Pharmacotherapies for cannabis use disorders: Clinical challenges and promising therapeutic agents

This chapter reviews pharmacotherapies that have been trialled for cannabis dependence, identifying those that warrant further research and those of little or uncertain value. A diverse range of medicines have been tested, representing a broad range of pharmacological strategies. These include tetrahydrocannabinol preparations, various types of antidepressant, anxiolytics, a glutamatergic modulator and the neuropeptide oxytocin. Cannabinoid agonists warrant further research. For the FAAH inhibitor PF-04457845, oxytocin, varenicline and gabapentin, although there is a signal to indicate further research is warranted, these medications do not yet have sufficient evidence to support clinical use, and larger, longer-term trials are needed in representative treatment-seeking populations. Special populations that warrant consideration are those with cannabis dependence and concurrent mental health conditions and those that develop dependence through therapeutic use.Suzanne Nielsen, Pamela Sabioni, Linda Gowing, and Bernard Le Fol

Recommendations for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR): Consensus statement of DGIIN, DGK, DGTHG, DGfK, DGNI, DGAI, DIVI and GRC

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) may be considered as a rescue attempt for highly selected patients with refractory cardiac arrest and potentially reversible aetiology. Currently, there are no randomised, controlled studies on eCPR, and valid predictors of benefit and outcome are lacking, which might guide indication of eCPR. Currently, selection criteria and procedures differ across hospitals and standardised algorithms are lacking. Based on expert opinion the present consensus statement provides a first standardised treatment algorithm for eCPR