Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Management

Intensive Care, i.e. the treatment of critically ill patients whose vital functions are severely impaired, forms a central role in the treatment of many of our inpatients, and often constitutes a crucial phase in their treatment and progress.

It is particularly important to us that, depending on the procedures involved, patients are given the option of choosing regional anesthesia. This involves the application of an anesthetic agent to specific nerves or to a bundle of nerves (plexus) and, by ensuring that the area of the body requiring surgery is completely numbed, avoids the need for general anesthesia. Placement of the needle or catheter for regional anesthesia is performed using ultrasound-guidance techniques (ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia). The Anesthesiology Section specializes in providing anesthesia for critically ill patients and, in particular, patients undergoing heart surgery.

Our modern approach to postoperative pain management makes it possible for pain medication to be administered in accordance with the needs of the patient, e.g. pump-assisted administration of analgesia via vascular access ports or catheters.

Clinical treatment priorities

Anesthesiology

We offer all modern anesthesia procedures, including general anesthesia, general anesthesia using balanced anesthesia under low-flow conditions, and a combination of general anesthesia and regional anesthesia to enable fast-track surgery. Depending on the needs of the patient, regional anesthesia options may also be available, including plexus blocks, spinal and epidural anesthesia. 

Intensive Care Medicine

The preoperative and postoperative treatment of patients undergoing heart surgery is a major focus of our work. We also specialize in the treatment of other surgical patients, most of whom are undergoing abdominal procedures. With the exception of neurosurgery patients, we are available round-the-clock to accept all severely injured and severely ill patients. Patients may be admitted via the Emergency Department or brought to us directly from the ambulance. We offer all types of modern mechanical ventilation, including the use of patient positioning through the use of special types of beds. If required, patients can receive daily physiotherapy from qualified staff. 

Monitoring

We use the latest in monitoring equipment and procedures in order to ensure maximum patient safety. This improves our surgical outcomes as well as reducing the time that patients have to spend on the ICU. The procedures we use include: depth of anesthesia monitoring using bispectral index (BIS) monitors, neuromuscular blockade monitoring, invasive blood pressure monitoring and monitoring of central venous pressure, monitoring of the patient's cardiac output per minute (CCO, PiCCO etc.) and transesophageal echocardiography.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

The Immanuel Hospital Bernau's Brandenburg Heart Center is one of only 16 recognized TEE training hospitals in Germany, and as such is permitted to provide specialist TEE training. Transesophageal echocardiography is a cardiac ultrasound examination that is performed via the esophagus, and involves the insertion of a flexible ultrasound probe through the patient's mouth and down the throat. TEE can be used to monitor the progress and success of surgical treatment in patients undergoing heart valve surgery, as well as allowing anesthetists and intensive care specialists to fine-tune the treatment of patients who are on the ICU or undergoing surgery in order to ensure hemodynamic stability.

Pain management

The Department runs an Acute Pain Service (Akutschmerzdienst) for patients whose post-operative pain is being managed via portable "pain pumps" or catheters (epidural catheter or nerve block). For any other pain-related problems, patients can access support via the consultancy service, whereby they can receive input and advice from a specialist in anesthesiology and pain management. As part of our project "Schmerzarme Geburt" (reducing the pain of childbirth), we provide round-the-clock cover by an anesthetist who can visit the labor ward if an epidural anesthesia is requested.

For more detailed information on the Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Management, please go to the Department's website