Background to our research work
Almost every clinical picture relevant to intensive care medicine is associated with restrictions in the perfusion of end organs. The diagnosis and treatment of unstable circulatory conditions therefore represent a central challenge in critically ill children in the intensive care unit. In addition to clinical assessment, monitoring includes numerous laboratory and instrumental parameters, the aim of which is to assess hemodynamics.
The methods currently available for adult intensive care have numerous limitations in children. For example, they are prone to complications in their application - especially in young infants and toddlers - are not suitable for their body size or are not sufficiently validated in terms of accuracy, robustness and practicability.
Research focus and objectives of the WG Hemodynamics
In translational projects and clinical studies, the working group evaluates novel methods for the assessment of circulatory conditions in children. The aim is to minimize the morbidity of critically ill patients by optimizing haemodynamics. The focus is on the following points:
- Optimization of hemodynamics and volume therapy in cardiac surgery patients
- Evaluation and validation of non-invasive and invasive methods for determining cardiac output and shunt diagnostics in children
- Investigation of hemodynamics during the use of extracorporeal procedures