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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the most common primary cancers of the liver. The major risk factor for the formation of HCC is liver cirrhosis. The grade of cirrhosis as well as the extent of the tumor itself, can play an important role in the treatment options and patient prognosis. An operation aimed at an R0 resection is the treatment of choice for patients in an early stage of the disease and is associated with favorable long-term and recurrence-free survival. Liver transplantation offers an even better long-term survival rate after 5 years for selected patients with HCC meeting the Milan criteria as the underlying cirrhosis, the major risk factor for HCC recurrence, is simultaneously treated. Local tumor ablation is the least invasive curative surgical treatment, however, it is associated with an increased local recurrence rate; therefore, the early detection of tumors is of essential importance. As tumor-associated symptoms tend to arise only in advanced tumor stages, it is indispensable to identify patients with typical risk factors and to provide closely monitored screening examinations.

Background: The aim of the perioperative management of anticoagulation in patients with long-term oral anticoagulation is to minimize bleeding complications of surgical interventions., Objectives: We aimed to give a summary of current data and to give practical recommendations for colleagues practicing surgery., Material and Methods: This article gives a narrative overview of available data from 31 publications between 2000 and 2013., Results: Every perioperative decision on whether to continue oral anticoagulation is preceded by an assessment of the risk of bleeding and embolism. In cases with a low risk of bleeding, oral anticoagulation can usually be continued. In contrast, for larger interventions with a moderate to high risk of bleeding, a discontinuation of phenprocoumon with temporary bridging is required. In this case it is common practice to discontinue phenprocoumon 7-9 days preoperatively and administer heparin mostly in the form of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) depending on the international normalized ratio (INR). In contrast perioperative management of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) is discussed controversially. Based on the pharmacokinetics of the DAOC, the recommendations are to minimize the anticoagulation-free interval to 2-4 half-lives (HWZ) preoperatively (1-5 days) and early postoperative restart. In this case no bridging is necessary. On the other hand, an early interruption of DOAC 5 days prior to surgery to a minimum of 2 days postoperatively is favored by some surgeons to assure an adequate perioperative hemostasis. Depending on the risk of thromboembolism, bridging is required. These recommendations are justified by limited clinical experience and the absence of antagonism., Conclusion: The perioperative management of coagulation is still a challenge. While there are consolidated decision aids for phenprocoumon, the approach under DOAC treatment is still controversial due to limited data.

Compartment syndrome of the lower extremities has various etiologies. Patients suffer from toe deformity due to incorrect healing following compartment syndrome. They are restricted in their mobility as a result, even though the primary causes of the compartment syndrome in the lower extremities have long since healed. The toe deformities cannot be specifically attributed to compartment syndrome. Instead, they are a typical response to biomechanical changes in the foot. Following compartment syndrome, they are the result of a relative shortening of the tendons and a loss of function and contraction of the muscle; in patients with splay foot and flat foot, the toe deformity is caused by bone and connective tissue pathology. Identical surgical measures are used.

Radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of liver tumors is one of the best alternative treatment modalities when surgical resection is not possible. To find the right indication for the treatment, every patient should be treated in a high-volume center for the treatment of liver tumors in an interdisciplinary conference consisting of liver surgeons, interventional radiologists, medical oncologists, and gastroenterologists. With a multimodal approach including anatomic segmental and wedge resection of the liver, RFA, and chemotherapy, a median survival of 36 months was achieved in technically unresectable patients with colorectal liver metastases (Elias et al. 2005). This survival doubles the survival rate of any other treatment modality in this group of patients. These interdisciplinary conferences also serve to determine the approach for RFA, whether it should be percutaneous, laparoscopic, or open surgery. The safest ablation with the fewest adverse events from RFA is the open surgical approach, followed by the laparoscopic approach. The approach with the highest risk of injury to organs in proximity to the liver is the percutaneous approach. Therefore, many variables must be evaluated before making definite decisions. After choosing RFA as the best alternative treatment option after evaluation of all variables for a particular patient, it offers a treatment option with a potential cure. A major advantage is the possible combination with liver resection, which extends the indication for surgical or ablative therapy.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate arthroscopy in upper ankle osteoarthritis., Methods: In the period from 1988 to 1997, 358 arthroscopies of the upper ankle joint were performed in 178 cases due to arthritis. Of 132 accessible patients, 124 replied to our questionnaire: 90 (73%) of the responders underwent clinical examination 94 (37-152) months following the initial arthroscopy and were graded according to the score of Evanski and Waugh. All arthroscopies were performed under fluid filling using anterolateral and anteromedial approaches. In only five cases was the posterior compartment additionally investigated. Generally, neither tourniquet nor mechanical joint distraction were applied., Results: Of a total of 12 (6.7%) complications, only 3 (1.7%) hematomas needed surgical revision. One hematoma was due to an arteriovenous fistula treated by double ligation. All complications including five hypesthesias were temporary and subsided spontaneously. The 124 patients of the questionnaire group assessed the result of arthroscopic surgery as excellent in 11%, good in 46%, fair in 22%, and poor in 21%. Of all patients, 22% required further surgery of the upper ankle: in 9% further arthroscopy, in 3% arthrodesis, and in 10% microsurgical denervation. The total range of motion increased from 10/0/40 degrees (extension/flexion) preoperatively to 15/0/44 degrees at the follow-up examination. The Evanski score improved significantly (p<0.001) from 41 to 76 points., Conclusion: Due to minimal invasiveness and low risk of complications, arthroscopy is recommended for the following indications of upper ankle osteoarthritis: focal arthrosis, limited range of motion caused by osteophytes, soft tissue impingement, corpora libera, and synovitis. Severity and extent of upper ankle arthritis, range of motion, pain, local bone and soft tissue quality as well as the age, physical activity and compliance of the patient concerned are decisive for the individual therapeutic protocol. Alternative surgical techniques in upper ankle osteoarthritis are assessed such as denervation, distraction arthroplasty, correction osteotomy, ankle arthrodesis and total ankle replacement.

Background: At present, surgical treatment with R(0) resection offers the only chance of cure for patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. Carcinomas of the pancreas are frequently diagnosed at an inoperable stage because of local tumor progression by vessel wall infiltration. In a small series of patients, efforts have been made to increase curative resection rates for advanced pancreatic cancer by excision and reconstruction of the involved visceral arteries. Whether this provides clinical benefit remains uncertain., Methods: Since 2001 we have been employing "en bloc" tumor resection for advanced pancreatic carcinomas with extended infiltration of visceral vessels. Technical experience was gained previously by performing portal vein resection as well as arterial excision and reconstruction by direct anastomosis in the presence of malignant wall infiltration. A total of ten patients underwent vascular reconstruction by arterial homograft interposition. In six of ten cases, combined extended reconstructions of the hepatic and superior mesenteric arteries were performed. One patient died during the perioperative course due to fulminant bleeding. One patient developed severe diarrhea. During a 3- to 18-month follow-up, one case of liver metastasis and one case of local tumor recurrence were documented., Conclusions: In selective cases, operability and R(0) resection can be achieved in advanced pancreatic cancer by performing extended resection procedures with vascular reconstruction using arterial homografts. Vascular substitution of visceral arteries can be conducted without ischemic disturbances of the small bowel and liver. Only a few perioperative complications were observed.

The presented thromboprophylactic concept includes weight bearing and ankle motion as well as breathing therapy and drug prophylaxis (antiphlogistics, analgesic drugs, heparin). Routinely performed ultrasound screening of the deep veins (legs and pelvis) before release showed a low DVT incidence of 2.5% in a prospective clinical observation of 841 inpatients. Obesity, venous insufficiency, and a history of previous thromboembolic events were associated with a significantly increased risk of thrombosis (relative risk 4.1, 4,9, and 5.8, respectively) The duration of immobilization also had a relevant influence indicating that early postoperative physiotherapy in traumatology and orthopedic surgery has a widely underestimated thromboprophylactic effect.

There are no guidelines for the use of heparin in the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis in outpatients. In a prospective clinical investigation in 1996 and 1997, 1321 outpatients after trauma of the lower extremities were screened by duplex-color-coded-ultrasound in order to detect deep vein thrombosis. There were two separate groups: group A with drug prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (n = 723) and group B (n = 598) without. The classification A or B was mainly related to the ability of weight bearing (at least 20 kp) and of ankle mobility (at least 20 degrees). Patients who did not achieve both criteria were classified in group A and were treated with heparin until they attained a higher level of activity (B). Group A showed 30 deep vein thrombosis while group B had no thromboembolic complications. We conclude that outpatients achieving a level of activity close to a physiological situation will show no thromboembolic complications.

Life threatening complications can be caused by staphylococcal infection, even if they appear as a simple pustulosis, via hamatogenous dissemination. On the other hand the bacteria is able to penetrate the skin without pre-existing skin lesions and reach the adjacent soft tissue, as was the case with a 9 year old boy who had a contusion of the left shoulder and a consecutive life threatening septicemia.

Patients in traumatology need additional physiotherapy to prevent deep vein thrombosis. There is still a 4% risk of deep vein thrombosis in outpatients receiving already low molecular weight heparin prophylaxis [9]. However, there are no prospective studies with a high number of patients to prove effectiveness of the presented physiotherapeutic tools, even if the hypothesis "achieving physiological-like conditions" sounds positive and some authors postulate that physiotherapy would be equal to drug prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis.

Unlabelled: Because of the rare incidence of splenic abscesses and bleeding, only a few cases are described in the literature on percutaneous drainage of splenic abscesses. We report on eight cases (three male, five female, average age 74.1 +/- 10.76 years) of percutaneous, sonographically controlled catheter drainage of large splenic abscesses., Results: Percutaneous, sonographically controlled drainage of splenic abscesses was feasible in all eight cases in the last 5 years (trocar technique, drain: 12-16 F, abscess contents 70-750 ml). In seven of eight cases, therapy with percutaneous, sonographically controlled drainage of the splenic abscess and rinsing of the abscess cavity over several days was successful. In two cases, however, a recurrent abscess had to be drained repeatedly with sonographic control, and this was successful. In one case a colitis-related fistula prevented successful drainage of an infected subcapsular splenic hematoma. The following splenectomy, however, proved the infected hematoma to be completely drained. In this study there were no complications like bleeding, injury of pleura or colon. The advantages of percutaneous drainage are: the spleen is not removed; conservative therapy is beneficial, particularly in multimorbid patients with a high surgical risk; there is no transmission of bacteria; the method is safe and effective.

The incidence of deep-vein-thrombosis is claimed to be reduced by avoiding intramedullary compression in the femur during implantation of the femoral part of a hip prosthesis. A double-blind randomized trial investigated 101 patients with and 102 without avoidance of intramedullary compression. There was no evidence of the benefit of this technique, for the reduction of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis.

15 patients have been treated with dopamine (2.0--6.0 gamma/kg/min) in the initial phase of cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery. Indication was a systolic blood pressure of less than 85 mmHg associated with oligurie and peripheral vasoconstriction. 12 patients survived the cardiocirculatory crisis and the early postoperative period. Dopamine alone increased the arterial blood pressure in 6 patients from 52.4 to 80.1 mmHg and the urine flow from 25.2 ml/hr to 181.2 ml/hr. To obtain an optimal perfusion pressure additional application of Noradrenalin was used in 8 patients. In these patients the urine flow rose from 9.1 ml/hr to 131 ml/hr. In one patient no reaction, neither to dopamine, nor in combination with Noradrenalin was seen. The effect of pulse rate, central venous pressure and arterial oxygen tension has been discussed. Dopamine seems to be a useful substance in surgical patients with temporary cardiac insufficiency.

Case history of a 45 years aged male patient with an aortic arch anomaly. Thrombotic occlusion of the A. lusoria dextra with symptoms of a subclavian-steal syndrome and anoxia in the right hand. Spontaneous lysis after 8 weeks is documentated by arteriography.

Symptoms and signs of 18 patients with postoperative bacterial peritonitis were compared with the findings in uncomplicated postoperative cases. Their diagnostic values were examined: 1. Elevated temperature, hyperventilation, and somnolence are relevant, being indicative of bacterial peritonitis and already occurring before the typical findings on abdominal examination. 2. In those patients with peritonitis, hemodynamics, and metabolism are characterized by hyperdynamic circulation, premature arterial hypotension with dry warm skin, and lactate accumulation. 3. Laboratory data often reveal thrombocytemia, leucocytosis with shift to the left, and a relative and absolute hypophosphatemia.

In an open study, 18 patients suffering from an acute episode of schizophrenia and 18 patients with severe mania were given haloperidol at different dosage levels. Haloperidol plasma concentrations were measured and the status of the patients was evaluated at intervals using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). No correlation was found between the oral dose and the plasma concentrations in the schizophrenic group, but there was a low correlation for manic patients. In both groups, however, there was a correlation between these two parameters when the drug was given intramuscularly. There was no correlation between haloperidol plasma concentrations and the BPRS scores. Of the 36 patients 28 responded well to the treatment and were discharged from hospital. A good relationship between the clinical status as observed by the clinicians and the BPRS score was found. Plasma haloperidol concentration measurement was found to be a useful tool for the detection of non-compliance or excessive plasma levels. Accordingly, the present study indicates the value of drug level monitoring as a means to improve therapy.

In 24 patients (16 women, 8 men, mean age 60 years), who underwent abdominal operations and who had a uncomplicated postoperative course, a teflon-tube was inserted into the portal vein at the end of laparotomy and remained there for maximal 9 days. The mean values of the portal venous pressure as well as of the portal-central venous pressure gradient are unchanged during the period of all 9 days and are between 7,4 and 7,9 mmHg, between 5,6 and 6,9 mmHg respectively. The arterio-portal venous 0(2)-content difference shows in the mean no fluctuations and is about 2 Vol.%. On the first postoperative day the lactic and pyruvic acid concentrations in the artery and portal vein are moderately, but significantly elevated and decrease to normal values until day 7. - 9.