Hypoxic, anemic and cardiac hypoxemia: When does tissue hypoxia begin? / Hypoxische, anämische und kardial bedingte Hypoxämie: Wann beginnt die Hypoxie im Gewebe?

In case of hypoxemia, the oxygen content is often still in the lower normal range, so that there is no hypoxia in the tissue. If the hypoxia-threshold is reached in the tissue in hypoxic, anemic and also cardiac-related hypoxemia, identical counterregulations occur in the cell metabolism, regardless of the cause of hypoxemia. In clinical practice, this pathophysiologic fact is sometimes ignored, although depending on the cause of hypoxemia, assessment and therapy vary widely. While restrictive and generally accepted rules are specified in the transfusion guidelines for anemic hypoxemia, in the case of hypoxic hypoxia, the indication for invasive ventilation is made very early. The clinical assessment and indication are limited to the parameters oxygen saturation, oxygen partial pressure and oxygenation index. During the corona pandemic, misinterpretations of pathophysiology have become evident and may have led to unnecessary intubations. However, there is no evidence for the treatment of hypoxic hypoxia with ventilation. This review addresses the pathophysiology of the different types of hypoxia focusing on the problems associated with intubation and ventilation in the intensive care unit.

[Evidence of positive care effects by digital health apps-methodological challenges and approaches]. / Nachweis positiver Versorgungseffekte von digitalen Gesundheitsanwendungen ­ methodische Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze.

Since 2020, digital health applications (DiGA) can be prescribed at the expense of the German statutory health insurance (SHI) system after undergoing an approval procedure by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). DiGA can be approved provisionally for 1 year (with the option of extension) or permanently. The latter is dependent on scientific evidence of a positive effect on care, which can be a medical benefit or a patient-relevant structural and procedural improvement in care. However, it is apparent that the investigation of DiGA in scientific studies is challenging, as they are often complex interventions whose success also includes user and prescriber factors. In addition, health services research data underpinning the benefits of DiGA are lacking to date. In the current article, methodological considerations for DiGA research are presented, and a selection of internal medicine DiGAs is used to critically discuss current research practice.

[Practical use of digital health applications (DiGA) in internal medicine]. / Praktische Anwendung digitaler Gesundheitsanwendungen (DiGA) in der Inneren Medizin.

Since 2020 physicians can prescribe digital health applications (DiGA), also colloquially known as apps on prescription, which are reimbursed by the statutory health insurance when they are approved by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and are included in the DiGA Ordinance. Currently, there is one approved DiGA (indication obesity) for internal medicine. There are many questions on the practical use of the DiGA, ranging from the prescription, the effectiveness, the complexities and reimbursement as well as the liability risks. The DiGA are innovative new means, which maybe support internal medicine physicians in the diagnostics and treatment in the future. The benefits in this field of indications are limited by unclarified issues, especially on the prescription practice and the currently low number of DiGA available in internal medicine.

Conservative management of COVID-19 associated hypoxaemia.

Treat hypoxia, not hypoxaemia https://bit.ly/3hwPLCL.

Conservative management of COVID-19 associated hypoxaemia.

This correspondence argues that happy hypoxaemic patients should not be intubated as long as they remain happy https://bit.ly/3csrpWO.

Conservative management of COVID-19 associated hypoxaemia.

BACKGROUND: Invasive mechanical ventilation of hypoxaemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is associated with mortality rates of >50%. We evaluated clinical outcome data of two hospitals that agreed on a predefined protocol for restrictive use of invasive ventilation where the decision to intubate was based on the clinical presentation and oxygen content rather than on the degree of hypoxaemia. METHOD: Data analysis was carried out of patients with positive PCR-testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), typical history, and symptoms and pulmonary infiltrates who exhibited oxygen saturation values of <93%. RESULTS: We identified 78 patients who met the inclusion criteria. The oxygen saturation nadir was 84.4±6.5% for the whole group. 53 patients (68%) received nasal oxygen (group 1), 17 patients (22%) were treated with nasal high-flow continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), noninvasive ventilation or a combination thereof (group 2), and eight patients (10%) were intubated (group 3). The Horovitz index was 216±8 for group 1, 157±13 for group 2 and 106±15 for group 3. Oxygen content was 14.5±2.5, 13.4±1.9 and 11.6±2.6 mL O2·dL-1 for the three respective groups. Overall mortality was 7.7%; the mortality of intubated patients was 50%. Overall, 93% of patients could be discharged on room air. CONCLUSION: Permissive hypoxaemia where decisions for the level of respiratory therapy were based on the clinical presentation and oxygen content resulted in low intubation rates, low overall mortality and a low number of patients who require oxygen after discharge.