recommend limiting interruptions of chest compressions because prolonged hands-off (i.e., non-compression) time compromises tissue perfusion. 2010 European Resuscitation Council guidelines suggest that chest compressions should be paused less than 10 s during airway device insertion.

METHODS:

With approval of the local ethics committee of the Medical University of Vienna and written informed consent, we recruited 40 voluntary emergency medical technicians, none of whom had advanced airway management experience. After a standardised audio-visual lecture and practical demonstration, technicians performed airway management with each six airway devices (endotracheal tube, Combitube, EasyTube, laryngeal tube, Laryngeal Mask Airway, and I-Gel) during on-going chest compressions in a randomised sequence on a Resusci Anne Advanced Simulator. Data were analysed using a mixed-effects model accounting for the repeated measurements and pair-wise comparisons among the airway devices.

RESULTS:

The hands-off time associated with airway management using an endotracheal tube (including all intubation attempts) was 48 s (95% confidence interval: 43-53). The hands-off time for airway management using a laryngeal tube was 8.4 (3.4-16.4) s, Combitube 10.0 (4.9-15.1) s, EasyTube 11.4 (6.4-16.4) s, LMA 13.3 (8.2-18.3) s and for I-Gel 15.9 (10.8-20.9) s. Hands-off time was significantly longer with the conventional endotracheal tube than with any of the other airway systems. Only a third of the technicians successfully inserted an endotracheal tube whereas all of them successfully positioned each supraglottic device.

CONCLUSION:

Supraglottic devices appear to be a reasonable emergency airway management strategy, even for inexperienced personnel.