The anesthetist-computer interface tends to be a problem for the utilization of computer systems for anesthesia. Ergonomic interface design with an emphasis on the coherency of the interface's static and dynamic structure may improve this situation. To investigate this proposition we developed an Anesthesia Information System (AIS) with a touch-sensitive monitor as the hardware-user interface. Basic data input and system control techniques were defined and implemented. Record keeping is integrated into the user interface. Ventilator control from the same interface is an additional feature for laboratory simulations. The system is being evaluated using a technique that simulates live operations. References Anthony J (1982) BAS - A major change coming in delivery. IEEE EMB 1 (1): 36-42 Apple HP, Schneider AJL, Fadel J (1982) Design and evaluation of a semiautomatic anesthesia record system. Med lnstrum 16 (1): 69-71 Arnell WJ, Schultz DG (1983) Computers in anesthesiology - a look ahead. Med Instrum 17 (6): 393-395 Bender HJ, Osswald PM, Hartung HJ, Lutz H (1983) On line - Erfassung haemodynamischer und respiratorischer GraBen in der Anaesthesie. Anaesth Intensivther Notfallmed 18: 37-40 Cooper JB et al. (1982) A graphics-tablet for data entry in computer assisted recordkeeping Proc.

The hemodynamic significance of the flow properties of blood was put into perspective only during the past decade. Advances in modern technologies today allow the quantitative analy- sis of the fluidity of blood and its components under conditions approximating the flow in vivo, particularly those in the microcirculation. The hematocrit is the most important of the determinants of blood fluidity (reciprocal value of blood viscosity); acute increases in the hematocrit exert deleterious effects on circulation and oxygen transport owing to impaired fluidity of blood. High viscosity of plasma due to hyper- or dysproteinemias initiates the microcirculatory dysfunctions in hyperviscosity syndromes. Furthermore, the fluidity or deformability of red cells might be critically diminished and therefore cause redistribution of blood elements and adversely affect the resistance to flow within the microvessels. In low- flow states blood fluidity most likely becomes the key determinant for microvessel perfu- sion, overriding the neural and local metabolic control mechanisms operative at physiological conditions to adjust blood supply to tissue demand. Microcirculatory disturbances are there- fore encountered whenever driving pressures are reduced, as in shock or hypotension, and distal to stenoses of macrovessels, but also in hemoconcentration due to plasma volume con- traction, polycythemia, leukemia, and dysproteinemia. Based on experimental studies exploring the possibilities and limitations, with regard to improving the fluidity of blood by reducing the hematocrit, the concept of intentional hemo- dilution has been introduced to clinical medicine.

The significance of a change in Pa02 occuring in a patient with cardiovascular instability cannot be ascertained unless the values for PV0 and CV02 are known. A fall in Pa02 could 2 reflect worsening of pulmonary function or deterioration of cardiac output (with resultant increase in systemic oxygen extraction). PEEP/CPAP would be an appropriate therapy in the former case but frankly deleterious in the latter if applied prior to cardiovascular stabiliza- tion. References 1. Douglas ME, Downs JB, Dannemiller FJ et al (1976) Change in pulmonary venous admixture with varying inspired oxygen. Anesthesia and Analgesia 55:688-695 2. Kelman GR, Nunn JF, Prys-Roberts C et al (1967) The influence of cardiac output on arterial oxygena- tion. A theoretical study. Br J Anaesth 39:450-458 3. Kirby RR (1986) Respiratory vs cardiovascular dysfunction - How can we differentiate? ASA Refresher Course Lectures, 102 4. Nunn JF (1977) Applied respiratory physiology (2nd ed). Butterworth et Co 5. Van Aken H, Lawin P (1981) Der EinfluB des Herzminutenvolumens auf die arterielle Oxygenation.

113 This system of monitoring might be improved further if all cases in this category were investigated jointly by a forensic pathologist and an anaesthesiologist at the very outset of the investigation and during the actual autopsy. Free Papers The Influence of Pancuronium on Primary Conjugated Bile Acids A. Fassoulaki, T. Mihas, A. Mihas and P. Kaniaris Experimental studies have been reported in which a prolonged action of steroid neuro- muscular blocking agents followed bile acids administration(1, 2). A prolonged neuro- muscular action of pancuronium has also been detected in patients with biliary obstruc- tion(3). In the present study serum bile acids and intracellular liver enzymes were estimated after anaesthesia in which pancuronium was used as a muscle relaxant (Fig. 1). An at- tempt is made to investigate the effect of pancuronium on bile acid levels. Material and Methods Twelve female patients aged between 40 and 50 years were studied. All of them were visited in the ward the night before the operation by the anaesthesiologist where their clinical condition was assessed and their consent was obtained to participate in the pre- sent study. None of them had a history of hepatic disease or was taking drugs. The oper- ation performed in all cases was modified radical mastectomy and intracellular liver en- zymes are routinely determined in these patients preoperatively. The twelve patients were reassured and stated that they did not want to have any tranquillizer for premedi- cation.

Mehr als 40.000 Behandlungsfehler werden Medizinern jedes Jahr vorgeworfen - Tendenz steigend. Die Auswirkungen koennen gravierend sein. Umso wichtiger sind detaillierte Kenntnisse uber das richtige Vorgehen nach einem Vorfall. Das Werk zeigt anhand von Fallbeispielen aus der Praxis, wie AErzte sich im Schadensfall richtig verhalten. Erlautert werden u. a. der Umgang mit Angehoerigen, die aussergerichtliche Einigung, die zivil-und strafrechtliche Auseinandersetzung vor den Gerichten sowie die Rolle von Versicherungen, AErztekammern und Krankenhausern.

The recent development of the use of spinal opiates as a rational therapy for pain rests on clear and certain experimental data. We have long known the spinal cord to be a highly complex structure. Anatomical studies of the substantia gelatinosa have repeatedly demonstrated signs of massive synaptic interaction between primary afferents, descending pathways and intrinsic neurons. Yet, to date that knowledge, insofar as clinical therapy is concerned, has permitted us only to destroy certain connections within the spinal cord in the hopes that the substrate mediating pain could be anatomically differentiated from those which mediate other function. Though cordotomies are clearly effective under certain circumstances, they suffer from the fact the spinal cord is not organized in such an anatomically discrete fashion as is often times drawn in basic medical text. Rather, functions intertwine exquisitely and specific physical interventions are no more likely to produce a specific effect than smashing of the fmgertip with a hammer will produce just a loss of the fingernail. The development of specific therapies of the spinal cord has come about by our growing aware ness of the intricate organization of the pharmacological substrates associated with specific neural function."

W.F. List Unter einer praoperativen Ambulanz soll eine Organisationsform verstanden werden, die eine fruhzeitige praoperative Befunderhebung zur Feststellung der Anasthesiefahigkeit und des Anasthesierisikos durch Anasthesiologen ermoglicht. Chirurgische Patienten mit elektiven Eingriffen sollen entweder noch vor ihrer Spitalsaufnahme oder aber unmittelbar nachher in einer derartigen Ambulanz gesehen werden. Die Untersuchungen werden in eigenen Raum- lichkeiten der Anasthesieabteilung bzw. des Anasthesieinstitutes oder der Anasthesieklinik durchgefuhrt. Dadurch ist die Gewahr gegeben, dass der Anasthesiologe schon fruhzeitig mit dem chirurgischen Patienten in Kontakt kommt und alle notwendigen Befunde zur Feststel- lung der Anasthesiefahigkeit (Narkosetauglichkeit) und des Anasthesierisikos erheben kann. Zwischen 25 und 40 % unserer Patienten zeigen neben der chirurgischen Erkrankung noch medizinische Befunde, die beachtet werden mussen (Kyei Mensah et al. 1974). Das operative Risiko und die Operationsletalitat wird durch medizinische Begleiterkrankungen deutlich er- hoht (Goldman et al. 1977). Bisher war es doch so - jedenfalls in meiner Institution - dass praoperative Befunde vom chirurgischen Patienten selbst in mehreren Ambulanzen und Labors zusammengetragen werden mussten. Dann wurde sehr oft vom Chirurgen ein Internist angefordert, der die Ope- rationstauglichkeit meist bei "schonender Narkose" feststellt. Der Anasthesiologe sah die Pa- tienten erst am Vorabend der Operation. Eine oft sehr lange Liste von Patienten musste in kur- zester Zeit beurteilt und pramediziert werden. Nicht selten musste die Anasthesiefahigkeit auch noch mit unzureichenden Befunden abgeklart werden. Ein Absetzen der Operation fuhrte zu Schwierigkeiten mit dem Patienten, mit dem Operationsprogramm und dem Chirurgen.

bei cardio-chirurgischen EingrifIen U. Brenken, G. Karliczek und H. Oldenziel Einleitung 1 2 Seit einigen Jahren werden an unserer Klinik Etomidate und Piritramid aufgrund der gUn* stigen Mitteilungen in der Literatur [3-9, 12, 13, 15, 17] routinemae,ig zur Narkoseeinlei- tung fill Koronar- und Klappenersatzoperationen eingesetzt. In dieser Untersuchung sollte gezeigt werden, inwieweit auch bei schwerstkranken Herzpatienten Narkosen ohne wesent- liche Veriinderungen der Haemodynamik eingeleitet werden konnen. Entsprechende Unter- suchungen haben sich bisher auf den Vorgang der Schlafinduktion beschrankt. In Wirklich- keit umfae,t die Narkoseeinleitung Muskelerschlaffung, endotracheale Intubation und den Ubergang zur kontrollierten Beatmung mit meist Lachgas-Sauerstoff. Diesen Sachverhalt ha- ben wir in unserer Untersuchung mitberiicksichtigt Methoden Die Messungen erfolgten an 12 Patienten mit ernster Koronarsklerose und an 12 weiteren Patienten mit Herzklappenfehlern im klinischen Stadium III, III bis IV und IV der NYHA- Klassifikation. Die verwendeten Mee,methoden wurden an anderer Stelle eingehend be- schrieben [10]. Praemedikation: 10-15 mg Valium, kein Atropin. Unter Lokalanaesthesie wurde ein 7-F-Swan-Ganz-Katheter (KMA) eingebracht. Nach Messung der Basiswerte: Herzfrequenz, arterieller Blutdruck (Riva-Rocci), zentralvenoser Druck, Pulmonalarteriendmck und Cardiac Output (Thermodilution) wurde die Anaesthesie durch langsame Injektion von Etomidate 0,2-0,3 mg/kg in 30 Sekunden und Piritramid 0,3-0,5 mg/kg eingeleitet. Bis zur Intuba- tion unter Pancuroniumbromid (pavulon) 0,1 mg/kg in der 5. Minute wurden die Patienten tiber eine Maske mit 100% Sauerstoff beatmet. Nach der Intubation erfolgte die Beatmung mit dem Servo-Ventilator mit einem Lachgas/Sauerstoffgemisch (Fi0 = 0,5). Es wurde eine 2 endexpiratorische CO -Konzentration von 5% angestrebt.

In clinical anaesthesiology the inhalation anaesthetics halothane (fluothane), enflurane and - in recent times - forane got a renaissance in clinical application. The reasons are not only the ad vantages of volatile anaesthetics, but also the fact that the investi gations of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of Lv. narcot ics showed negative aspects. It was the aim of the organizers of the symposium to give a survey of the present state of knowledge on inhalation anaesthetics, which is as up-to-date, critical as well as detailed as possible. Furthermore it was the intention to evaluate the recent advances made in the field of basic research. The first section of the symposium in particular enters into the question of the toxicity of volatile anaesthetics as well as their mechanisms of action. In a second main part the influences on cardiovascular system and on microcirculation are discussed. Apart from the extensive discussion of the advances in knowledge in the field of cardiovascular pathophysiology, the focal point of the contribut ions is made up of those with anaesthesia in coronary heart disease and cardiac insufficieny as well as the contribution on interactions of inhalation anaesthetics with cardiovascular drugs. In the third and fourth section the influences of volatile anaesthetics on cerebral, hepatic, renal and pulmonary function are dealt with as well as questions concerning the clinical application. Particular attention is given to the important problems of indicat ion in patients belonging to the extreme age groups."

The VIth World Congress of Anaesthesiology, held in Mexico City in 1976, offered several European participants the opportunity of discovering their community of views. The idea was then launched of establishing a forum for regular exchanges among academic anaesthetists from Europe. After many preliminary discussions, some thirty delegates or observers from the Societies of Anaes thesia of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, German Federal Re public, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia met in Paris on 12 March 1977. They agreed to found a European Academy of Anaesthesiology. After a second meeting in Dublin, the Academy was officially created by a general assembly in Paris on 5 Septem ber 1978. Election of members took place for the first time on that date. Since then, the Academy has been functioning regular ly. Its membership presently stands at 180 from 26 European countries. Associate members will be elected for the first time this year. The total number of full members is limited by the statutes to five hundred. The Academy also has two other categories of members: hon orary and patrons. Five honorary members have so far been elec ted: Mrs. N. du Bouchet (France), Mr. H. Killian (German Federal Republic), Sir Robert Macintosh, Prof. W. W. Mushin (United King dom) and Dr. E. M. Papper (United States)."

Dieser Band ist die Fortsetzung von Beitragen internationaler Ex perten zur Physiologie und Pathophysiologie der ruckenmarksna hen Leitungsanaesthesien. Nachdem 1978 die Wirkung der Epiduralanaesthesie auf Kreis lauf und Atmung sowie auf die Stressreaktionen bei Operationen behandelt wurde, werden jetzt die Pharmakokinetik der Lokal anaesthetika, der Interaktion der Lokalanaesthetika mit Medika menten, die zusatzlich bei Regionalanaesthesien verabreicht werden und das Thromboembolierisiko bei Epiduralanaesthesie im Ver gleich zur Allgemeinnarkose angesprochen. Dabei wird insbesondere die klinisch wichtige Frage bespro chen, ob ruckenmarksnahe Leitungsanaesthesien bei Low-Dose Heparinisierung der Patienten durchgefiihrt werden durfen. AuEerdem wird der gegenwartige Stand der peripheren und ruckenmarksnahen Leitungsanaesthesien, vor aHem in den USA, aufgezeigt und mogliche neue Entwicklungen diskutiert. Diese Zusammenstellung soH dem Leser nicht das Lehrbuch ersetzen, sondern ihm einen raschen und umfassenden Dberblick uber den neuesten Stand der Entwicklung ermoglichen. Den Erfolg dieses Symposiums danken wir wiederum den in formativen und interessanten Beitragen der Referenten und Dis kussionsteilnehmer, sowie der groEzugigen Unterstutzung durch die Firma Astra Chemicals, Wedel/Holstein. Dusseldorf, im Oktober 1981 H.J. Wlist M. Zindler Inhaltsverzeichnis I. Pharmakokinetik der Lokalaniisthetika Vorsitz: B.G. Covino, Boston, USA und U. Borchard, DUsseldorf H. Stoeckel und P.M. Lauven Grundlagen der Pharmakokinetik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Diskussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 11 . . . . . . B.G. Covino Pharmacokinetics of Local Anesthetics 12 Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 20 . . . . . . R. Dennhardt Pharmakokinetik und Metabolismus von Bupivacain ...... 21 Diskussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 30 . . . . . . L. Wiklund und A. Berlin-Wahlen The Influence of Liver Circulation of the Pharmacokinetics of Local Anaesthetics ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 32 . . . . Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 41 . . . . . ."

The advances in the field of anaesthesiology and reanimation have contributed in all developed countries to the decrease in deaths occurring on the operating table (exitus in tabula), from the ratio 1: 100 (in the nineteenth century) down to approximately 1: 1000 (in the first half of the twentieth century) and finally to approxi mately 1: 10 000 (nowadays). Numerous human lives were saved not only through the intro duction of new medicine and methods but even more so by better training for the doctors and nurses who apply these new techni ques. I am happy about the splendid initiative of my student and friend Georg Kamm, which has now made these advances acces sible to the developing countries. He knows very well how to make his colleagues understand the theory and the practical side of modern anaesthesiology, under the most difficult conditions and in a completely different world, to such an extent that to day in his country all of his patients are given the benefit of the advances of medicine. There is nothing more rewarding for an academic teacher than to see how his students continue developing his ideas and spread them far and wide. I am therefore happy and proud to write this foreword for Georg Kamm, one of the pioneers of anaesthesiology in Africa."

Die Behandlung der aktuten respiratorischen Insuffizienz steht hiiufig im Mittelpunkt therapeutischer Bemiihungen warnend der postoperativen Phase sowie in der Intensivmedizin. Entsprechend lag und liegt das wissenschaftliche Hauptinteresse zahlreicher Arbeitsgruppen verschiedenster medizinischer Fachrichtunge- von der Physiologie liber die Pathologie, Rontgenologie, Chirurgie, Innere Medizin bis hin zur Aniisthesiologie und Intensivmedizi- im Bemiihen, den Pathomechanismus der akuten respiratorischen Insuffizienz aufzukliiren und hieraus therapeutische Konsequenzen zu entwickeln. Das vorliegende Heft beinhaltet Vortriige, die auf einem inter- nationalen Symposium, veranstaltet yom Institut flir Aniisthesiolo- gie der Universitiit MUnchen, gehalten worden sind. Die themati- sche Palette reicht von der Darstellung der normalen Lungenfunk- tion bis hin zur Diskussion detaillierter Fragen der Beeinflussung von PEEP auf die Hamodynamik. Es wird die pathologische Anato- mie der akuten respiratorischen Insuffizienz dargestellt, das rontge- nologische Substrat bei dieser Erkrankung diskutiert und die ver- schiedensten therapeutischen Verfahren werden angesprochen. Von besonderem Interesse wird flir Experten die Diskussion der Frage nach der Bedeutung des !lerzens, insbesondere des rechten Ven- trikels unter den Bedingungen der respiratorischen Insuffizienz sein. Es ist das liel der Zusammenstellung der verschiedenen Sympo- siumsbeitrlige, fdr Studenten wie auch fUr Arzte, die an Fragen der Intensivmedizin interessiert sind, eine lesenswerte Arbeitsgrundlage zu schaffen. Mein Dank gilt deshalb den Autoren sowie dem Springer-Verlag.

This book has a twofold purpose, first to provide information for beginners about the pitalls and hazards of anaesthesia and second to help the occasional anaesthetist in remote areas when confronted with requests to anaesthetise for unfamiliar surgical operations. The book is not intended to replace any standard text for anaesthetic examinations, and indeed, its lack of information about basic sciences makes it unsuitable for such a purpose. The contents can be regarded as a distillate of 45 years of practical anaesthesia, in both primitive and sophisticated conditions, from the ether and chloroform rag and bottle days onwards through cyclopropane, trichloroethylene, relaxants and lytic cocktails to halothane. The only operation mentioned of which I have no practical experience is thymectomy and removal of an argentaffinoma. I have never knowingly encountered malignant hyperpyrexia, but had one experience of what we called ether convulsions with hyperpyrexia, which could have been, and probably was, the same thing. An attempt has been made to arrange the book in four logical sections. It begins with the hazards of preparation-assessment of risks to patients particularly, but Part I also includes chapters on medicolegal and occupational hazards to anaesthetists.

The development of accurate hormonal assays in recent years has evoked much interest in the area of anaesthesia and surgery. In an effort to allow an exchange of ideas and new information in this area, the First International Symposium on Endocrinology in Anaesthesia and Surgery was held in Bonn during September 1978. The contents of this book represent much of the information presented by the leading authorities in this field. The presentations were grouped in three areas: 1. Basic problems of endocrinology in anaesthesia and surgery; 2. The response of the endocrine system to anaesthesia and surgery; 3. Hormone and anaesthetic management of endocrine disease. As with any multi-authored text, there is both repetition and diversity but hopefully the reader will be able to obtain much of the useful information. As Editors, we wish to express our deep appreciation to Profes sor R. Frey and Springer-Verlag for including this book in the series on "Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine." H. Stoeckel T. Oyama Table of Contents I. Basic Problems of Endocrinology in Anaesthesia and Surgery H. Breuer Basic Principles Regulating the Endocrine System . . . . . . . .. 3 G. Wesemann and E. Grote Pathophysiology of Intra- and Postoperative Stress .. . . . . .. 10 M. Trede Surgical Treatment of Endocrine Disorders .. . . . . . . . . . .. 24 T. Oyama Influence of Anaesthesia on the Endocrine System ... . . . .. 39 L. Nocke-Finck Radioimmunological Determination of Hormones."

This volume contains the results of the 7th International Symposium on Acute Care, held in Rio de Janeiro from 21st to 24th November 1977. I would like to thank all the participants for their wonderful cooperation which made this Symposium a real success. I am especially grateful to the excellent speakers from all special ist fields and from all nations: I assure you, we all learned a great deal I would also like to thank the members of the organizing and scientific committees whose combined efforts ensured the smooth running of the Symposium, a meeting with a high-level discussion of scientific and philosophic problems as its goal. But first and foremost, we should like to express profound gratitude to the man whose idea it was to hold an annual conference in Rio: Dr. Brenildo Tavares, the Director of the Rio Symposia on Acute Care. He is one of the great pioneers of intensive, critical, acute, and emergency care, not only in.south America, but allover the world. The secret of the success of his symposia lies in his interdisciplinary and international approach. The symposia have brought together a great number of people who have since become close friends and continue to meet throughout the world. We all congratulate and thank him and wish him much success in the future."

Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. "OK" as a word accepts proposals, describes the world as satisfactory (but not good), provides conversational momentum, or even agrees (or disagrees). OK as an object, however, tells a story of how technology writes itself into language, permanently altering communication. OK is a young word, less than 200 years old. It began as an acronym for "all correct" when the steam-powered printing press pushed newspapers into the mainstream. Today it is spoken and written by nearly everyone in the world. Drawing on linguistics, history, and new media studies, Michelle McSweeney traces OK from its birth in the Penny Presses through telephone lines, grammar books, and television signals into the digital age. Nearly ubiquitous and often overlooked, OK illustrates the never-ending dance between language, technology, and culture, and offers lessons for our own techno-historical moment. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a valuable diagnostic modality now routinely used during cardiac surgery and in the intensive care unit. Increasingly, anesthesiologists, cardiologists and critical care physicians trained in TEE provide the service in both settings where they face the challenge of integrating numerous current TEE guidelines into day-to-day practice. Perioperative Two-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography: A Practical Handbook, 2nd Edition has been designed to be a concise, portable guide for using TEE to recognize cardiac pathology during the perioperative period. This compact guide has a diverse appeal for anesthesiologists, cardiac surgeons and cardiologists desiring comprehensive up-to-date echocardiographic information at their fingertips. Features Updated to include 4 new chapters Now contains more than 600 full-color, high quality clinical images and illustrations Includes the most recent guidelines Retains a compact format that highlights key information Synopsis of cardiac pathology commonly encountered in cardiac surgery patients On-the-spot reference for echocardiographers with a wide range from novice to expert experience

Emergency care is improving throughout the world and thousands of lives are being saved each year. However, there are still too many patients who die before help reaches them in the form of advanced rescue and definitive emergency care techniques. In an effort to improve emergency care throughout the world, the International Committee of Emergency and Disaster Medicine meets bi annually. This meeting takes place in Mainz, Germany in September in order to discuss issues, exchange information, and establish re commendations designed to improve emergency care. The group is in dependent of political, national, racial, religious, or commercial influences and, in this sense, similar to the Club of Rome which attempts advances in sociology, biology and natural sciences. There fore, the organization could be called the "Club of Mainz" for the field of emergency and disaster medicine. The following book contains the proceedings of the International Symposiom on "Mobile Intensive Care Units and Advanced Emergency Care Units" at Mainz from September 24-27, 1973, and the discussions evoked by the first activities of the "Club of Mainz" and the inter nationally acknowledged "Recommendations." At this time we also announce the next meeting and International Symposium on Disaster Medicine, open to the public, organized by the "Club of Mainz" (October 1 - 2, 1977)."

The question how to induce general anaesthesia without problems has been asked repeatedly by anaesthetists and pharmacologists. P. A. JANSSEN developed etomidate and published this substance in 1971 as "a potent short-acting and relatively atoxic intravenous hypnotic agent in rats". In 1974 after several years of experimental and clinical trial the barbiturate-free hypnotic etomidate (soon marketed as Hypnomidate) was introduced to numerous auditors at the occasion of the IV. European Congress of Anaesthesiologists in Madrid. As the authors extended their essays, the actuality of the present book is given. The conclusion mentions the new solution of etomidate base in 35 % propylene glycol. It is expected that the disadvantageous effects - venous pain during injection and associated involuntary muscle movement- will largely be eliminated by using the new formula of etomidate after premedication of fentanyl. Mlinchen, August 1977 Alfred DOENICKE TABLE OF CONTENTS The Experimental Pharmacology of Etomidate, a New Potent, Short-Acting Intravenous Hypnotic (R. S. RENEMAN and P. A. JANSSEN) *. . . . ** 1 Protein Binding of Etomidate (G. A. MANNES and A. DOENICKE) ****. . . 6 The Effect of Intra-Arterial Injection of Etomidate and Thiopental on the Skeletal Muscle- and Arterial Wall-Structures (R. S. RENEMAN, F. VERHEYEN, R. KRUGER, W. VAN GERVEN and M. BORGES) . . *. . ** 9 Interaction between Etomidate and the Antihypertensive Agents Propanolol andoC-Methyl-Dopa (R. S. RENEMAN, W. VAN GERVEN and R. KRUGER) **. *. . . 15 Teratogenicity of Etomidate (A. DOENICKE and M. HAEHL) *. **. *.

Summary . . 373 381 Subject Index -IX- List of Contributors AGUADO-MATORRAS, A. , Dr. , Anesthesiologia y Reanimacion, Ciudad Sanitaria de la S. S. "La Paz", Madrid, Spanien ARIAS, A. , Dr. , Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spanien ARNDT, J. 0. , Prof. , Dr. , Abteilung fUr Experimentelle Anaesthesiolo- gie der Universitat Dusseldorf BARUSCO, G. , Dr. , Anestesiologia e Rianimazione, Universitadi Pa- dova, Italien BECERRA, J. B. , Dr. , Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spanien BEER, D. , Priv. -Doz. , Dr. , Institut fUr Anaesthesiologie der Chirur- gischen Uni versitatsklinik Munchen BEER, R. , Prof. , Dr. , Institut fUr Anaesthesiologie der Chirurgischen Universitatsklinik Munchen BERGIER, M. , Dr. , Departement d' Anesthesie et Reanimation, Hopital Nord, Marseille, Frankreich BERGMANN, H. , Prim. Prof. , Dr. , Institut fUr Anaesthesie mit Blut- zentrale a. O. Krankenhaus der Stadt Linz, Osterreich BIMAR, J. , Prof. , Dr. , Departement d' Anesthesie et Reanimation, Hopital Nord, Marseille, Frankreich BOSTEM, F. , Dr. , Electroencephalographie, Universite de Liege, Ho- pital de Baviere, Liege, Belgien BUZELLO, W. , Dr. , Institut fUr Anaesthesiologie der Universitatskli- niken Freiburg CASTRANEDA-CASADO, J. , Dr. , Anestesiologia y Reanimacion, Ciudad Sanitaria de la S. S. "La Paz", Madrid, Spanien CHACORNAC, R. , Dr. , Departement d' Anesthesie et Reanimation, Ho. . pital Neurologique, Lyon, Frankreich DAMIA, G. , Prof. , Dr. , Anestesiologia e Rianimazione, Inst. "E. Ve- cela", Universita di Milano, Italien DELEUZE, R. , Prof. , Dr.

Lest the reader be discouraged, let us state unequivocally and at the very beginning that this is not, nor will it develop into, a treatise on information or decision or communication theory. It is true that on occasion some ideas or concepts will be borrowed from these areas, and it is also true that on some other occasions we might offer examples of what communication theory, or decision theory, are all about. Nevertheless, this will be done for the primary purpose of showing where and how further exploration of these areas of endeavour might lead to further and better understanding of our problems, and possibly lead the way to sounder planning and more workable solutions. The more sophisticated will find a paucity of illustrations and a minimal mathematical treatment of the subject. This has been done for two specific reasons; the first being that additional graphic representation or mathema tical manipulations would not have contributed materially to a better under standing of the subject, at least in the context in which it is being presented."