Search

IntroductionThe rapid worldwide spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) constitutes a major challenge. The aim of the EUropean prospective cohort study on Enterobacteriaceae showing REsistance to CArbapenems (EURECA), which is part of the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking (IMI JU) funded COMBACTE-CARE project, is to investigate risk factors for and outcome determinants of CRE infections to inform randomised clinical trial designs and to provide a historical cohort that could eventually be used for future comparisons with new drugs targeting CRE. MethodsA multicentre (50 sites), multinational (11 European countries), analytical observational project was designed, comprising 3 studies. The aims of study 1 (a prospective cohort study) include characterising the features, clinical management and outcomes of hospitalised patients with intra-abdominal infection, pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections caused by CRE (202 patients in each group). The main outcomes will be 30-day all-cause mortality and clinical response. Study 2 (a nested case-control study) will identify the risk factors for target infections caused by CRE; 248 selected patients from study 1 will be matched with patients with carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae (1:1) and with hospitalised patients (1:3) and will provide a historical cohort of patients with CRE infections. Study 3 (a matched cohort study) will follow patients in study 2 in order to assess mortality, length of stay and hospital costs associated with CRE. All patients will be followed for 30†days. Different, up-to-date statistical methods will be applied to come to unbiased estimates for all 3 studies. Ethics and disseminationBefore-study sites will be initiated, approval will be sought from appropriate regulatory agencies and local Ethics Committees of Research or Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to conduct the study in accordance with regulatory requirements. This is an observational study and therefore no intervention in the diagnosis, management or treatment of the patients will be required on behalf of the investigation. Any formal presentation or publication of data collected from this study will be considered as a joint publication by the participating physician(s) and will follow the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) for authorship. Trial registration numberNCT02709408. © 2017 Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited.

Vergleicht man die heute erzielbaren Ergebnisse mit den Berichten vor 20 Jahren, so last sich eine bemerkenswerte Bilanz ziehen: Zunahme der Resektabilitat und der Quote an kurativen Resektionen, Reduzierung der Sterblichkeit bei Elektiveingriffen auf 2–3% und Zunahme der Funfjahresuberlebenszeit [31]. Besonderheiten der chirurgischen Therapie des Kolonkarzinoms erfordern die Notfallbehandlung, das Colitis-Karzinom und und hereditare Kolonkarzinome (FAP, HNPCC). Die laparoskopische Chirurgie des Kolonkarzinoms befindet sich noch im Stadium der Erprobung und wird weltweit sehr kontrovers diskutiert.

We report on a 17-year-old male patient with dysphagia, cachexia, and physical underdevelopment. Despite a known esophageal stenosis, the patient received several months of psychiatric treatment, which failed to improve the clinical picture. After systematic diagnostic procedures, including repeated biopsies of the esophageal stenosis, a cicatricial pemphigoid was diagnosed and adequate therapy could be initiated.

Scheidet im Rahmen einer Proktokolektomie ein ileoanaler Pouch aus, so kann eine Kontrolle uber die Stuhlentleerung durch eine Kock-Pouch erzielt und zusammen mit einer konservativen Proktektomietechnik die Option auf eine sekundare Wiederherstellung des normalen Defakationsweges aufrechterhalten werden. Trotz Aufklarung uber diese Moglichkeit entschlos sich von sechs in dieser Weise primar operierten Patienten nur eine junge Frau zu der Umwandlung, um eine noch bessere Lebensqualitat als mit dem Kock-Pouch zu bekommen. Bei zwei Patienten wurde eine Konversion vorgenommen, als Komplikationen am Nippelventil per se eine Laparotomie erfordert hatten. Bei diesen Patienten wurde das vorhandene Reservoir unter Verzicht auf eine protektive Loop-Ileostomie direkt mit dem Oberrand des Analkanals anastomosiert. Wahrend diese beiden Pouch-Umwandlungen mit gutem funktionellen Ergebnis gelangen, scheiterte die Anastomosierung bei der ersten Patientin wegen der Folgen einer septischen Analkomplikation, die auch den primaren ileoanalen Pouch verhindert hatte. Trotzdem konnte der Kock-Pouch infolge vorsichtiger Taktik bei der Exploration funktionsfahig erhalten werden. Damit haben nach 1,5 bis 8,5 Jahren insgesamt noch vier von sechs Patienten eine einwandfrei funktionierende kontinente Ileostomie und nur zwei Patienten einen ebenfalls perfekten ileoanalen Pouch. Funktionsstorungen des Ventils erscheinen demnach als geeigneter Anlas, die Anastomosierungsfahigkeit mit dem After zu uberprufen. Dabei sollte aber operationstaktisch der Weg zur Rekonstruktion des defekten Ventils offengehalten werden.

Die Leistungsfahigkeit neu entwickelter Kryosonden wurde durch die Messung der Temperaturverteilungsmuster im Lebergewebe in der Umgebung von 1–3 aktiven Sonden untersucht. Nach 15 min maximalen Frierens konnte durch eine Kryosonde eine Geweberegion von 22 mm im Durchmesser auf Temperaturen unter − 50 °C eingefroren werden. Mit 3 Kryosonden wurde durch einen synergistischen Kuhleffekt eine schnelle und raumlich homogene Temperatursenkung von < − 50 °C in einer Geweberegion von 45 mm Durchmesser erreicht. Die optimale Plazierung der Kryosonden ist eine schwierige aber notwendige Voraussetzung fur eine ausreichend schnelle und tiefe Abkuhlung der Zellen.

Bei 73 Patienten wurden laparoskopische Kolonresektionen durchgefuhrt. Indikationen waren: Kolonkarzinome (29), Kolonadenome (10), Sigmadivertikulitis (1), Sigmaresektion bei Prolaps (1), Ileitis term

The differential effects of endothelin-1, -2, and -3 (ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3) on pancreatic microcirculation, pancreatic tissue integrity, and an initial inflammatory response, which are three distinct characteristics of acute necrotizing pancreatitis, were investigated in a dose-dependent manner in rats using in vivo microscopy. Red blood cell (RBC) velocity and functional capillary density (FCD) were estimated after topical superfusion of the pancreas with ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3 (100, 10, 1 pmol), revealing that ET-1 (100, 10, 1 pmol) or high ET-2 (100 pmol) and ET-3 (100 pmol) cause a dose-related deterioration of exocrine nutritive pancreatic blood flow. Analysis of pancreatic exocrine tissue damage employing the Spormann score displayed that the ET-mediated microcirculatory impairment was paralleled by dose-dependent tissue damage, which was significant compared to the control group (topical superfusion with 1 ml, saline solution 0.9%). Estimation of pancreatic postcapillary leukocyte accumulation by histomorphologically counting choracetate esterase (CAE) stained leukocytes in 50 high-power fields per animal demonstrated a significant increase in postcapillary accumulation of white blood cells, after topical administration of ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3 compared to controls. In contrast to ET-caused effects on microcirculation and tissue impairment, quantitative analysis of postcapillary leukocyte accumulation revealed the most pronounced effect after ET-2 administration but not after ET-1 administration. This demonstrates that ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3 are all able to mediate microcirculatory impairment, tissue damage, and inflammation. However, ET-3-induced damaging effects are less pronounced, while ET-1 most severely alters microcirculation and ET-2 preferentially induces leukocyte-dependent inflammation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS—Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in the tissue destruction associated with inflammatory diseases. Proctocolectomy with ileo-anal pouch (IAP) anastomosis is associated with pouchitis, particularly in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to quantify MMP-1 and MMP-2 in inflamed and uninflamed pouches of patients with UC compared with those with active UC. IAP patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) served as controls. METHODS—Biopsies were taken from 33 patients with IAP (UC, n=25; FAP, n=8) and from 10 UC patients. MMP-1 and MMP-2 were quantified using sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, northern and western blotting and in situ hybridisation experiments were performed. RESULTS—In pouchitis (n=11), MMP-1 and MMP-2 concentrations were increased compared with uninflamed pouches of patients with UC (n=14) or FAP (n=8) (MMP-1 17.7 ng/mg protein v 7.8 (UC) v 7.6 (FAP), p⩽0.05; MMP-2 16.4 v 9.5 (UC) v 6.3 (FAP), p⩽0.05). Western and northern blots revealed increased MMP-1 and MMP-2 protein and transcript concentrations in inflamed pouches. Mesenchymal cells were identified as major producers of MMP-1 and MMP-2 in pouchitis. A similar increase in MMPs was observed in tissues of patients with active UC. CONCLUSIONS—Our results support the hypothesis that MMPs are involved in mucosal destruction and crypt hyperplasia, as seen in pouchitis. Keywords: ileo-anal pouch; matrix metalloproteinases; pouchitis

Es werden die eigenen Erfahrungen mit 133 Patienten (Lebermetastasen 116, primare Leberkarzinome 17) nach Kryotherapie maligner Lebertumoren dargestellt (8/93–4/00). 70-mal erfolgte eine alleinige offene Kryotherapie, 47-mal die Kombination mit einer Resektion und 16-mal eine perkutane Kryotherapie. Bei 18 Patienten (13,5%) traten therapiespezifische Komplikationen auf (Blutungen 6,8%, Thrombopenie 3,8%, Kryoschock 2,3%), 18 Patienten entwickelten allgemeine Komplikationen. Die Komplikationsquote war signifikant hoher bei primaren Leberkarzinomen im Vergleich zu Metastasen (41,2 vs 9,5%). Bei der Tumorgrose zeigte sich eine Tendenz (bis 2 cm 5%, uber 5 cm 17%). Behandlungsart, ASA-Klassifikation und BMI hatten keinen Einfluss. Die therapiespezifische Letalitat bei Metastasen betrug 1,7%, bei allen Patienten 3%.

With the use of an in vivo porcine training model we established the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach for the instrumentation of anterior lumbar spine fusion with Bagby-and-Kuslich (BAK) interbody implants as well as "Brantigan" cages. The transperitoneal laparoscopic approach caudally from the aortic bifurcation allows the spine fusion procedure of the caudal but not of the cranial part of the lumbar spine. Because ventral stabilization of the upper lumbar spine is frequently necessary, in particular in trauma patients with spine body fractures, an additional retroperitoneal minimal-invasive (lumboscopic) approach was established using again the in vivo porcine training model. We demonstrate that via this approach spine fusion can easily be performed including the Th12 segment after fenestration of the diaphragm. With the experience from the in vivo experiments, both techniques could safely and successfully be transferred to clinical practice with the advantage of markedly reducing the extent of operative trauma compared with the corresponding open approaches.

The development and improvement of the cryosurgical technique in combination with intraoperative ultrasonographic imaging enables reliable destruction of liver tumors--although not free of complications--given that tried and tested rules of cryosurgical research are obeyed. In this respect, we can speak of real progress. On the basis of a 3-year testing phase with the CRYO6 cryosurgical apparatus from ERBE, a protocol for the cryosurgical technique for liver tumors is introduced. The spectrum of indications for cryosurgery includes the destruction of irresectable hepatic secondaries or primary tumors with curative intention and the freezing of insufficient or incomplete resection margins. The preliminary results of this treatment modality are encouraging. However, there remains a need for further clinical research to allow final judgement of the cryosurgical method.

To elucidate the hepatic microvascular response to cryothermia, we studied the liver microcirculation of Sprague-Dawley rats after one and two 4-minute freeze-thaw cycles using intravital fluorescence microscopy. Irrespective of the number of freeze-thaw cycles applied, the nature of hepatic microvascular injury was characterized by complete stasis of sinusoidal blood flow within the central part of the cryolesions and heterogeneous sinusoidal perfusion in a critically perfused border zone located at the periphery of the lesions. Analysis over time (2 hours) revealed a successive shutdown of sinusoidal perfusion within this critically perfused border zone, which was caused by intravascularly lodging cell aggregates, blocking the lumen of individual sinusoids. The aggregates consisted of parenchymal cells and cell fragments, but did not include leukocytes or platelets. Strikingly, microvascular perfusion failure was associated with Ito cell disintegration and marked dilation of sinusoids (15.6 +/- 0.8 microm vs. 8.8 +/- 0.8 microm; P.05). This excludes sinusoidal constriction as the cause of nutritive perfusion failure, and may indicate dysfunction of Ito cell-regulated vasomotor control by cryothermia. However, because circulating cell aggregates were frequently observed plugging individual microvessels, dilation of sinusoids may just be the result of passive distension caused by outflow blockade. Analysis of hepatic tissue at 8 weeks after cryothermia did not reveal regeneration and microvascular remodeling, but loss of hepatic tissue, which corresponded well with the tissue area presenting with sinusoidal perfusion failure during the initial observation period after cryothermia. The fact that there was no recovery of sinusoidal perfusion over the initial 2-hour observation period, but loss of tissue after 8 weeks, supports the view that cryothermia induces injury not only by direct low-temperature-mediated action, but also through ischemia caused by irreversible deterioration of the microcirculation.

CD44v6 expression appears to be associated with adverse prognosis and propensity for metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer. However, expression of CD44 variants in different tumour stages has been poorly characterised. CD44 variant expression was investigated in normal colonic mucosa (n = 36), colorectal adenomas (n = 15), carcinomas (n = 62) and metastases (n = 6) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blotting with exon-specific probes. High frequencies of CD44 standard (CD44s) and CD44 epithelial (CD44e) were observed in normal and neoplastic tissue. CD44v2 was seen predominantly in adenomas (27%) and UICCI carcinomas (29%). CD44v5 expression was low in normal mucosa (3%), higher in adenomas and carcinomas (29-33%), independent of tumour stage. CD44v6 expression was low in normal mucosa (6%) and higher in adenomas (47%) and carcinomas (42%). Surprisingly, a significant decrease of CD44v6 was observed in metastatic primary tumours (8%) and metastases (17%) (UICCIV) (P < or = 0.05). Therefore, the concept of CD44v6 conferring metastatic potential to malignant cells cannot be supported by our data.

Niemand wird heute bezweifeln, das durch die modernen Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien neue Arbeits- und Erkenntnisdimensionen geschaffen worden sind. Diese sind in den vorangegangenen Beitragen des Buches aktuell fur den Bereich Chirurgie umfassend zur Darstellung gebracht worden. Die Versuchung ist jedoch gros, den Einsatz multimedialer Techniken in der Medizin sogleich als Paradigmenwechsel unseres Handelns darzustellen. Dagegen kommen Experten in Sachen Multimedia zu dem Schlus, das es noch kein einheitliches Verstandnis von Multimedia gibt (Heinz Nixdorf Stiftung 1997). Entsprache es nicht mehr der Wirklichkeit, wenn wir einfach konstatieren, das ein Wechsel unserer Werkzeuge ansteht?

Patients with Crohn's disease are operated on with a morbidity of 15% and a mortality of 0% if the indication for surgery is decided in good time. After ileocecal resection the probability of having a second resection in 15-20 years is about 50%. When elective surgery is done at an early disease stage, ileocecal resections and reoperations for anastomotic stenosis can be performed by assisted laparoscopy assisted. Laparoscopic colonic resections are done more rarely. Acute and life-threatening conditions such as obstruction, perforation and sepsis are excluded from the laparoscopic approach. In a combined series of 222 laparoscopic resections for Crohn's disease, the following types of surgery were included: ileocecal resections (75), anastomotic resections (26), small intestinal resections (4), loop ileostomies (17), gastrojejunostomies (3), partial colonic resections (15), colectomies (16), loop colostomies (2) and one adhesiolysis. Two patients who sustained intraoperative bleeding underwent conversion of laparotomy. The conversion rate ranged from 0 to 22%. Reasons for 32 conversions were: large inflammatory mass (14), severe inflammation (5), fistula (3), abscess (1), perforation (1), small intestine dilation (1) and mesenteric thickening (1). Mean operative time for ileocecal resections ranged from 105 to 200 min. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 to 8 days. As more experience is gained and technical improvement is achieved, additional procedures such as resolution of severe adhesions, fistula closure and resections of colonic segments will be offered to the majority of patients who require elective surgery for localized Crohn's disease.

Tissue overexpression of CD44 variants, especially CD44v6, and elevated serum concentrations of soluble CD44 variants (sCD44) have been demonstrated in patients with colorectal cancer and several other tumors. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical value of their measurement in colorectal cancer.To examine the suitability of sCD44 and sCD44v6 as tumor markers in colorectal cancer these parameters were analyzed in serum of patients with colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic renal failure, and controls. Tissue expression of CD44v6 in colorectal carcinomas was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).sCD44 and sCD44v6 levels were significantly elevated in most of the patient groups (medians, sCD44: 330-709 ng/ml; sCD44v6: 125-160 ng/ml) compared to controls (sCD44: 346 ng/ml; sCD44v6: 106.5 ng/ml). No difference was seen between colorectal cancer patients of different UICC (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) stages and between patients with CD44v6-positive or -negative primary tumors.sCD44 and sCD44v6 concentrations showed no correlation to tumor burden or CD44v6 tissue expression. Sensitivity and specificity were low, compared to CEA. Therefore, in our view sCD44 and sCD44v6 measurement in screening or follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer is of very little clinical value.

286 patients with Crohn's disease were classified on the basis of the inflammatory pattern at their first operation as type 1 (Ileitis: n = 116), type 2a (segmental colitis: n = 60), and type 2b (total colitis: n = 108); 2 patients remained unclassified. At the same age at operation of 31.9 +/- 10.7 yrs symptoms were known in type 1 for 3.4 +/- 3.9 yrs, but for 7.5 +/- 5.7 yrs in type 2b. Main indication in type 1 was stenosis (56.9%), whereas in type 2b intractabilitiy (68.5%) predominated. Type 2a was intermediate concerning duration of symptoms and relationship of indications including fistulas. Standard-procedures were ileocecal resection (92.2%) in type 1, and colectomy (90.7%) in type 2b. In type 2a ileocolic resections and partial colectomies were mostly done. During the following 3.9 +/- 3.8 yrs reoperation rate due to disease progression was 13.6% in type 1, 25.5% in type 2a and 18.5% in type 2b. The cumulative risk of ileal resection at ten years due to new inflammation was significantly (p0.01) higher in the case of ileocolic/ileorectal anastomosis than of ileostomy (38% vs. 11%). In contrast, cumulative probability of a colorectal resection was significantly (p0.05) higher in type 2 (16%) when compared to type 1 (1.5%). Primary ileal loss was significantly (p0.01) higher in type 1 (37 +/- 23 cm) compared with type 2a (25 +/- 28 cm) and type 2b (17 +/- 21 cm). Loss of continence occurred in 0%, 3.3% and 53.7% respectively. With reoperations additional loss of ileum decreased in all types, whereas in type 2 loss of anorectal function increased. Including reoperations the rate of major complications was 9.8% and lethality was 0.8% (3/386). Resections in Crohn's disease are unavoidable due to shrinking therapeutical alternatives in the course of the disease. Owing to limited resections, loss of bowel may not exceed ileum in type 1, whereas the same resectional policy cannot avoid the total loss of the colorectum eventually in type 2. Both limited surgery and repeated resections help to maintain function as long as possible. Due to the high safety-standard the number of operations does not impair the success of the surgical concept.

Over a period of 9 years in 48 patients already operated on for ulcerative colitis secondary surgical interventions had to be planned. 25 patients had an ileostomy (IS), 10 a Kock-pouch (KP), 11 an ileoanal pouch (IAP) and 2 an ileorectal anastomosis (IRA). Whereas in 4 patients only the subjective wish for another procedure with better quality of life predominated, in 44 patients (91.7%) also objective, sometimes multiple indications for reoperation existed. In 37 patients main indications were complications or dysfunctions of the preexisting procedures, combined with the need for further resection of the colitis in 6 of them. Resection of the residual colitis was the main indication in the remaining 7 patients. The aim of the reoperation in all patients was both complete elimination of the eventually persisting colitis and restoration of quality of life in the best way wished or possible. Our of 25 IS 3 remained, 3 were reconstructed, 17 were converted to KP and 2 to IAP. Out of 10 KP one remained and in 9 corrective surgery of the nipple valve was performed. Out of 11 IAP 2 had to be resected with construction of IS, 5 were converted to KP and 4 were corrected. Two IRA were converted to IAP. The rate of early complications was 8.3% (n = 4), lethality was zero. Late complications occurred in 13 cases (27.1%) and were associated ten times with KP. Complications of KP decreased with time to zero due to technical modifications. They could always be corrected restoring function. Since only one KP had to be resected due to severe pouchitis, KP was an important secondary procedure for 31 out of 48 patients also in the long-term course ensuring both complete elimination of colitis and good quality of life owing to voluntary fecal control.

From Jan. 1993 to Apr. 1997 intestinal resections in Crohn's disease have been performed in 275 patients. 89 patients have been operated on laparoscopic assisted. The following parameters were analyzed: previous laparotomies, extent of resection, steroid medication, conversionrate, complications, operative time and postoperative stay. Endpoints were: conversionrate, complications, reconvalescence and overall satisfaction with the laparoscopic technique.The duration of the disease ranged from 1 to 16 years (x = 6). 47 patients were under steroid medication at the time of surgery. 30 patients had undergone previous laparotomies. In 10 patients the operation had to be converted into open surgery. The following procedures have been performed: ileocaecal resections (45), anastomotic resections (14), small bowel resections (4), hemicolectomies (12), colectomies (9), loopileostomies (4), adhesiolysis (1). Minor complications occurred in 6.7% of patients, major complications in 5.6%. Operative time ranged from 70 to 420 minutes (x = 173.7). The postoperative hospital stay was 13.3 days in the average.The morbidity of 12.3% is not higher than in open surgery. When complications do not occur the patients benefit from early convalescence, better cosmetics and shorter hospital stay.

Laparoscopic assisted proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch is a technical alternative to the conventional open procedure. The aim of this technique are better cosmetics. Mobilisation of the colon is achieved laparoscopically. Rectal resection, J-pouch creation, and pouchanal anastomosis are performed via a Pfannenstiel incision. Laparoscopic assisted proctocolectomy has been performed in five selected patients, three female and two male aged 17 to 36 years. Operative time ranged from 305 to 420 minutes. Intra- and postoperative complications were not encountered. Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 13 to 16 days. On a scale from 1 to 10 the average quality of life was graded 9 and the overall satisfaction level with the results of surgery scored 10. Function was identical to open surgery in not selected patients.

In a 15 years period surgery of ulcerative colitis expanded from ileostomy (IS) via Kock's pouch (KP) and ileoanal pouch (IAP) to ileorectal anastomosis (IRA). Interactions between availability of methods and frequency of operations are investigated retrospectively in order to establish an optimal primary procedure. With an overall amount of 80 operations the yearly operative frequency raised in correlation to the introduction of continence reconstructive procedures. As a consequence of this fact history of disease was shortened to less than 8 year and global colitis-associated morbidity markedly decreased. For patients readiness to undergo operation Kock's pouch was only important at the beginning (n = 9/11.3%). Most decisive was IAP (n = 49/61.3%) which could be realized last even in an one-stage-procedure with better early results due to improved patients conditions and simplified technical modifications. IRA (n = 7/8.8%) played only a limited role in the last years for selected patients, whereas IS (n = 15/18.8%) kept reserved for contraindications to reconstructive surgery. For all procedures operative complications decreased from 46.1% (12/26) to 11.0% (6/54) and lethality to 0%. Late complications were related to proctectomy (nerve damage) and construction of IAP (pouchitis in 34.8% and defunctioning of the pouch in 10.4%), whereas IRA was free of specific morbidity so far. Surgery of ulcerative colitis is characterized today by restoration of anal continence. The advantage of the changed surgical concept lies within the ability to perform colectomy at an earlier stage of the disease. Safe construction of IAP is the most important technical progress. Early operation of colitis and late morbidity of pouch justify (preliminary) IRA. Thus, surgical standard in colitis-surgery is defined more individually.

Using in vivo microscopy, red blood cell (RBC) velocities, functional capillary density (FCD), and overall changes in capillary blood flow (PI) were estimated following intraductal infusion of sodium taurocholate (0.8 ml; 4%) alone or in combination with systemic administration of somstostatin (single bolus SMS 100 microg/100 g body wt). Sodium taurocholate mediated a significant transient decrease in RBC velocities and a sustained decrease in FCD, which were paralleled by dramatic flow heterogeneity. Therefore, a significant reduction in overall capillary blood flow was calculated. Additional SMS treatment reduced microcirculatory impairment as expressed by reduction of blood flow heterogeneity, a less rarified functional capillary density, and a recovery of RBC velocities and acinar capillary overall perfusion to control values. As a result of this microcirculatory improvement, pancreas histology revealed slightly less severe tissue damage compared to the non-SMS-treated pancreatitis group. These findings demonstrate that exogenous SMS infusion can improve microcirculatory failure in acute biliary pancreatitis, which should have a beneficial effect on the course of the disease.

Karzinome des mittleren und des distalen Rektumdrittels werden zunehmend als „total mesorectal excision“ (TME) operiert. Untersuchungen von Heald [5] hatten ergeben, das insbesondere bei wanduberschreitenden Karzinomen Tumorsatelliten distal des endoskopisch sichtbaren Tumorunterrandes bei der histologischen Aufarbeitung im Mesorektum nachweisbar waren. Wenn das Mesorektum vollstandig entfernt wird, reicht ein distaler Sicherheitssaum von 1 cm aus [10]. Das hat dazu gefuhrt, das der Schliesmuskel in zunehmenden Fallen erhalten wird und der Anteil der kolo-analen Anastomosen ansteigt. Folge der tiefen Anastomose ist eine Erhohung der Stuhlfrequenz, eine Beeintrachtigung der Kontinenz und eine Zunahme des imperativen Stuhldrangs. Die Zusammenhange zwischen Anastomosenhohe und funktionellem Ergebnis wurden von Lewis [13] fur unterschiedliche Resektionshohen dargestellt (Tabelle 17.1). Hinter dem onkologischen Anspruch und dem Erhalt des Sphinkters war die Funktion oft zweitrangig.

Eine Alternative gegenuber der freien Transplantation Langerhans’scher Inseln zur Therapie des IDDM stellt die Makro-Enkapsulation dar.

The effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on cardiopulmonary and endocrinological parameters results from various factors such as increased intraabdominal pressure (IAP), CO2, and the positioning. However, positioning has not yet been regarded. Reliable examination of the individual influencing factors requires standardized anesthesiological procedure and constant IAP. Presently, the effect of positioning is observed separately from those effects caused by the pneumoperitoneum with CO2 (PP) under standardized conditions.40 patients with no history of cardiopulmonary disease were analyzed. Preoperative medication, induction and management of general anesthesia, positioning of the patient and IAP (12 mmHg) were standardized. Hemodynamic, respiratory and endocrinological parameters were determined with the patient in a supine position and in the position typical for the procedure (15 degrees head-down and 10 degrees slant to the left), each with and without PP. Heart rate (ECG), endexpiratory pCO2 (peECO2), invasive blood pressure (radial art.), central venous pressure, partial arterial O2 saturation (psaO2), and ventilation pressures (peak, plateau) were monitored throughout anesthesia. The parameters pH, pCO2, BE, HCO3-, COHb, vasopressin, lactate, and ammonia were analysed in arterial and venous blood samples at predetermined set points: base line, 10 min after CO2 insufflation, 10 min after desufflation, and 1 h after extubation (cf. table 1). Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon-test with por = 0.05 considered statistically significant.Insufflation of CO2 lead to a 12% increase of heart rate in supine position and to even 18% in the position required for surgery. Same significant changes were observed for arterial blood pressure (21 or respectively 28%). Central venous pressure increased by more than 200% after CO2 insufflation. Endexpiratory pCO2 increased by 2.4 mmHg after CO2 insufflation in the supine position and by 5 mmHg in the surgical position. Ventilation pressures increased significantly by 16%. Analysis of the effect of PP on blood gases showed that pH decreased from 7.47 to 7.43, and arterial pCO2 increased by 5.1 mmHg to 38.7 mmHg and increased further after desufflation to values of up to 43.9 mmHg. Arterial pO2 decreased steadily (18% after insufflation). Vasopressin plasma levels increased exponentially from 3.03 to maximal values of 104.45 pg/ml. Ammonia and lactate showed the expected, nearly identical course. Lactate increased within the clinically and methodically irrelevative range, from 1.12 to 1.159 mmol/l. Ammonia decreased by 29%.The observed changes, i.e. heart rate, central venous pressure, and arterial blood pressure are caused and altered by CO2 insufflation and the various positioning of patients. The increased vasopressin concentration more than likely contributes to these changes. The query whether the position of the patient also causes a change in respiratory parameters and blood gas analysis cannot be differentiated except for the end-tidal pCO2. Inspite of the observed changes no cardiopulmonary complications occurred in this patient group. Therefore, it seems possible to omit invasive monitoring in cardiopulmonary healthy patients. In patients with concomitant history of cardiopulmonary disease, however, deteriorations due to laparoscopy should be thoroughly taken into consideration and studied further.

The performance of new cryoprobes was studied by measuring the spatial and temporal patterns of the temperature distribution in liver tissue around one to three active cryoprobes. After 15 min of maximal freezing a tissue region 22 mm in diameter was frozen to temperatures below - 50 degrees C by one active cryoprobe. With three cryoprobes, using the synergistic cooling effect, a tissue region 45 mm in diameter was cooled to temperatures below - 50 degrees C. Optimal placement of the cryoprobes was found to be of critical importance.

The large majority of pathological conditions in proctology can be recognized and distinguished from each other by clinical and endoscopic means of diagnosis. Manometric and neurophysiological investigations are especially useful for understanding pathophysiology; these methods are of great clinical value whenever their results contribute to a specific concept of therapy. Functional tests are able to distinguish among the various causes of sphincteric dysfunction. Defaecography might provide the decisive hint for operative treatment for manometric investigations of the ano-rectum, balloons, perfusion tubes and microtransducers are available. In cases of incontinence, especially in females, endosonography is the investigation of choice, providing most relevant information with regard to possible surgical reconstruction of the sphincter muscle.

The surgical problems of traumatic sphincter lesions are reported comparing early and late repair. In 11 acute injuries the surgical concept consisted generally of proximal fecal deviation, distal washout, reconstruction of the muscular defects and presacral drainage. In soft tissue injuries (grade I, n = 2) complete healing without functional deficiencies was obtained inspite of renouncing fecal diversion. In isolated ruptures of the rectum or the sphincter (grade II, n = 3) and in complete disruption of both components (grade III, n = 4) after healing and closure of the temporary colostomy continence was estimated subjectively as being sufficient. Patients' overall-appraisal was not correlated to the preoperative degree of destruction not the postoperative measurement of continence. Only when devascularisation of the anorectum with severe bleeding had occurred (grade IV, n = 2) proctectomy was necessitated resulting in one death. In none of 5 patients operated on elsewhere there was a chance of secondary sphincteric reconstruction. During operation or endosonographically and electromyographically the sphincter musculature could not be detected. Obviously renouncing of anatomical reconstruction leads not only to retraction but also to secondary degeneration of the sphincter muscles.

Since there is still a controversial discussion about the ELND in melanoma patients, the purpose of this prospective study was to optimize the indication concerning ELND by ultrasound examinations. 144 patients with primary melanomas were checked every 3 months after excision. Echomorphologic pattern and intranodal vascularisation in the color-flow Doppler modus provide essential information for differential diagnosis. We found 47 patients (32.6%) with suspicious ultrasound lesions. 50% of these patients had no pathological clinical findings, the histological findings of excised lymph nodes were positive in all cases. It must be emphasized, however, that the group with lymph node metastases included 12 patients with low-risk-melanomas (2 x Tis, 10 x T11 mm tumor thickness). In comparison with a historical control group (141 patients), where ELND was performed routinely in high-risk-patients (T2), the incidence of ELND in our hospital decreased more than 50%; at the same time the percentage of detected lymph node metastases increased (twice).

It was only the endoscopic ultrasonography that allowed the esophagus and posterior mediastinum to be accessible to ultrasonography. The esophageal wall may be presented in its different anatomic layers to a degree of precision unattained by any other imaging procedure. Being important in the esophagus, both the upper rim of the tumor and the infiltration depth can this way be prognosed correctly to about 85%. In consequence, this allows proceedings appropriate to the tumor stage within the bounds of a multimodal therapeutic concept of esophagus carcinomas. Impressions of the esophagus caused by mediastinal tumors are safely distinguished from intramural tumors. Multiple biopsies to get an examination specimen from a deeper layer should be performed under no other conditions than after endoscopic ultrasonographic examination and just for special questions. In the differential diagnosis of achalasia and peptic stenosis of the esophagus, endoscopic ultrasonography proved to be less efficient. As for bronchial carcinomas, conclusive hints may be drawn from transesophageal and intratracheal ultrasonography. However, due to limited possibilities of judgment caused by air-containing structures these methods are not firmly established in the preoperative staging.