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Peripheral arterial occlusive disease is one manifestation of the systemic disease atherosclerosis. The initial therapy for every arteriosclerotic disease is aimed at reducing cardiovascular risk factors by lifestyle modification and medication. Patients who require surgical revascularisation need long-term antiplatelet therapy or anticoagulation. This therapy has to be differentiated according to the vascular territory involved and the method used for revascularisation. After local thrombendarterectomy, alloplastic bypass graft surgery of the aortic, aorto-iliac, aorto-femoral or femoro-popliteal region above the knee, long-term ASA 100 mg/d or clopidogrel 75 mg/d should be initiated. After alloplastic bypass grafting below the knee the combination of ASA 100 mg/d and clopidogrel 75 mg/d should be used. In contrast, after venous grafts the patency rate is improved by anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (INR 2-3), if there is a low risk of bleeding. If there is a contraindication to vitamin K antagonists, ASA 100 mg/d should be used. After revascularisation, a structured surveillance programme should be implemented aiming at controlling cardiovascular risk factors and monitoring the vascular state, as well as the anticoagulation and the antiplatelet therapy., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background/aims: Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the rate of complications after resection for colorectal liver metastases remains high. An awareness of risk factors is essential for the rates of morbidity and mortality to fall to optimal levels., Materials and Methods: Of the 240 patients who underwent resection for the first manifestation of colorectal liver metastases, 49 patients with lobectomy or extended hepatectomy (major resections) and 58 with wedge resections within only one liver segment (minor resections) form the basis of this report. A total of 16 variables were analyzed to find the risk factors linked to postoperative morbidity and mortality., Results/findings: Thirty-four patients (31.8%) suffered postoperative complications, and one patient died during the hospital stay (0.9%). In the major resection group, multivariate analysis showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy [odds ratio (OR): 2.4; p = 0.005], vascular clamping (OR: 1.4; p = 0.008), and intraoperative blood loss with transfusion of three to six packed red cell units (OR: 1.2; p = 0.029) were significantly associated with postoperative morbidity. Vascular clamping was an independent predictor for biliary fistula (OR: 1.2; p = 0.029). Postoperative temporary liver failure was influenced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR: 3.4; p = 0.010), vascular clamping (OR: 1.5; p = 0.015), and requirement of blood transfusion (OR: 2.1; p = 0.016). After minor resections, only a decreased postoperative serum cholinesterase B level was an independent predictor for complications (OR: 2.2; p = 0.001), as well as for hemorrhage (OR: 1.6; p = 0.023). Postoperative mortality was not predicted by any of the factors that were analyzed., Interpretation/conclusion: Factors for complications differ depending on the extent of colorectal liver metastasis resection. Only knowledge and particular consideration of these factors may provide for an optimal postoperative outcome for the individual patient.

Background: Intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) were officially introduced into the TNM classification in 1996. Based on a two-center database, we reevaluated histopathological findings, clinicopathological pattern, predictive markers for malignancy, and outcome., Methods: Between 1996 and 2006, a total of 1424 pancreatic resections were performed in the University Hospitals Dresden and Mannheim. Pathologists of both institutions reviewed the IPMN diagnoses and other with cystic or solid tumor diagnoses. All possible markers, such as diabetes, jaundice, etc., were analyzed for prediction of malignancy. We performed a survival analysis based on the morphologic classification to determine the prognosis of IPMN., Results: There were 43 patients of primarily diagnosed IPMN along with 1174 patients with diagnoses, such as ductal adenocarcinoma. In 207 patients, the diagnoses revealed other cystic or small solid tumors. A histopathological review of the latter patients revealed 54 IPMNs, resulting in a total of 97 IPMN patients (29 noninvasive, 68 invasive). All IPMN patients had a median survival of 36 months. Recurrence occurred more frequently in invasive IPMN. Predictive markers of malignancy were pain, preoperative weight loss, jaundice, and elevated CA 19.9. The strongest independent prognostic factor was invasive growth. The survival analysis revealed excellent prognosis for noninvasive IPMN., Conclusions: Since the introduction of IPMN in 1996, even specialized centers have had to deal with a learning curve. By reevaluating all cystic or small solid tumors, centers can improve and their patients' treatment can be optimized. Because the preoperative diagnostic methods are not sensitive enough to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions, surgery is advocated for all main duct IPMN, because they have a high malignant potential. For branch duct IPMN, surgery is advocated if the lesion is symptomatic, >3 cm, or has enlarged nodules.

Aims: The aim of this study was the evaluation of early results of esophageal resection for cancer including the assessment of pre-operative risk factors and post-operative mortality (risk score developed by Barthels et al. 1998)., Methods: One hundred and eighty one patients with esophageal cancer were operated with curative intention between October 1993 and December 2002. In a prospective analysis were reviewed: patient characteristics, characteristics of the esophageal cancer, part and type of esophageal resection, radicality, complications and mortality., Conclusion: In total, a resection of the tumor could be achieved in 143 cases (79.0%). The overall complication rate was 52.5%, mainly cardio-pulmonary complications (25.9%) were seen. The surgical complications were determined by anastomotic leak (12.6%) and recurrent nerve injury (9.1%). Both types of complications were observed significantly more often after esophageal resection with a cervical anastomosis (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01). The hospital mortality was 8.4%. The 30 days mortality was 4.9%. Using a preoperative risk score retro- and prospectively, our data showed a lower mortality in patients with a low risk profile (2.4% and 2.3%) compared to those with a medium risk profile (7.4% and 6.4%). The only patient with a high risk profile died after resection., Discussion and Summary: The results of this analysis show that resection of esophageal cancer can be accomplished with acceptable morbidity and mortality. However, it has to be taken into account that the increase of pre-operative factors leads to an increase in post-operative mortality.

Introduction: Anastomotic leakage is a major problem in colorectal surgery and in particular in operations for low rectal cancer. The present study investigates the question whether a protective stoma can reduce the (clinical and radiologic) anastomotic leakage rate and/or the rate of leakage requiring surgery., Methods: The investigation took the form of a prospective multicenter study involving 75 German hospitals and was performed between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 1999. A comparison was made of the postoperative results of procedures performed with and those performed without a protective stoma in patients undergoing low anterior rectal resection. In addition, logistic regression using the target criteria, overall anastomotic leakage and anastomotic leakage requiring surgery, was applied., Results: Among the 3,695 operations performed for carcinoma of the rectum or colon, 482 were low anterior resections. In 334 patients (69.3 percent) no protective stoma was constructed, whereas 148 (30.7 percent) received such protection. Age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, and body mass index were identical in both groups. In the group receiving a protective stoma, however, neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy was more common, the tumors were lower-and thus the total mesorectal excision rate higher, the intraoperative complication rate was higher, and the duration of the operation was longer. The differences were all significant. The major criterion (overall anastomotic leakage rate) was identical in the two groups, but the rate of leakage requiring surgery was significantly lower in patients receiving a protective stoma (p = 0.028). The logistic regression revealed that use of a protective stoma is a predictor of protection against anastomotic leakage requiring surgery. The distance of the tumor from the anal verge and the duration of the operation are further predictors., Conclusion: The particular benefit of a covering stoma is reduction in the rate of leaks requiring surgery and thus in the severe consequences of an anastomotic leakage.

During 1993 to 2000 85 patients were treated for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The average age of the patients was 72.4 years (46-90). 71 patients showed an infrarenal rupture and the remaining 14 a suprenal rupture. 76 of 85 cases were covered ruptures. All patients were operated upon. A tube graft was required in 43 cases and 31 needed a bifurcated graft. In further two cases an extraanatomical bypass was necessary due to a mycotic aneurysm. The operation on 11 patients could not be completed and 21 patients died in hospital during the postoperative period. On the other hand, 53 patients survived the rupture of the aneurysm. The mortality rate was 37.6 %. The early non-surgical complications dominated during the postoperative period. Respiratory failure, renal failure and cardiac failure were responsible for the mortality rate. It is unforseeable which patients will survive the emergency operation. Therefore it is always appropriate to attempt the reconstruction of an acutely ruptured AAA.

Minimal access techniques in surgery are improving. At the same time, the significance of interventional flexible endoscopy is increasing. Postoperative complications can be treated endoscopically with low rates of morbidity and mortality. Anastomotic strictures after resection of the esophagus, colon or rectum are mostly treated with success by endoscopy. Reoperations are almost never necessary in these cases today. Although the efficient detection of locoregional recurrence of gastrointestinal carcinoma is still the subject of controversial discussion, in contrast, endoscopic therapy for palliation by ablation, dilatation or stenting leads to a clear benefit for many of these patients.

Spontaneous intramural rupture of the oesophagus is a rare cause of acute pain in the chest and upper abdomen. A case of spontaneous intramural oesophageal rupture in an 82-year-old woman is reported. Symptoms, diagnostic investigation, aetiology and therapy of the lesion were demonstrated.

Following resection of liver metastases the overall prognosis still remains limited because of the lack of adjuvant therapy. The number of explorative laparotomies, non-radical resections and complications needs to be reduced. One hundred and ten laparotomies in 97 patients with liver metastases were performed with the intention to cure between October 1993 and February 1998. In a prospective analysis we reviewed: patient characteristics, characteristics of primary tumors and metastases, part and extent of liver resection, radicality, complications and mortality. Additionally, a prospective study about the value of ultrasonography and CT scan concerning the evaluation of preoperative liver findings was undertaken between January 1995 and February 1998. Altogether, resection of liver metastases was achieved in 75 cases (68.2%). Nineteen patients (25.3%) had postoperative complications. Two patients (2.7%) died following liver resection. Thirty-five operations (31.8%) had to be finished as only an explorative laparotomy. The major reason for these restricted operations was in 15 patients (42.9%) regional recurrence or peritoneal metastases. Preoperative determination of the liver finding (quantity, localization and size) by ultrasonography and CT scan achieved an accuracy of 68.9% each. The results of this analysis show that resection of liver metastases can be accomplished with minor morbidity and mortality. The high number of explorative laparotomies still remains a central problem in the surgery of liver metastases. By the introduction of duplex sonography and contrast-medium-enhanced helical CT scan, liver pathology can be defined more precisely in the preoperative evaluation. However, preoperative detection of regional recurrence or peritoneal metastases remains difficult.

The surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis is indicated only in the complicated disease. The aim is mainly the treatment of pain, of mechanical obstacles and to exclude suspicion of cancer. Between October 1972 and January 1993 713 patients with chronic pancreatitis were treated at the Surgical University Hospital in Mannheim. In 40% of the patients conservative treatment was continued or intensified. Only in 123 patients a Whipple operation was performed. The leading symptom was pain in these patients. We saw postoperative surgical complications in 14 patients (11.4%). One of them died due to an operative leak (0.8%). Late results are based on a median follow up of 4.8 years and showed a complete or substantial pain relief in 94%. 66% went back to work. 77% gained weight with an average of more than 10 kg. The rate of postoperative endocrine insufficiency was 10% (total 40%), of exocrine insufficiency 26 (total 51%). Late mortality was 11% and mostly caused by continued alcoholic abuse. Based on these results, the Whipple operation seems to be the best standardized method for surgery of the complicated chronic pancreatitis within the head of the pancreas.

Between 1972 and 1992 394 bowel resections were performed on 344 patients with Crohn's disease at the Surgical University Hospital Mannheim. The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the changes in indication, surgical technique, complication rate and mortality during this period. With the increasing incidence of Crohn's disease, the yearly number of resections has increased (from 9.8 to 30.8), while the frequency of emergency operations has declined (from 24.8% to 15.4%). During the last ten years, surgery was performed at an earlier stage; more often stenoses were resected before complications (chronic or acute intestinal obstruction, fistula and perforation) occurred. Complication rate and mortality has been reduced in the last ten years (complication rate: from 35.6% to 10.6%, mortality: from 3% to 0.7%). A significant higher complication rate was seen after emergency operations (37.1%) as compared to elective operations (12.6%) (p < 0.0001).

Between 1973 and 1986, 141 patients with esophageal carcinoma have been operated. The overall resection rate was 59% (83/141). We preferred the operative resection by abdominal and right-sided thoracic approach. Only in 4 patients with generally high risk an abdomino-cervical blind dissection of the esophagus was performed. Reconstruction was done in all cases by oesophago-gastrostomy. During the last 14 years hospital mortality decreased from 36.4% (n = 8/22) in the first 7 years period to 7% (n = 3/43) during the last 4 years. Resection rate increased from 47% in the first to 65% in the second period. The 5 years survival rate of all resected patients was 23.5%.

Since 1981 23 Patients (19 with adenomatosis coli, 4 with colitis ulcerosa) underwent proctocolectomy with preservation of continence: total colectomy, proctomucosectomy, ileo-anal anastomosis with formation of an ileal S-pouch, and protective loop ileostomy. In 3 patients previous operations caused difficulties in performing the procedure. Critical points of the operative technique are explained, with special regard to the possibility of previous surgery. Postoperative complications and functional results are presented.