[Recommendations on treatment of acute appendicitis : Recommendations of an expert group based on the current literature]. / Empfehlungen zur Therapie der akuten Appendizitis : Empfehlungen einer Expertengruppe vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Literatur.

The paradigm shift in the treatment concept for acute appendicitis is currently the subject of intensive discussions. The diagnosis and differentiation of an uncomplicated from a complicated appendicitis as well as the selection of an adequate treatment is very challenging, especially since nonoperative treatment models have been published. The laparoscopic appendectomy is still the standard for most cases. Guidelines for the treatment of acute appendicitis do not exist in Germany. Therefore, a group of experts elaborated 21 recommendations on the treatment of acute appendicitis after 3 meetings. After initial definition of population, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) questions, recommendations have been finalized through the Delphi voting system. The results were evaluated according to the current literature. The aim of this initiative was to define a basic support for decision making in the clinical routine for treatment of acute appendicitis.

[Implementation of a fast track program : Challenges and solution approaches]. / Implementierung eines Fast-Track-Programmes : Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze.

BACKGROUND: For more than a decade the evolving concept of fast track surgery has been implemented, predominantly in colorectal surgery. The practice of fast track surgery has yielded excellent results concerning reduction of postoperative complications and hospital stay and has been shown to increase patient satisfaction; however, several studies have shown a sometimes alarmingly low rate of implementation of the individual fast track measures and the rate is a maximum of 44%. OBJECTIVE: In this review, obstacles for implementation of fast track surgery are investigated. Advice is given on possible solutions to circumvent obstacles and facilitate successful establishment of multimodal recovery protocols in individual institutions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The current international literature is critically evaluated and discussed with a particular focus on prospective clinical trials and expert recommendations. RESULTS: The reasons for a lack of adherence to fast track surgery principles have been shown to be multifactorial. Time-consuming expenditure, logistic difficulties, lack of support by colleagues as well as limitations in the healthcare system and patient-dependent factors appear to complicate implementation of fast track programs. CONCLUSION: Successful implementation and long-term perpetuation can be achieved only by an interdisciplinary team with a low level hierarchy, continuous training and a positive feedback culture. An early inclusion and clarification of personnel and patients should be firmly integrated into the fast track concept. This results in a higher satisfaction of patients and personnel and subsequently stronger adherence to the fast track concept.

[Agreement of the Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists and the Professional Association of German Surgeons for the Organization of Postoperative Pain Therapy for Surgical Patients (revised version 2019)]. / Vereinbarung zur Organisation der Schmerztherapie chirurgischer Patienten des Berufsverbandes Deutscher Anästhesisten und des Berufsverbandes der Deutschen Chirurgen (Neufassung 2019).

The treatment of any causal, procedure-specific and/or concomitant acute pain is an essential quality feature in any surgical subspecialty. An interdisciplinary and interprofessional pain therapy aims for an immediate improvement of the patients' quality of life, a reduction of the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality in the medium term, prevention of any pain chronification in the long run as well as a reduction of hospitalization and sick leave. The "Agreement of the Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists and the Professional Association of German Surgeons for the Organization of Postoperative Pain Therapy" exists since 1992. In view of the continuously developing scientific evidence, updated guideline recommendations and interprofessionally designed treatment pathways, these agreements have been adapted to the current requirements and structural conditions of the German healthcare system. Thus, both aforementioned professional associations promote an up to date version of an "Agreement for the Organization of Pain Therapy for Surgical Patients", a precise recommendation and a manual for the acting partners in order to realize the abovementioned goals.

[Agreement of the Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists and the Professional Association of German Surgeons for the Organization of Postoperative Pain Therapy for Surgical Patients (revised version 2019)]. / Vereinbarung zur Organisation der Schmerztherapie chirurgischer Patienten des Berufsverbandes Deutscher Anästhesisten und des Berufsverbandes der Deutschen Chirurgen (Neufassung 2019).

The treatment of any causal, procedure-specific and/or concomitant acute pain is an essential quality feature in any surgical subspecialty. An interdisciplinary and interprofessional pain therapy aims for an immediate improvement of the patients' quality of life, a reduction of the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality in the medium term, prevention of any pain chronification in the long run as well as a reduction of hospitalization and sick leave. The "Agreement of the Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists and the Professional Association of German Surgeons for the Organization of Postoperative Pain Therapy" exists since 1992. In view of the continuously developing scientific evidence, updated guideline recommendations and interprofessionally designed treatment pathways, these agreements have been adapted to the current requirements and structural conditions of the German healthcare system. Thus, both aforementioned professional associations promote an up to date version of an "Agreement for the Organization of Pain Therapy for Surgical Patients", a precise recommendation and a manual for the acting partners in order to realize the abovementioned goals.

[Agreement of the Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists and the Professional Association of German Surgeons for the Organization of Postoperative Pain Therapy for Surgical Patients (revised version 2019)]. / Vereinbarung zur Organisation der Schmerztherapie chirurgischer Patienten des Berufsverbandes Deutscher Anästhesisten und des Berufsverbandes der Deutschen Chirurgen (Neufassung 2019).

The treatment of any causal, procedure-specific and/or concomitant acute pain is an essential quality feature in any surgical subspecialty. An interdisciplinary and interprofessional pain therapy aims for an immediate improvement of the patients' quality of life, a reduction of the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality in the medium term, prevention of any pain chronification in the long run as well as a reduction of hospitalization and sick leave. The "Agreement of the Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists and the Professional Association of German Surgeons for the Organization of Postoperative Pain Therapy" exists since 1992. In view of the continuously developing scientific evidence, updated guideline recommendations and interprofessionally designed treatment pathways, these agreements have been adapted to the current requirements and structural conditions of the German healthcare system. Thus, both aforementioned professional associations promote an up to date version of an "Agreement for the Organization of Pain Therapy for Surgical Patients", a precise recommendation and a manual for the acting partners in order to realize the abovementioned goals.

[Agreement of the Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists and the Professional Association of German Surgeons for the Organization of Postoperative Pain Therapy for Surgical Patients (revised version 2019)]. / Vereinbarung zur Organisation der Schmerztherapie chirurgischer Patienten des Berufsverbandes Deutscher Anästhesisten und des Berufsverbandes der Deutschen Chirurgen (Neufassung 2019).

The treatment of any causal, procedure-specific and/or concomitant acute pain is an essential quality feature in any surgical subspecialty. An interdisciplinary and interprofessional pain therapy aims for an immediate improvement of the patients' quality of life, a reduction of the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality in the medium term, prevention of any pain chronification in the long run as well as a reduction of hospitalization and sick leave. The "Agreement of the Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists and the Professional Association of German Surgeons for the Organization of Postoperative Pain Therapy" exists since 1992. In view of the continuously developing scientific evidence, updated guideline recommendations and interprofessionally designed treatment pathways, these agreements have been adapted to the current requirements and structural conditions of the German healthcare system. Thus, both aforementioned professional associations promote an up to date version of an "Agreement for the Organization of Pain Therapy for Surgical Patients", a precise recommendation and a manual for the acting partners in order to realize the abovementioned goals.

[Endoscopy, angiography, surgery: diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for diverticular bleeding]. / Endoskopie, Angiographie, Chirurgie: Diagnostik- und Therapiealgorithmus bei Divertikelblutung.

Diverticular bleeding is a complication of diverticular disease but in contrast to diverticulitis, publications concerning diverticular bleeding are less common. Diverticular bleeding is the cause of approximately 20-50% of cases of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and in rare cases can be life-threatening. The main symptom of diverticular hemorrhage is painless hematochezia and the German guidelines recommend that further diagnostics of suspected diverticular bleeding should be performed in hospital. Interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms recommend primary endoscopy in acute as well as chronic recurrent diverticular bleeding. If endoscopy fails to provide an exact localization of the origin of bleeding, angiography or computed tomography (CT) angiography can be performed. The 99mTc erythrocyte scintigraphy should only be performed if endoscopy and angiography are unable to identify the localization of the bleeding source. More than 90% of diverticular hemorrhages stop spontaneously; however, it is general agreed that an active diverticular bleeding detected during colonoscopy should be immediately treated endoscopically. Alternative radiological techniques for hemostasis are rarely needed and attention must be paid to the complications. In the rare case of severe bleeding that cannot otherwise be stopped or if the bleeding vessel cannot be located, laparotomy and total colectomy can be recommended. If the diverticular bleeding has definitely been identified or recurrent bleeding causes chronic anemia, segmental or total colectomy may be undertaken; however, the advantages and disadvantages of both types of surgery have to be thoroughly explained to the patient.

[Content of a weekly morbidity and mortality conference in visceral surgery]. / Inhalte einer wöchentlichen viszeralchirurgischen Morbiditäts- und Mortalitätsbesprechung.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences are essential instruments for quality improvement in surgical departments; however, publications concerning the detailed contents of M&M conferences are rare and have not been published in the German language. OBJECTIVE: Detailed analysis of the content of a weekly M&M conference in a department of general and visceral surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from a weekly M&M conference were prospectively collected. Epidemiological data, diagnosis, type of surgery, morbidity, postoperative course and mortality were documented for each patient. Type (surgical vs. medicinal) and severity (I-V according to Clavien-Dindo classification) of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: From 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 a total of 761 out of 11,470 patients with a mean age of 62.2 (15.9) years were discussed in the M&M conferences. Of the M&M patients 39.4% were female, 88.9% showed surgical complications while 28.9% were diagnosed with a medical complication and 91 patients (12.0%) died. Complications were classified as Clavien-Dindo I: 27.9%, II: 10.5%, III: 37.7%, IV: 12% and V: 12.0%. Most surgical complications were classified as Clavien-Dindo I (30.0%) and Clavien-Dindo III (40.9%), medical complications were most often classified as Clavien-Dindo IV (29.6%) and V (34.6%). Wound healing impairment (41%), pulmonary complications (16.6%), anastomotic leakage (15.6%), septic (8.9%) and cardiac (8.0%) complications were discussed most often. Cardiac, pulmonary and septic complications were the main cause of morbidity in deceased patients. CONCLUSION: The M&M conferences display a morbidity profile of each surgical department. Depending on the speciality and focus of a surgical department, the content of the M&M conferences will vary. Detailed knowledge about the content of M&M conferences enable specific measures to be taken to improve quality and patient safety.

[Unplanned admission or readmission to the intensive care unit : Avoidable or fateful?] / Ungeplante Aufnahmen oder Rückverlegungen auf die Intensivstation : Vermeidbar oder schicksalhaft?

BACKGROUND: Unplanned admissions or readmissions to the intensive care unit lead to a poorer outcome and present medical, logistic and economic challenges for a clinic. How often and what are the reasons for readmission to the intensive care unit? Which strategies and guidelines to avoid readmission are recommended. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis and discussion of available studies and recommendations of national and international societies. RESULTS: Many studies show that unplanned admissions and readmissions to the intensive care unit represent an independent risk factor for a poor outcome for patients. Different factors that increase the probability of readmission can be identified. Structural changes concerning the normal wards, intensive care unit or the clinic internal emergency service could positively effect readmission rates and/or patient outcome while other studies failed to show any effect of these arrangements. CONCLUSION: Patient transition from the intensive care unit to a lower level of care is a critical point of time and has to be accompanied by a high quality handover. Unstable patients on normal wards have to be identified and treated as soon as possible but effects of standardized medical emergency teams are controversial.

Transient Neonatal Diabetes due to a Mutation in KCNJ11 in a Child with Klinefelter Syndrome.

Klinefelter syndrome is the most frequent chromosomal aneuploidy in males occurring in about 1 in 660 males. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated increased risk of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults with Klinefelter syndrome. There is only one previous report of neonatal diabetes in a patient with Klinefelter syndrome. We report transient neonatal diabetes due to a pathogenic heterozygous variant in KCNJ11 in a male infant with Klinefelter syndrome. A 78-day old male infant was noted to have sustained hyperglycemia with serum glucose ranging between 148 mg/dL (8.2 mmol/L) and 381 mg/dL (21.2 mmol/L) three days after undergoing a complete repair of an atrioventricular defect. Hemoglobin A1c was 6.6%. The patient was born at term with a birth weight of 2.16 kg following a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes that was controlled with diet. The patient was initially started on a continuous intravenous insulin drip and subsequently placed on subcutaneous insulin (glargine, human isophane and regular insulin). Insulin was gradually decreased and eventually discontinued at seven months of age. Chromosomal microarray at 11 weeks of age showed XXY and a panel-based, molecular test for neonatal diabetes revealed a pathogenic heterozygous variant c.685G>A (p.Glu229Lys) in KCNJ11. The patient is now 34 months old and continues to have normal fasting and post-prandial glucose and HbA1C levels. The patient will need prospective follow up for assessment of his glycemic status. To our knowledge this is the second reported case of neonatal diabetes in an infant with Klinefelter syndrome and the first due to a mutation in the KCNJ11 in a patient with Klinefelter syndrome.

A Rare Presentation of the Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone in a 12-Year-Old Girl as the Initial Presentation of an Immature Ovarian Teratoma.

BACKGROUND: Immature ovarian teratoma is very rare in childhood. We report on a 12-year-old girl with immature ovarian teratoma who presented initially with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone. CASE: A 12-year-old girl presented with acute abdomen and distention. Initial laboratory tests showed hyponatremia (sodium, 123 mmol/L), that did not respond to fluid management. Computed tomography imaging showed a 15 cm × 9 cm × 20 cm mass in the right ovary with multifocal internal fat, and dystrophic calcifications. She underwent exploratory laparotomy with a right salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and peritoneal stripping. The pathology revealed metastatic immature teratoma. Hyponatremia resolved soon after the surgery. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Although a rare diagnosis, immature ovarian teratoma must be considered in a girl who presents with abdominal mass and hyponatremia.

Bone Age: A Handy Tool for Pediatric Providers.

Pediatricians have relied on methods for determining skeletal maturation for >75 years. Bone age continues to be a valuable tool in assessing children's health. New technology for bone age determination includes computer-automated readings and assessments obtained from alternative imaging modalities. In addition, new nonclinical bone age applications are evolving, particularly pertaining to immigration and children's rights to asylum. Given the significant implications when bone ages are used in high-stake decisions, it is necessary to recognize recently described limitations in predicting accurate age in various ethnicities and diseases. Current methods of assessing skeletal maturation are derived from primarily white populations. In modern studies, researchers have explored the accuracy of bone age across various ethnicities in the United States. Researchers suggest there is evidence that indicates the bone ages obtained from current methods are less generalizable to children of other ethnicities, particularly children with African and certain Asian backgrounds. Many of the contemporary methods of bone age determination may be calibrated to individual populations and hold promise to perform better in a wider range of ethnicities, but more data are needed.

[The patient blood management concept : Joint recommendation of the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine and the German Society of Surgery]. / Das Patient-Blood-Management-Konzept : Gemeinsame Empfehlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Chirurgie.

Patient blood management is a multimodal concept that aims to detect, prevent and treat anemia, optimize hemostasis, minimize iatrogenic blood loss, and support a patient-centered decision to provide optimal use of allogeneic blood products. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has already recommended patient blood management as a new standard in 2010, many hospitals have not implemented it at all or only in part in clinical practice. The German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine and the German Society of Surgery therefore demand that i) all professionals involved in the treatment should implement important aspects of patient blood management considering local conditions, and ii) the structural, administrative and budgetary conditions should be created in the health care system to implement more intensively many of the measures in Germany.

[CAVE - A checklist system for preoperative risk evaluation : Guideline-conform cardiopulmonary diagnostics before general and visceral surgical interventions]. / CAVE ­ Ein Checklistensystem zur präoperativen Risikoevaluation : Leitliniengerechte kardiopulmonale Diagnostik vor allgemein- und viszeralchirurgischen Eingriffen.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative evaluation of patient risk is an essential component of patient preparation before surgery. Guidelines provide evidence-based algorithms for preoperative assessment of cardiac risk; however, even experienced physicians correctly apply evidence-based algorithms in only 50% of all cases or less. OBJECTIVE: A checklist system for guideline-based cardiopulmonary risk evaluation in adult patients undergoing abdominal or visceral surgery (CAVE checklists) was created to assist in preoperative cardiopulmonary risk assessment and increase correct application of evidence-based algorithms before elective visceral surgery. MATERIAL UND METHODS: International guidelines were transformed into a checklist system. These checklists were than evaluated in a department of general and visceral surgery. The main goal was to determine whether preoperative examinations, such as electrocardiograph (ECG), chest-x-ray, spirometry and advanced assessment by a cardiologist, are performed according to evidence-based guidelines. The frequency of recommended as well as unnecessary and missed examinations was assessed. RESULTS: In this study 541 patients with a median age of 64.5 years (interquartile range: 52-73 years) were examined using the checklist system. Of the patients 90.4% underwent ECG and 98.5% chest-X-ray as recommended in the guidelines. Spirometry was not recommended in any patient and not performed in any case. Advanced assessment by a cardiologist was performed in 45.5% of cases as recommended in the guidelines. When guidelines did not recommend ECG, x­ray, spirometry or advanced cardiac assessment, 69.4%, 99.6%, 99.3% and 99.8% of patients, respectively, actually did not receive these examinations. Only 2.8% of all patients did not receive an examination that was recommended by the guidelines: 1.5% ECG, 0.2% x­ray and 1.1% advanced cardiological assessment. None of these patients suffered from postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. CONCLUSION: These simple checklists are easy to use and provide a higher degree of evidence-based preoperative cardiopulmonary risk evaluation than previously reported in the literature. Adaptation of the checklists to changing guidelines is easy to perform. Whether the application of these checklists will result in a reduction of morbidity and costs have to be determined in further clinical trials.

[Current evidence for laparoscopic surgery of colonic cancer]. / Evidenzlage der laparoskopischen Chirurgie beim Kolonkarzinom.

BACKGROUND: The development of modern videoendoscopy enables surgeons to perform laparoscopic resection of colonic cancer. AIM: This manuscript evaluated the literature concerning clinically relevant differences in the short and long-term course after laparoscopic or conventional resection of colonic cancer. METHODS: An investigation of meta-analyses from randomized controlled clinical trials comparing laparoscopic and conventional surgery for colonic cancer was carried out. RESULTS: The incidence of intraoperative complications was higher during laparoscopic surgery, the duration of surgery was increased and blood loss was less when compared to open surgery. Overall morbidity and the incidence of surgical complications were decreased after laparoscopic surgery. General morbidity and mortality were not different after laparoscopic or open resection of colonic cancer. Duration of hospital stay was shorter but was also associated with the type of perioperative care (i.e. traditional or enhanced recovery). Following minimally invasive or conventional resection, the incidence of tumor recurrence (local and distant) and the duration of survival (overall and disease-free) showed no differences. Wound implantations were rare after both operative techniques but with a tendency to occur more often after laparoscopic than open resection. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic resection of colonic cancer has clinically relevant short-term benefits for the patients and long-term results are not different from open colectomy. However, most of the patients included in randomized controlled trials underwent right or left colectomy and sigmoid or rectosigmoid resections. Data with a high level of evidence concerning carcinomas of the flexures or the transverse colon do not exist. Suitable patients with colonic cancer should undergo laparoscopic resection by experienced surgeons.

[Clinical nutrition in surgery. Guidelines of the German Society for Nutritional Medicine]. / Klinische Ernährung in der Chirurgie. S3-Leitlinie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ernährungsmedizin e. V.

BACKGROUND: While enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are the standard for perioperative management, special nutritional care has to be administered to malnourished patients and those at metabolic risk with special regard to patients with postoperative complications. METHODS: Existing guidelines of the German and European societies of nutritional medicine (DGEM and ESPEN) on enteral and parenteral nutrition in surgery were merged and in accordance with the principles of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF, German Association of the Scientific Medical Societies) and Ärztliches Zentrum für Qualität in der Medizin (AeZQ, German Agency for Quality in Medicine) revised and extended. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The working group developed 41 consensus-based recommendations for perioperative nutrition. The recommendation strength is: 9x A (recommendation based on significant good quality literature containing at least one randomized controlled trial), 12x B (recommendation based on well-designed trial without randomization), 13x C (recommendation based on expert opinions and/or clinical experience of respected authorities) and 7x CCP (clinical consensus point). CONCLUSION: Even in patients without obvious malnutrition perioperative nutritional support is indicated when oral food intake is not feasible or inadequate for a longer period of time.

Growth failure in children: a symptom or a disease?

One of the most important aspects of a well-child examination is an assessment of a child's growth. Children who are failing to grow are often labeled "failure to thrive." However, close examination of the pattern of growth on standardized growth charts often allows the caregiver to characterize the growth failure as failure to grow, failure to gain weight, or failure to grow and gain weight. Such refinement of the pattern of growth failure allows for a more specific differential diagnosis and helps to focus laboratory and radiographic evaluation.

Defining pediatric malnutrition: a paradigm shift toward etiology-related definitions.

Lack of a uniform definition is responsible for underrecognition of the prevalence of malnutrition and its impact on outcomes in children. A pediatric malnutrition definitions workgroup reviewed existing pediatric age group English-language literature from 1955 to 2011, for relevant references related to 5 domains of the definition of malnutrition that were a priori identified: anthropometric parameters, growth, chronicity of malnutrition, etiology and pathogenesis, and developmental/ functional outcomes. Based on available evidence and an iterative process to arrive at multidisciplinary consensus in the group, these domains were included in the overall construct of a new definition. Pediatric malnutrition (undernutrition) is defined as an imbalance between nutrient requirements and intake that results in cumulative deficits of energy, protein, or micronutrients that may negatively affect growth, development, and other relevant outcomes. A summary of the literature is presented and a new classification scheme is proposed that incorporates chronicity, etiology, mechanisms of nutrient imbalance, severity of malnutrition, and its impact on outcomes. Based on its etiology, malnutrition is either illness related (secondary to 1 or more diseases/injury) or non-illness related, (caused by environmental/behavioral factors), or both. Future research must focus on the relationship between inflammation and illness-related malnutrition. We anticipate that the definition of malnutrition will continue to evolve with improved understanding of the processes that lead to and complicate the treatment of this condition. A uniform definition should permit future research to focus on the impact of pediatric malnutrition on functional outcomes and help solidify the scientific basis for evidence-based nutrition practices.

Influence of postoperative fluid management on pulmonary function after esophagectomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a restrictive vs. a liberal postoperative fluid therapy guided by intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI) on hemodynamic and pulmonary function in patients undergoing elective esophagectomy. Perioperative fluid therapy may influence postoperative physiology and morbidity after esophageal surgery. Definitions of adequate infusion amounts and evident rules for a fluid therapy are missing. METHODS: After esophagectomy, 22 patients were randomized either to a restrictive group (RG) with low range of ITBVI (600-800 ml/m2) or a liberal group (LG) with normal ITBVI (800-1000 ml/m2). Infusion regimen was modified twice a day according to transpulmonary thermodilution measurements until the 5th postoperative day. Primary endpoint was paO2/FIO2-ratio. Secondary endpoints were pulmonary function, fluid balance and hemodynamic as well as morbidity. RESULTS: Demographic and surgical details did not differ between both groups. The calculated sample size was not reached. There were no postoperative differences in paO2/FIO2-ratio, ITBVI, hemodynamic parameters, or morbidity either. Cumulative fluid uptake was 4.1 liter less in the RG on the 5th postoperative day (p = 0.01), and pulmonary function was better in these patients (area under curve day 2-7 for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) each <0.05). CONCLUSION: ITBVI guided restrictive infusion therapy yields a lower fluid uptake, but may not result in a difference of clinical relevant parameters. A fluid restriction after esophagectomy should always be combined with hemodynamic monitoring because additional infusions may be required.

[Perioperative nutrition - a nationwide web-based survey of German surgery departments]. / Perioperative Ernährung aus Sicht von Chirurgen - Eine deutschlandweite Online-Umfragen.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient nutrition in surgical patients increases perioperative morbidity, mortality, length of stay and therapy costs. Therefore, guidelines declare the integration of nutrition into the overall management as one of the key aspects of perioperative care. This study was conducted to evaluate the current clinical practice of clinical nutrition in surgical departments in Germany. METHODS: In 2009 German Surgical Society (DGCH) members in leading positions were surveyed with a standardised online questionnaire concerning their perioperative nutritional routines in elective surgery. RESULTS: From the addressed physicians n = 156 (6.24 %) answered. Of those, 86.9 % consider the nutritional status of their patients. Only 6 % use standardised nutritional screening tools. Short preoperative fasting for solid and liquid food is practiced by 65 % and 40 %, respectively. After the operation, 65 % allow intake of clear fluids on the day of surgery and 78 % initiate solid food on the day of surgery or the first postoperative day. Oral nutritional supplements are given only "sometimes" or "rarely" by 53.9 % of the respondents. CONCLUSION: The low response rate may imply the dilemma that the evidence-based benefit of perioperative nutrition does not meet sufficient interest. Even in case of a positive selection of "pro-nutrition respondents", standardised preoperative malnutrition screening is also rare. Aspects such as shorter perioperative fasting are already practiced more progressively. However, still greater efforts are needed to promote guideline-based clinical nutrition in surgical care in Germany.