Organ-preserving resection of the gastroesophageal junction and substitution with a gastric corpus rotation tube: an experimental study.

Premalignant lesions of the gastroesophageal junction are treated conservatively or by antireflux surgical procedures. We describe a novel technique that replaces the distal esophagus after resection of the gastroesophageal junction. After resection of the gastroesophageal junction, 16 pigs were divided into two groups. In group 1 (n = 9) the gastroesophageal junction was replaced with a 3 cm wide horizontal gastric corpus tube, pedicled at the lesser curvature. In group 2 (n = 7) the tube was pedicled at the greater curvature. Tube length, volume, and compliance of the gastric remnant and blood flow in the tube (by laser Doppler flowmetry given in perfusion units [PU]) were measured before and after tube formation and 2 weeks postoperatively. Group 1 tubes were 9.5 +/- 1. 5 cm long and group 2 tubes were 8.2 +/- 0.7 cm long. Tube formation decreased volume and compliance of the gastric remnant. After tube formation, blood flow at the tip of the tube decreased from 254 PU to 64 +/- 22 PU (group 1) and 87 +/- 36 PU (group 2). Volume, compliance, and blood flow returned to baseline values 2 weeks postoperatively. No anastomotic leakage was found on postmortem examination. Horizontal gastric corpus tubes might offer an alternative to replace the distal esophagus and proximal stomach after resection of premalignant lesions of the gastroesophageal junction.

[New approaches to the surgical treatment of diffuse peritonitis]. / Neue Ansätze in der chirurgischen Therapie der diffusen Peritonitis.

OBJECTIVE: We intend to analyze if additional treatment concepts are necessary in any case as a part of the standard therapy next to the well established principle of source control in the treatment of secondary peritonitis. DESIGN: A treatment concept with early intervention, source control and extensive intraoperative lavage (20-301) should be evaluated as a standard procedure in a prospective survey. Additional treatment concepts will be applied only for special reason (on demand). RESULTS: From 11/1993 to 9/1997 241 patients with diffuse peritonitis were treated with the concept mentioned above. Additional treatment concepts as continuous postoperative lavage (n = 20) and staged lavage (n = 4) were applied as primary treatment in 24 patients only (10%), mainly for impossibility of source control and evisceration. Source control at the initial operation was possible in 216 patients (90%). Due to secondary evisceration 3 patients had to undergo laparostomy for staged lavage later. Severity of peritonitis was determined according to the Mannheim Peritonitis Index (median 26, range 15-43). The primary causes of peritonitis were perforation, leakage and abscess after operation (n = 56), followed by diverticular (n = 42) and gastric or duodenal perforation (n = 39). The hospital mortality rate was 14% in the whole group, and the postoperative morbidity rate was 39%. CONCLUSIONS: Due to progress in intensive care and antibiotic treatment only a few patients (ca. 10%) need additional therapies such as postoperative or staged lavage. Surgical source control in combination with intraoperative lavage is sufficient in most of the patients with diffuse peritonitis.

Laparoscopic partial hepatectomy in the rat: a new resectional technique.

BACKGROUND: Rats are widely used for basic research in laparoscopic surgery. We have developed a new technique of laparoscopic partial hepatectomy in the rat. METHODS: 40 American Cancer Institute rats were randomized into 3 groups. Group A (n = 14) underwent laparoscopic liver resection using a CO2 pneumoperitoneum. Group B (n = 14) was operated on with a gasless laparoscopic technique using a lifting device. A control group C (n = 12) underwent conventional open liver resection. In each group half of the animals underwent single lobectomy and the other half bilobectomy. RESULTS: The liver resection was performed successfully in all 40 rats. No conversion to open surgery was necessary. No mortality or morbidity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This new technique of laparoscopic partial hepatectomy proved to be feasible and safe. It is the first description of a laparoscopic hepatic resection in the rat that could prove valuable in further investigations of liver physiology and pathology.

Laparoscopic hernia surgery: an overview.

Despite the fact that laparoscopic hernia repair was already described in 1979, its value has still not been well defined. The standard treatment for uncomplicated primary hernia repair in Europe is an open anterior approach (i.e. Shouldice), and 'tension-free' mesh plug repair in the USA. At present, posterior mesh insertion is used to repair so-called complicated hernias with a complete myopectineal defect, and recurrent and bilateral hernias. Laparoscopic hernia repair (transabdominally and extraperitoneally) mimics this posterior mesh insertion and is therefore mostly used for treating complicated hernias. Whether or not a transabdominal or extraperitoneal approach is used depends on the type and size of the hernia, the risk to the patient, previous abdominal operations and the surgeon's experience. However, the extraperitoneal approach is now recommended because of its lower complication rate compared to the transabdominal approach. Compared to open surgical procedures the laparoscopic approach shows significant advantages in terms of less postoperative pain, decreased time off work and decreased overall costs. The disadvantages are increased operating time as well as difficulty in performing the procedure itself. A recent large randomized series has for the first time been able to demonstrate the advantages of the laparoscopic approach in a long-term follow-up. However, further studies are needed to define the exact place of laparoscopic hernia repair in the treatment of groin hernias.

[Diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma]. / Diagnose und Behandlung des hepatozellulären Karzinoms.

Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common intra-abdominal malignancy. It occurs mostly in patients who are carriers of the hepatitis B or C virus and/or have liver cirrhosis. There is no screening-test for early recognition of the development of liver cancer and this delays often an accurate diagnosis and early treatment. Resection is the best form of treatment offering a chance of cure. In the last decades, considerable progress has been made in the field of liver diagnostic and operative techniques for liver resection. This has been followed by an increase in the resection rate of patients with malignant liver tumours and by a decrease in postoperative morbidity and mortality. Nowadays, after curative resection, 5-year survival rates up to 30% can be achieved. Promising results are also obtained by new adjuvant therapeutic modalities demonstrating improvement in survival. Therefore, in the field of malignant liver tumours there is no more space for therapeutic nihilismus.