[Quality indicators in intensive care medicine : Background and practical use]. / Qualitätsindikatoren in der Intensivmedizin : Hintergrund und praktischer Nutzen.

Quality indicators are used in medicine to indirectly reflect quality via key figures. Intensive care medicine, in particular, contains a large number of standard processes for which quality monitoring is a suitable solution. The indicators used in quality assurance have advantages and disadvantages. The evaluation of fundamental aspects of the use of indicators in intensive care medicine can be illustrated by means of different types of indicators. A comparison of different indicators-the intensive care quality indicators of the DIVI (Deutsche Interdisziplinäre Vereinigung für Intensiv- und Notfallmedizin [German interdisciplinary association for intensive care and emergency medicine]) and a selection of international indicators-shows possible benefits of indicators, but also their limits in applicability and meaningfulness. The comparison also takes into account the possible applicability for individual institutions. There is no gold standard for the development of quality indicators. Nevertheless, methodological progress has been made in this area in recent years. Since the use of indicators has so far been unable to demonstrate any scientifically verifiable benefit for patient outcome, this aspect will have to come into the focus regarding development and application in the future. In addition, topics for the development of key figures are mentioned, which above all must be oriented more strongly towards the long-term well-being of patients.

[Communication with relatives]. / Gesprächsführung mit Angehörigen.

BACKGROUND: Communication with relatives is a central part of the decision-making process. In the absence of the patient's direct consent to a potential organ donation, the next of kin must provide information about a potential wish to donate and give permission in the context of an extended consent solution. At the same time, family members must also cope with the death of a loved one. OBJECTIVE: To determine how relatives can be optimally supported during the decision-making process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Narrative review. RESULTS: In the context of potential or confirmed irreversible brain death, communication with family members or legal representatives serves to deliver bad news as well as to determine whether the patient had a wish to donate his/her organs and to clarify the resultant steps. Communication strategies such as the SPIKES or VALUE models provide emotional and cognitive support for relatives and strengthen clinicians' communication skills. Clinicians' behavior towards patients, deceased, and next of kin may influence relatives' decision-making; respectful and competent behavior seems to contribute towards relatives granting permission for organ donation. CONCLUSION: Clinicians must be trained and skilled in communication strategies which are used in critical situations to provide emotional support to relatives during the organ donation decision-making process. Relatives are more likely to achieve a satisfying and sustainable decision if a strong relationship exists between clinicians and relatives based on information giving, openness, trust, and empathy.

[Communicating with families in the ICU : Background and practical recommendations]. / Das Angehörigengespräch in der Intensivmedizin : Grundlagen und Empfehlungen für die Praxis.

Family members of adult intensive care patients are partners of the interdisciplinary team. Family members provide important contributions to patient-centered care in the intensive care unit (ICU) and beyond. At the same time, family members are stressed and are themselves in need of support ("family-centered care"). This is mainly provided through family conferences. Family members must always be treated respectfully and with consideration for their acute stress syndrome. A structured communication is recommended as well as written standard operating procedures (SOPs) or guidelines for the ICU team and brochures and written guidelines for relatives. Documentation of structured family conferences is an established quality indicator of intensive care.

A coding mutation within the first exon of the human MD-2 gene results in decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced signaling.

MD-2 is an accessory protein of the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, necessary for assembling a receptor complex to sense low quantities of lipopolysaccharide in order to subsequently trigger innate immune responses. MD-2 and TLR-4 are expressed on a variety of immunocompetent cells. Mutations within the TLR-4 gene have been shown to attenuate immune responses against lipopolysaccharide in mice. In humans, a TLR-4 polymorphism has been associated with a higher risk for developing severe Gram-negative sepsis and with a lower risk for atherosclerosis. Since MD-2 is an essential part of the lipopolysaccharide receptor complex, we screened 20 patients that underwent surgical cancer therapy for novel MD-2 mutations by a single-strand conformation polymorphism technique. In one patient we found an A --> G substitution at position 103, resulting in an amino-acid exchange from Thr 35 to Ala. Reporter gene assays revealed that this mutation resulted in a reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced signaling. The patient displayed an uneventful postoperative course, with the exception of slightly decreased TNF-alpha levels after in vitro stimulation with LPS as compared to wt patients. Genotyping of a further 41 patients by a newly developed Lightcycler/FRET method failed to detect any additional polymorphism carriers, indicating that this is a rare mutation.