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Objective: To evaluate LOS in developing a concept of borderline ICU LOS for a realistic reimbursement of intensive care., Design: Retrospective analysis of LOS and cost data extracted from patients' electronic records., Setting: Surgical ICU of the University Hospital Göttingen, Germany., Patients and Participants: All adult ICU admissions with LOS >24 h over a 24-month period (1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001; n=1631.), Interventions: None., Measurements and Results: Cluster analysis partitioned the ICU population into three homogeneous groups based on ICU LOS and total direct costs: cluster 1 (n=1405; mean LOS=2.8; mean cost= Euro 2399); cluster 2 (n=190; mean LOS=13.4; mean cost=Euro 12,754); cluster 3 (n=36; mean LOS=34.9; mean cost= Euro 34,173). Cost distribution between cluster 1 and clusters 2 and 3 combined was 48 vs 52%. Upper 95 percentile LOS of 6.7 allowed cluster 1 to be replaced by an LOS profile population of < or = 7 days population (n=1355; 96% population and 91% total ICU cost overlap with cluster 1) representing 83% of total ICU population and 44% of total ICU costs. Stratification of >7 day population into LOS less than or >20 days (n=220; n=56) were further differentiated by mortality (11 vs 23%) and sepsis incidence (33 vs 79%)., Conclusions: It may be feasible to formulate a LOS-based reimbursement scheme for ICU services in Germany based on the selection of (appropriate) patients' ICU LOS profiles.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of lung volume changes on end-expiratory lung impedance change (ELIC) in mechanically ventilated patients, since we hypothesized that ELIC may be a suitable parameter to monitor lung volume change at the bedside., Design: Clinical trial on patients requiring mechanical ventilation., Settings: Intensive care units of a university hospital., Patients: Ten mechanically ventilated patients were included in the study., Intervention: Patients were ventilated in volume-controlled mode with constant flow and respiratory rate. In order to induce changes in the end-expiratory lung volume (EELV), PEEP levels were increased from 0 mbar to 5 mbar, 10 mbar, and 15 mbar. At each PEEP level EELV was measured by an open-circuit nitrogen washout manoeuvre and ELIC was measured simultaneously using Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) with sixteen electrodes placed on the circumference of the thorax and connected with an EIT device. Cross-sectional electro-tomographic measurements of the thorax were performed at each PEEP level, and a modified Sheffield back-projection was used to reconstruct images of the lung impedance. ELIC was calculated as the average of the end-expiratory lung impedance change. RESULTS. Increasing PEEP stepwise from 0 mbar to 15 mbar resulted in an linear increase of EELV and ELIC according to the equation: y =0.98 x -0.68, r(2)=0.95., Conclusion: EIT is a simple bedside technique which enables monitor lung volume changes during ventilatory manoeuvres such as PEEP changes.

Objective: Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a ventilatory mode with a time cycled change between an upper (P(high)) and lower (P(low)) airway pressure level. APRV is unique because it allows unrestricted spontaneous breathing throughout the ventilatory cycle. We studied the influence of different release times (time of P(low)) on breathing pattern and gas exchange in patients during partial mechanical ventilation., Setting: Mixed intensive care unit in a university hospital., Patients: Twenty-eight patients were included in the study. Nine patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI), 7 patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 12 patients with nearly normal lung function, ventilated for non-respiratory reasons (postoperatively), were studied prior to extubation., Interventions: At constant pressure levels and a pre-set airway pressure release rate of 12/min, P(low) was diminished and P(high) was prolonged in four steps of 0.5 s. Each respiratory setting was studied for 20 min after a steady state period had been achieved., Measurements and Main Results: We measured gas exchange and respiratory mechanics. The different time intervals of P(high) and P(low) had only minor effects on the actual spontaneous inspiration and expiration times, but the proportion of spontaneous breathing on total ventilation increased when the duration of P(low) was decreased. Gas exchange was almost unaffected by the interventions despite a significant increase in mean airway pressure. However, when P(low) was set to only 0.5 s an increase in PaCO(2) occurred in patients with COPD and ALI, probably due to a decrease in mechanical ventilatory support., Conclusions: Airway pressure release ventilation is an open system which allows patients to maintain the "time control" over the respiratory cycle independent of the chosen duration for P(high) and P(low).

This article describes the structures and institutions in the European Union by which professional training and qualification in medical specialities will be harmonised. All main medical specialities are represented in the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) by speciality sections. For intensive care medicine, as a multidisciplinary speciality, a new structure of a Multidisciplinary Joint Committee of Intensive Care Medicine (MJCICM) within the UEMS was established in 1999. In this MJCICM the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care are represented by delegates without voting capacity in a Standing Advisory Board. Statements and recommendations which the MJCICM has worked out until now are presented: Definitions of intensive care medicine, structural conditions for education and training, continuing medical education, criteria for accreditation of intensive care medicine training centres, common core curriculum for optional specialist training in intensive care medicine, as well as an intensive care units accreditation visiting programme and standards for medical treatment and nursing care.

Objective: To determine the direct costs of severe sepsis patients in German intensive care units (ICUs)., Design: Retrospective electronic data analysis., Setting: Three adult intensive care units (surgical/medical) in three university hospitals in Germany., Patients: 385 patients identified by standard definitions as suffering from severe sepsis., Measurements and Results: A bottom-up approach was used to determine the direct ICU cost on actual resource use (medication, laboratory tests, microbiological analysis, disposables, and clinical procedures) for patients with severe sepsis. To determine the total direct costs, center-specific personnel and basic bed ("hotel") costs were added to total resources consumed. Average hospital mortality of severely septic patients was 42.6%. Mean ICU length of stay (LOS) was 16.6 days. Survivors stayed on average 4 days longer than nonsurvivors. The mean direct ICU costs of care were 23,297+/-18,631 euros per patient and 1,318 euros per day. In comparison, average daily charges being paid for an ICU patient by the health care system in Germany are 851 euros (based on official statistics). Nonsurvivors were more expensive than survivors in total direct costs (25,446 vs. 21,984 euros) and in per day direct cost (1,649 vs. 1,162 euros). Medication makes up the largest part of the direct costs, followed by expenses for personnel. CONCLUSIONS. Patients with severe sepsis have a high ICU mortality rate and long ICU LOS and are substantially expensive to treat. Nonsurviving septic patients are more costly than survivors despite shorter ICU LOS. This is due to higher medication costs indicating increased efforts to keep patients alive.

Objective: To define the different types of costs incurred in the care of critically ill patients and to describe some of the most commonly used methods for measuring and allocating these costs., Design: Literature review. Definitions for opportunity, direct and indirect, fixed, variable, marginal, and total costs are described and interpreted in the context of the critical care setting. Two main methods of costing are described: the 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' methods together with a number of cost proxies, such as the use of weighted hospital days, diagnosis-related groups, severity and activity scores, and effective costs per survivor., Conclusions: The assessment and allocation of costs to critically ill patients is complex and as a result of the different definitions and methods used, meaningful comparisons between studies are plagued with difficulty. When undertaking a study looking to measure costs, it is important to state: (a) the aim of the cost assessment study; (b) the perspective (point of view); (c) the type of costs that need to be measured; and (d) the time span of assessment. By being explicit about the rationale of the study and the methods used, it is hoped that the results of economic evaluations will be better understood, and hence implemented within the critical care setting.

Objectives: To examine the incidence of infections and to describe them and their outcome in intensive care unit (ICU) patients., Design and Setting: International prospective cohort study in which all patients admitted to the 28 participating units in eight countries between May 1997 and May 1998 were followed until hospital discharge., Patients: A total of 14,364 patients were admitted to the ICUs, 6011 of whom stayed less than 24 h and 8353 more than 24 h., Results: Overall 3034 infectious episodes were recorded at ICU admission (crude incidence: 21.1%). In ICU patients hospitalised longer than 24 h there were 1581 infectious episodes (crude incidence: 18.9%) including 713 (45%) in patients already infected at ICU admission. These rates varied between ICUs. Respiratory, digestive, urinary tracts, and primary bloodstream infections represented about 80% of all sites. Hospital-acquired and ICU-acquired infections were documented more frequently microbiologically than community-acquired infections (71% and 86%, respectively vs. 55%). About 28% of infections were associated with sepsis, 24% with severe sepsis and 30% with septic shock, and 18% were not classified. Crude hospital mortality rates ranged from 16.9% in non-infected patients to 53.6% in patients with hospital-acquired infections at the time of ICU admission and acquiring infection during the ICU stay., Conclusions: The crude incidence of ICU infections remains high, although the rate varies between ICUs and patient subsets, illustrating the added burden of nosocomial infections in the use of ICU resources.

Objective: Five commercially available oesophageal balloon catheters (OBCs) were tested to evaluate the accuracy in transmitting fast-changing pressure signals which can be observed, for example, during phrenic nerve stimulation., Setting: Research laboratory of a university hospital., Method: The OBCs tested varied in length (900-1390 mm) and inner diameter (0.9-1.5 mm) as well as in balloon material [latex or polyvinylchloride (PVC)]. A 180-cm tube served as a control. A sudden pressure drop was generated by the explosion of a pressurized latex balloon. The time between the pressure drop and 75, 50, 25 and 10% of the maximal pressure was measured., Results: The time intervals required to transduce a pressure drop of 90% varied between the different OBCs from 85 to 476 ms (control 32 ms). Transmission time was lower in OBCs with a larger inner diameter. Shortening the OBCs resulted in a further decrease in transmission time., Conclusion: The type of OBC used has an impact on signal processing. An OBCs with a short transmission time should be chosen, especially if fast pressure changes are to be evaluated such as during phrenic nerve stimulation.

Objective: To investigate the breathing pattern and the inspiratory work of breathing (WOB(I)) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assisted with proportional assist ventilation (PAV) and conventional pressure support ventilation (PSV)., Design: Prospective controlled study., Setting: Intensive care unit of a university hospital., Patients: Thirteen COPD patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation., Interventions: All patients were breathing PSV and two different levels of PAV., Measurements and Main Results: During PAV (EVITA 2 prototype, Dräger, Germany), the resistance of the endotracheal tube (R(et)) was completely compensated while the patients' resistive and elastic loads were compensated for by approximately 80 % and 50 % (PAV(80) and PAV(50)), respectively. PSV was adjusted to match the same mean inspiratory pressure (Pinsp(mean)) as during PAV(80). Airway pressure, esophageal pressure and gas flow were measured over a period of 5 min during each mode. Neuromuscular drive (P(0.1)) was determined by inspiratory occlusions. Mean tidal volume (V(T)) was not significantly different between the modes. However, the coefficient of variation of V(T) was 10 +/- 4.%, 20 +/- 13 % and 15 +/- 8 % during PSV, PAV(80) and PAV(50), respectively. Respiratory rate (RR) and minute ventilation (V(E)) were significantly lower during PAV(80) as compared with both other modes, but the differences did not exceed 10 %. PAV(80) and PSV had comparable effects on WOB(I) and P(0.1), whereas WOB(I) and P(0.1) increased during PAV(50) compared with both other modes., Conclusion: Mean values of breathing pattern did not differ by a large amount between the investigated modes. However, the higher variability of V(T) during PAV indicates an increased ability of the patients to control V(T) in response to alterations in respiratory demand. A reduction in assist during PAV(50) resulted in an increase in WOB and indices of patient effort.

Objective: To study a rewarming strategy for patients with severe accidental hypothermia using a simple veno-venous bypass in combination with a convective air warmer., Setting: Eighteen beds in a university hospital intensive care unit., Patients: Four adults admitted with a core temperature less than 30 degrees C. Hypothermia was caused by alcoholic intoxication in three patients and by drug overdose in one patient., Measurements and Main Results: All patients were rewarmed by a venovenous bypass and in three cases a convective air warmer was also used. At a bypass flow rate of 100-300 ml/min the mean increase in core temperature was 1.15 degrees C/h (Range: 1.1-1.2 degrees C/h). One patient died 2 days after rewarming as a consequence of a reactivated pancreatitis. The other three patients survived without neurological sequelae., Conclusion: This rewarming technique seems safe and effective and allowed the controlled rewarming of our patients who suffered from severe accidental hypothermia

Objective: Validation of an open-circuit multibreath nitrogen washout technique (MBNW) for measurement of functional residual capacity (FRC). The accuracy of FRC measurement with and without continuous viscosity correction of mass spectrometer delay time (TD) relative to gas flow signal and the influence of baseline FIO2 was investigated., Design: Laboratory study and measurements in mechanically ventilated patients., Setting: Experimental laboratory and anesthesiological intensive care unit of a university hospital., Patients: 16 postoperative patients with normal pulmonary function (NORM), 8 patients with acute lung injury (ALI) and 6 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were included., Interventions: Change of FIO2 from baseline to 1.0., Measurements and Main Results: FRC was determined by MBNW using continuous viscosity correction of TD(TDdyn), a constant TD based on the viscosity of a calibration gas mixture (TD0) and a constant TD referring to the mean viscosity between onset and end of MBNW (TDmean). Using TDdyn, the mean deviation between 15 measurements of three different lung model FRCs (FRCmeasured) and absolute volumes (FRCmodel) was 0.2%. For baseline FIO2 ranging from 0.21 to 0.8, the mean deviation between FRCmeasured and FRCmodel was -0.8%. However, depending on baseline FIO2, the calculation of FRC using TDmean and TD0 increased the mean deviation between FRCmeasured and FRCmodel to 2-4% and 8-12%, respectively. In patients (n = 30) the average repeatability coefficient was 6.0%. FRC determinations with TDmean and TD0 were 0.8-13.3% and 4.2-23.9% (median 2.7% and 8.7%) smaller than those calculated with TDdyn., Conclusion: A dynamic viscosity correction of TD improves the accuracy of FRC determinations by MBNW considerably, when gas concentrations are measured in a sidestream. If dynamic TD correction cannot be performed, the use of constant TDmean might be suitable. However, in patient measurements this can cause an FRC underestimation of up to 13%.

Objective: To describe current arrangements for postgraduate training and speciality status for intensive care medicine in Europe, and to compare these with three other geographical regions: the Middle East, North America, and Australia and New Zealand., Methods: An iterative survey, by questionnaire and direct discussion, of council members of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, national specialist societies with involvement in intensive care, and national experts, representing four geographical regions and 47 countries., Results: For the purposes of analysis, countries with common training structures have been grouped together; the denominator therefore includes both countries and regions. Formal training programmes in intensive care medicine (ICM) are available in 18 (85%) of the 21 countries or regions surveyed. Twelve (57%) offer multidisciplinary access to intensive care training with a common core curriculum. In six (28%) training in ICM is available solely through anaesthesia. The duration of intensive care training required for recognition as a specialist in the 18 countries or regions with a formal programme ranges from 18 to 30 months, with a median of 24 months. All countries assess competence in intensive care, but methods for doing so vary widely. Eighteen countries or regions offer specialist registration (accreditation) in ICM; in 12 this is provided as dual accreditation in a base speciality and in ICM., Conclusions: There is substantial support for multidisciplinary training in ICM, as demonstrated by collaborative interspeciality developments in many countries. We propose that these national developments should be strengthened within Europe by the recognition of 'supra-speciality' status for ICM by the European Commission, and by the establishment of a multidisciplinary Board for training in ICM, with international agreement on core competencies and duration of training programmes, and a common approach to the assessment of competence through formal examination.

Objective: The evaluation of incidences and relating factors of severe persisting critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) in survivors of multiple organ failure (MOF)., Design: Prospective study with an entry period of 24 months. Electrophysiological studies for the diagnosis of CIP were performed 1 or 2 days before the patients were discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). Factors which might have been related to the development of CIP were identified by a retrospective chart analysis., Setting: The interdisciplinary ICU of a university hospital., Patients: Thirty-three patients who survived MOF. Sixteen of these critically ill patients developed severe sepsis due to nosocomial infections with gram-negative bacteria., Results: In seven survivors of MOF and sepsis typical electrophysiological features of CIP, like spontaneous fibrillations and low compound muscle action potentials, were detectable at the time of discharge from the ICU. Seventeen patients with MOF following multiple trauma who developed no sepsis, and nine survivors of MOF with sepsis showed no signs of persisting CIP at the end of their ICU stay. Chart analysis revealed that eight survivors of MOF with sepsis and without the development of CIP had been treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with a dosage of 0.3 g/kg per day for 3 days immediately (within 24 h) after the diagnosis of sepsis. Four out of seven patients with MOF and sepsis who developed CIP were transferred to our ICU after the onset of sepsis and had not received IVIG treatment. The IVIG treatment in three patients was delayed for more than 24 h after the diagnosis of sepsis and was then omitted. Obviously not related to the development of CIP were aminoglycoside antibiotics, steroids, nutritional disturbances and episodes of hypotension or hypoxia. Neuromuscular blocking agents were not used during intensive care treatment., Conclusions: A high incidence of severe CIP persisting until the day of discharge from the ICU was related to gram-negative sepsis but not to MOF alone. Retrospective chart analysis suggested that early application of IVIG may prevent or mitigate this severe complication. However, these results have to be confirmed in a prospective, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: Evaluation of low-level PEEP (5 cm H2O) and the two different CPAP trigger modes in the Bennett 7200a ventilator (demand-valve and flow-by trigger modes) on inspiratory work of breathing (Wi) during the weaning phase., Design: Prospective controlled study., Setting: The intensive care unit of a university hospital., Patients: Six intubated patients with normal lung function (NL), ventilated because of non-pulmonary trauma or post-operative stay in the ICU, and six patients recovering from acute respiratory failure due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), breathing either FB-CPAP or DV-CPAP with the Bennett 7200a ventilator., Interventions: The patients studied were breathing with zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP), as well as CPAP of 5 cm H2O (PEEP), with the following respiratory modes: the demand-valve trigger mode, pressure support of 5 cm H2O, and the flow-by trigger mode (base flow of 20 l/min and flow trigger of 2 l/min). Furthermore, Wi during T-piece breathing was evaluated., Measurements and Results: Wi was determined using a modified Campbell's diagram. Total inspiratory work (Wi), work against flow-resistive resistance (W(ires)), work against elastic resistance (Wiel), work imposed by the ventilator system (W(imp)), dynamic intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPidyn), airway pressure decrease during beginning inspiration (P(aw)) and spirometric parameters were measured. In the NL group, only minor, clinically irrelevant changes in the measured variables were detected. In the COPD group, in contrast, PEEP reduced Wi and its components W(ires) and Wiel significantly compared to the corresponding ZEEP settings. This was due mainly to a significant decrease in PEEPidyn when external PEEP was applied. Flow-by imposed less Wi on the COPD patients during PEEP than did demand-valve CPAP. Differences in W(imp) between the flow-by and demand-valve trigger models were significant for both groups. However, in relation to Wi these differences were small., Conclusion: We conclude that the application of low-level external PEEP benefits COPD patients because it reduces inspiratory work, mainly by lowering the inspiratory threshold represented by PEEPidyn. Differences between the trigger modes of the ventilator used in this study were small and can be compensated for by the application of a small amount of pressure support.

In severe status asthmaticus basic medical treatment often fails to improve the patient's condition. Mechanical ventilation in this situation is associated with a high incidence of serious complications. After the bronchodilating effect of moderate-dose magnesium sulfate in asthmatic patients had been demonstrated in previous studies we treated five mechanically ventilated patients with refractory status asthmaticus successfully with high dosages of MgSO4 IV (10-20 g within 1 h depending on the bronchodilating effect). MgSO4 resulted in a significant decrease of peak airway pressure (43.0 +/- 6.8 to 32.0 +/- 8.0 cmH2O) and inspiratory flow resistance (22.7 +/- 7.0 to 11.9 +/- 6.0 cmH2O.l-1.s-1) within 1 h. The resulting serum magnesium levels after one hour were up to threefold of the normal serum levels. Although a maintainance dose of 0.4 g/h had been administered continuously during the following 24 h serum magnesium decreased towards normal values within this time. The only relevant side-effect was a mild to moderate arterial hypotension in two of the five patients during the high dose administration period of MgSO4 which responded readily to dopamine treatment.

Objective: Evaluation of new computer-controlled occlusion procedure for determination of intrinsic PEEP in mechanically ventilated patients and comparison with the standard end-expiratory occlusion method., Design: Prospective controlled study., Setting: Intensive care unit of a university hospital., Patients: 16 patients with acute respiratory failure of different degree and etiology. All patients were mechanically ventilated, heavily sedated and muscle paralyzed (non-depolarising relaxants). The type of ventilator, the inspiration/expiration ratio, FIO2 and PEEP were selected by the attending clinicians according to the patients' need and independently from the study., Interventions: Static compliance of the respiratory system (Cstat) was determined at varying external end-expiratory pressure settings: ZEEP (= ambient pressure), PEEP of 5 cmH2O and 10 cmH2O. All other ventilator settings were kept constant during the entire procedure., Measurements and Results: A computer-controlled occlusion method (SCASS) was used for determination of Cstat. Intrinsic PEEP was determined by SCASS as the extrapolated zero-volume intercept of the regression line of multiple pressure/volume data pairs (PEEPSCASSinspir and PEEPSCASSexpir). Directly thereafter intrinsic PEEP in this particular ventilatory setting was determined by end-expiratory occlusions (PEPPEEO). The intrinsic PEEP values of the different methods were nearly identical with a significant correlation (p < 0.0001). Mean values +/- SD: PEEPSCASSinspir 7.1 +/- 4.3 cmH2O; PEEPSCASSexpir 7.1 +/- 4.5 cmH2O; PEEPEEO 7.1 +/- 4.2 cmH2O., Conclusion: Since no significant difference between PEEPi values measured by the inspiratory and expiratory occlusion method (SCASS) was seen, this indicates that no alveolar recruitment occurred during the respiratory cycle. This study demonstrates that the automated occlusion method for measuring Cstat system can also be used with high accuracy for determination of intrinsic PEEP in mechanically ventilated patients.

Objective: Measurement of hydrogen peroxide concentrations in breath condensate of mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS and with risk factors for developing ARDS., Design: Open study in intensive care patients., Setting: Intensive care units of the Clinics of the University of Göttingen, a primary care center., Patients: 10 post-operatively ventilated patients as a control group and 26 patients with acute respiratory failure, 7 of them with ARDS, 12 with polytrauma, 4 with pneumonia, 3 with cardiogenic or nephrogenic pulmonary edema., Interventions: None., Measurements: Breath condensate was collected by a special cold trap and was analysed for H2O2 by a chemiluminescence method. Daily measurements were performed for 4.2 +/- 2.6 days (mean +/- SD) as soon as possible after manifestation of respiratory failure., Results: Patients with acute respiratory failure exhibited higher H2O2 concentrations than control patients (median 95 nmol/l, range 76-144 nmol/l), with the highest median value found in the ARDS group (552 nmol/l, range 154-893). After clinical improvement, H2O2 concentrations decreased to the range of the control group., Conclusion: Since high concentrations of H2O2 in breath condensate were only found in patients with ARDS or with risk factors for ARDS, the results add to the existing evidence that reactive oxygen species are associated with some acute lung diseases.

A new method for determination the static compliance of the respiratory system is described ("static compliance by automated single steps"--SCASS). In 12 ventilated patients pressure/volume (P/V) curves were determined by automated repetitive occlusion (6 s) at single volume steps and compared to the conventional syringe method (SM). All measurements were corrected for effects of temperature, humidity and pressure (THP). SM was found to be significantly influenced by intrapulmonary gas exchange causing an effective mean volume deficit of 217.4 +/- 65.7 ml (BTPS) at the end of the deflation. In contrast to that, the short duration of occlusion in SCASS minimize the gas exchange effects. The methodical differences between both methods result in overestimation of the inflation compliance in the uncorrected SM (SMuncorr: 83.4 +/- 12.6; SCASS: 76.0 +/- 11.9 ml/cmH2O. p less than 0.01) and underestimation of the deflation compliance resp. (SMuncorr: 58.3 +/- 7.5; SCASS: 79.1 +/- 15.0 ml/cmH2O. p less than 0.005). In contrast to the P/V curves by SM no significant hysteresis was found by SCASS. Gas exchange seems to be the main reason for the hysteresis. Even after correcting gas exchange and THP effects a significant hysteresis remained. The SCASS method avoids these problems and allows furthermore an accurate checking of leaks.

It is demonstrated in five exemplary cases that a neuralgic amyotrophy with particular involvement of the long thoracic nerve was the cause of a postoperative serratus paresis. In any case liability claims, it is essential for an expert's opinion on postoperative serratus paresis to differentiate this pathology from intraoperative injuries caused by pressure. Above all the interval between operation and the first manifestation of symptoms, as well as the development of distinct pain count against an intraoperative plexus lesion.