• July 2009

    Director of the Clinic for Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy

    University Hospital Frankfurt

  • October 2016

    State Chairman of the German Society for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI)

    in Hesse, Germany

  • November 2016

    Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

    Germany

  • December 2016

    German Patient Safety Award

Recent Publications

Infection. 2026.

Think sepsis, write sepsis, code sepsis - patient characteristics associated with sepsis (under-)coding in administrative health data.

Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, yet its documentation and coding in administrative health data remain unreliable. Accurate coding is essential for epidemiological surveillance, quality assurance, and reimbursement. This study aims to identify patient characteristics associated with under-diagnosis and under-coding of sepsis in German inpatient administrative health data (IAHD).

Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2026.

Protecting clinician autonomy and patient safety within the climate debate: the case for desflurane in modern anaesthesia.

The anaesthesia community should play a more active role in shaping sustainable healthcare practices. Current environmental measures, such as the European Commission's impending restriction on desflurane (an inhaled anaesthetic) from January 2026, risk unintended consequences for patient care and clinical autonomy.

Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2026.

[Patient Blood Management in Women].

In women of reproductive age, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth, patient blood management (PBM) plays an important role in reducing the risk of anemia and hemorrhage. These conditions are leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. By promoting early detection and treatment of iron deficiency anaemia, the implementation of a holistic PBM programme enables better outcomes for both, the mother and child. Implementing PBM protocols in perioperative care of women and perinatal care of parturients is essential to enhancing women's, maternal and neonatal health on a global scale.

Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2026.

[Gender-specific Differences in Anesthesiology].

Gender specific differences are a current and increasingly discussed topic. Cardiovascular conditions in women are often diagnosed later and with more advanced severity. Similarly, women are frequently underrepresented in studies investigating the effects of anesthetics on the central nervous system. In the field of anesthesiology, scientific interest in this topic has grown rapidly. Gender specific differences arise from anatomical, physiological, and psychosocial factors, all of which can significantly influence the perioperative and postoperative management. This highlights the importance of awareness and appropriately addressing these differences. The aim of this review article is to summarize the most relevant sex-specific differences in the field of anesthesiology.

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2026.

Preservation of Platelet Function After Intraoperative Cell Salvage Using the i-SEP Same Device in Cardiac Surgery.

To evaluate whether platelet function is preserved after intraoperative autotransfusion using the Same system, a device designed to retain both red blood cells and platelets in patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery.

JAMA. 2025.

Individualized Perioperative Blood Pressure Management in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery: The IMPROVE-multi Randomized Clinical Trial.

Intraoperative hypotension is associated with organ injury. However, it remains unknown if targeted blood pressure management during surgery can improve clinical outcomes.

Lancet Glob Health. 2025.

The aetiology and prevalence of preoperative anaemia in patients undergoing major surgery (ALICE): an international, prospective, observational cohort study.

Preoperative anaemia is a major risk factor for perioperative morbidity. Because iron deficiency is widely assumed to be the main cause of anaemia in surgical patients, treatment efforts have focused mostly on iron supplementation. However, the aetiology of anaemia is multifactorial. To further understand the underlying causes and consider a comprehensive approach to anaemia management, we studied the prevalence and aetiology of preoperative anaemia in patients undergoing major surgery.

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2025.

Prospective Evaluation of Thrombotic Complications After Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation for External Bypass.

To determine the incidence and subsequent complications of internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis after cannulation performed during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to ensure adequate venous drainage during minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Brain Spine. 2025.

No ICU Unless 2.0 - Refining ICU admission criteria after elective craniotomy.

Routine intensive care unit (ICU) admission following elective craniotomy is still standard practice in most neurosurgical centers, despite growing evidence supporting selective monitoring strategies.