Right-sided diaphragmatic rupture after repair of a large Morgagni hernia.

We present a case of a combination of primary and secondary diaphragmatic hernia in a 63-year male patient. For progressive dyspnea and palpitations caused by a large and symptomatic Morgagni hernia resulting in a right-sided enterothorax, an open tension-free mesh repair was performed. The postoperative course was complicated by a secondary hepatothorax through a spontaneous rupture of the right diaphragm. Primary mesh repair of the Morgagni hernia, however, proved to be sufficient. This recurrent herniation might be a consequence of (1) preexisting atrophy of the right diaphragm caused by disposition and/or long-term diaphragmatic dysfunction due to the large hernia, combined with (2) further thinning out of the diaphragm by intraoperative hernia sac resection, and (3) postoperative increase of intra-abdominal pressure.

Right-sided diaphragmatic rupture after repair of a large Morgagni hernia.

We present a case of a combination of primary and secondary diaphragmatic hernia in a 63-year male patient. For progressive dyspnea and palpitations caused by a large and symptomatic Morgagni hernia resulting in a right-sided enterothorax, an open tension-free mesh repair was performed. The postoperative course was complicated by a secondary hepatothorax through a spontaneous rupture of the right diaphragm. Primary mesh repair of the Morgagni hernia, however, proved to be sufficient. This recurrent herniation might be a consequence of (1) preexisting atrophy of the right diaphragm caused by disposition and/or long-term diaphragmatic dysfunction due to the large hernia, combined with (2) further thinning out of the diaphragm by intraoperative hernia sac resection, and (3) postoperative increase of intra-abdominal pressure.

[Operative techniques and outcomes in metabolic surgery: sleeve gastrectomy]. / Operative Techniken und deren Outcome in der metabolischen Chirurgie: Sleeve-Gastrektomie.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was initially introduced for super-obese patients in a two-step concept in order to reduce the perioperative risk. Many years before a very similar technique - the Magenstrasse and Mill (M & M) operation - was developed by Johnston in Leeds / UK as a "more physiological" bariatric procedure with acceptable weight loss, while preserving gastric emptying mechanisms and thus minimising possible side-effects such as vomiting, dumping and diarrhoea, which are common complications of gastric bypass procedures. The following manuscript analyses the current literature and our own preliminary results and parallels publications of the M & M procedure. Until now numerous modifications (e. g., bougie size and residual volume, stapler technique, use of buttress mate-rial) have been reported. However, reported -morbidity and mortality rates were equal to those of gastric banding and gastric bypass (RYGB). In conclusion, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has now proven to be as effective as the RYGB for weight loss over a three-year period. Control of hunger and feeling of fullness are -reported to be superior compared to gastric band-ing. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is no longer an experimental procedure. It should be accepted as one of the effective standard procedures for surgical treatment of morbid obesity.

[Acute pancreatitis: is there a need for surgery?]. / Akute Pankreatitis: Wann ist der Chirurg gefragt?

The treatment of acute pancreatitis is primarily non-surgical. An interdisciplinary approach as well as timely and aggressive intensive care has led to a significant improvement of the prognosis in severe necrotising pancreatitis. Early surgical procedures were associated with high morbidity and mortality and therefore were abandoned and replaced with forceful conservative treatment. However, there are still specific indications for surgery during the course of acute pancreatitis. These include cholecystectomy for biliary pancreatitis, surgical debridement of infected necrosis in septic patients and emergency operations for gastrointestinal perforations or haemorrhage. The following article focuses on surgical indications, optimal timing of surgery and competing surgical and non-surgical concepts like laparoscopic or endoscopic management. All mentioned procedures demand the cooperation of an experienced team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists and intensive care specialists, who are able to manage the potentially life-threatening complications of this disease. All patients with severe necrotising pancreatitis should be transferred to a specialised centre for interdisciplinary therapy.

[Effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on the early postoperative phase after interventions on the gastrointestinal tract]. / Einfluss der thorakalen Epiduralanalgesie auf die frühe postoperative Phase nach Eingriffen am Gastrointestinaltrakt.

INTRODUCTION: Thoracic epidural anesthesia is increasingly being used in visceral surgery as an adjuvant to general anesthesia and, in addition, as a postoperative method of thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA). This method interrupts specifically nociceptive reflexes, increases the blood supply by blocking sympathetic activation, improves pulmonary function, and has a beneficial effect on gastrointestinal (GI) motility. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 175 patients with a primary GI carcinoma operated between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 1999; 78 operations were performed on the upper GI tract (UGI, gastrectomy), and 97 on the lower GI tract (LGI, anterior rectum resection). The postoperative course in patients with and without TEA was compared. For intraoperative and postoperative catheter analgesia, bupivacaine (intraoperative: 0.25%; postoperative: 0.125%) and fentanyl were used. General anesthesia was administered as balanced anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients received combined anesthesia with TEA (UGI n = 61/LGI n = 41) and 73 patients were given general anesthesia with continuous postoperative, intravenous pain therapy or a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump (UGI n = 17/LGI n = 56). There was no difference between the groups with and without TEA in terms of initial demographic details, such as age distribution, tumor stage or ASA classification. Under TEA, the length of stay in the intensive care unit (P < 0.01), the administration of antibiotics (P < 0.001), days without oral nutrition (p < 0.05) and the rate of anastomosis insufficiencies (P < 0.001) was significantly reduced after operations on the upper GI tract. After surgery on the lower GI tract, the use of TEA led to less frequent vomiting and earlier resumption of GI motility (P < 0.01). However, these positive effects did not have a significant beneficial impact on overall hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The combination of TEA and general anesthesia has been shown to offer advantages after operations on both the upper and the lower GI tract. The positive effects of the TEA in the postoperative period should be used for the early enteric nutrition and mobilization of patients.

A comparison of laparoscopic Toupet versus Nissen fundoplication in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is used very frequently but may lead to postoperative bloating, inability to belch, and dysphagia. Partial wrapping has been reported to be equally effective but associated with fewer unfavorable postoperative symptoms. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to compare the results of a 270-degree wrap (Toupet, T) and a 360-degree wrap (Nissen, N) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). PATIENTS/METHODS: A total of 162 patients with severe GERD and/or hiatal hernia underwent laparoscopic antireflux surgery between January 1997 and December 2000. All patients were assigned to the T group before January 2000; after January 2000, they were assigned to either the T or the N group depending on preexisting motility disorders. The pre- and postoperative gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients were treated using the T procedure, and 40 patients underwent N fundoplication; 124 patients (77%) had a lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure of less than 15 mmHg, and 34 (21%) had a low esophageal body peristaltic pressure of less than 35 mm Hg. All of the latter 34 had undergone partial fundoplication. The average operation time was 140 +/- 5 min in the T group and 118 +/- 6 min in the N group ( P=0.03). Postoperative hospitalization averaged 3.8 days in the T group and 3.4 days in the N group. Operative complications only occurred in the T group (2%), and none of the patients died. No statistical difference was seen preoperatively or at follow-up (mean 19 months; range 4-36 months) between the quality of life score after partial versus complete wrapping (88 and 123 in the T group, 87 and 118 in the N group preoperatively and at follow-up, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both partial and complete wrapping offer an effective form of therapy for reflux disease with over 85% patient satisfaction.

[Radio-guided parathyroidectomy: successful intraoperative parathyroid localization diagnosis with 99mTc-sestamibi in primary and recurrent hyperparathyroidism]. / Radio-guided Parathyreoidektomie: Erfolgreiche intraoperative Lokalisationsdiagnostik bei primärem und rezidivierendem Hyperparathyreoidismus mit 99mTc-MIBI.

INTRODUCTION: In addition to ultrasonography, CT scan, MRI and venous sampling, 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy has gained increasing acceptance in preoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid tissue. The sensitivity of this radionuclide method is 87% in primary (p), 58% in secondary (s), and 75% in recurrent hyperparathyroidism (HPT). This study evaluated the use of intraoperative nuclear mapping in patients with HPT. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed in 24 patients with HPT (18 p, 4 s, 2 recurrent) undergoing a technetium-sestamibi-guided neck exploration during an 18-months period. Abnormal parathyroid tissue was localized using an intraoperative gamma probe detector 2 h after application of 700 MBq 99mTc-sestamibi and verified by pathology. RESULTS: Intraoperative nuclear mapping identified 15 of 18 adenomas in patients with pHPT. The target-to-background ratio was 1.3 to 4.1 in these patients compared to 1.0 to 1.2 in undetected adenomas. In 67% of these patients we performed a minimally invasive open parathyroidectomy. In two cases of recurrent HPT the scan-guided detection of ectopic parathyroid tissue was efficient. In contrast, the method was less helpful in four patients with multiglandular disease. CONCLUSION: The intraoperative use of a gamma probe detector is highly effective in identifying parathyroid adenomas in pHPT and recurrent HPT and supports minimally invasive techniques.

[Colorectal carcinoma in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome]. / Kolorektales Karzinom bei Cronkhite-Canada-Syndrom.

We report a 63-year-old lady with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome, who developed colorectal cancer. A hemicolectomy was performed, and the tumor specimen was prepared for DNA-analysis and immunohistochemical screening. We found a mutation of p53 gene without APC- and ras-gene alteration and expression of erbB2-protooncogen. The polyps in non-hereditary Cronkhite-Canada-syndrom are neither adenomatous nor hyperplastic, but patients often develop colorectal cancers. The steps of mutation do not follow the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, first described by Vogelstein 1988. This and previous observations suggest that carcinogenesis in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome follows another independent sequence.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with honeycomb lung]. / Laparoskopische Cholezystektomie bei einer Patientin mit unilateraler Wabenlunge.

Laparoscopic surgery of the gallbladder has increasingly replaced open techniques due to postoperative benefits (less pulmonary complications, less postoperative pain, earlier mobilisation). Specific intraoperative effects of pneumoperitoneum have led to some uncertainty if cardiac and/or pulmonary high-risk cases should be done laparoscopically. We describe anaesthesiological management of a 72 year old patient with a unilateral leftsided honeycomb lung (two very large cysts) to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Vital capacity was reduced to 45%, forced expiratory 1 second volume to 41%, preoperative bloodgas analysis revealed a paO2 of 64 mmHg and a paCO2 of 40 mmHg. Under spontaneous breathing the patient was fiberoptically intubated with a left sided double lumen tube (Mallinckrodt, Athlone/Irland; 37 Ch) using balanced anaesthesia. The healthy right lung was hand ventilated with 100% oxygen to avoid excessive airway pressures (peak airway pressure 27 mbar, mean airway pressure 22-24 mbar). The diseased left lung was passively insufflated with oxygen. The intraabdominal pressure was limited to 10 mmHg. Muscle relaxation was achieved with atracurium under monitoring using a nerve stimulator. The paCO2 increased from 40 to 57 mmHg during the operation, but returned to normal immediately postoperatively. All other ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters were uneventful during the 35 minute procedure. The patient was extubated at the end of the procedure and monitored on the intensive care ward for one night. A postoperative chest X-ray revealed a mediastinal shift of 2 cm to the right, healthy side as well as an atelectasis on this side. The shift was most likely due to hypoventilation of the right lung, with the ensuing atelectasis drawing the mediastinum to the right. Under physiotherapy this shift had resolved by the next morning. The patient could be discharged from hospital on day seven and fully recovered. Especially the severely cardiopulmonary compromised patient benefits from a laparoscopic procedure, due to less postoperative reduction of pulmonary function. Careful and individually adapted monitoring and anaesthetic techniques are necessary to successfully counteract the special implications of pnemoperitoneum.

[Routine use of abdominal ultrasound and epigastric CT in polytrauma. Analysis oftherapeutic relevanc in 105 patients]. / Routineeinsatz von Abdomensonographie und Oberbauch-CT beim Polytrauma. Analyse der Therapierelevanz bei 105 Patienten.

INTRODUCTION: A prospective analysis was done to determine the frequency of therapy relevance of abdominal computed tomography (CT) in multiple trauma patients in comparison to abdominal ultrasound (US). METHODS: We recorded all multiple trauma patients in the emergency room (n = 248) from August 1996 to July 1997 with an evaluation form and performed abdominal CT subsequent to US whenever the patient was hemodynamically stable and not in need of immediate surgery (n = 105). We documented the results of both methods and their impact on acute therapy. RESULTS: In 27 of 105 patients (25.7%) therapy management was influenced by both either US or CT. 76 patients (72.4%) showed normal US findings, followed by a CT which showed additional findings with therapeutic relevance in five patients (6.6%). Twenty-nine patients (27.6%) showed abnormal US findings. Compared to the therapeutic procedures proposed after the use of US the subsequently performed CT led to a change in therapy in 12 patients (41.4%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that if US is normal, additionally performed CT of the abdomen provides information of therapeutic relevance in only a limited number of cases. If US is abnormal, CT will have an important impact on therapy in a high number of patients.

[Emergency decompression of a mechanical colonic ileus before elective surgery: first clinical results of fluoroscopic stent placement]. / Notfallmässige Entlastung des mechanischen Kolonileus vor der frühelektiven Operation: Erste Ergebnisse der durchleuchtungsgesteuerten Stentapplikation.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of fluoroscopic stent placement as an emergency therapeutical approach for treatment of acute large bowel obstruction due to colorectal neoplasm. METHODS AND MATERIAL: From January to December 1996 in 11 patients suffering from colorectal stenosis due to known or supposed malignancy the indication for the fluoroscopic placement of self-expanding metal stents was established. All patients showed clinical and radiological signs of an acute mechanical large bowel obstruction. Elective single-stage surgery was planned if the decompression had been carried out successfully. RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in 8 cases. Functional success in respect of resolving the acute large bowel obstruction was seen in 7 out of 11 patients. Elective surgery was possible in all 7 cases creating a primary end-to-end anastomosis without major complications during the perioperative period. CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopic placement of self-expanding metal stents in malignant colorectal stenosis is a promising method to avoid emergency surgery.

[Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Epidemiology, symptoms, morphology and therapy based on a case report and literature review]. / Das Cronkhite-Canada-Syndrom. Epidemiologie, Symptomatik, Morphologie und Therapie anhand eines Fallberichts und der Literatur.

Juvenile polyposis was first described by Cronkhite and Canada in 1955. This disease is characterized by juvenile intestinal polyps and ectodermal abnormalities. The etiology of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS), however, is still not well understood. Interestingly among patients with CCS a significant correlation (16.5%) with intestinal carcinomas has been observed. Thus, malignant transformation and/or genetic predisposition may be involved in the initiation of the disease. In the following, epidemiology, symptoms, morphology and therapy of CCS are discussed. Our examinations are based on studies reported in the literature and on a case report of a female patient who developed a colon carcinoma 2 years after initial diagnosis of CCS.

[Solitary metastasis to the head of the pancreas in hypernephroid carcinoma]. / Solitäre Pankreaskopfmetastase bei hypernephroidem Karzinom.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is a major cause of cancer death. Most metastases occur within the first three months after diagnosis of the primary. Solitary metastases at unusual sites are not untypical, and therefore require particular attention. Pancreatic metastasis in general and from a renal cell carcinoma in particular, represent a rare finding. Within the period between 1986 and 1993, only a single patient with a solitary pancreas metastasis was diagnosed and surgically treated at our hospital. Four years after operation, the patient continued to be tumor- and symptom-free.

[Surgical indications in cricopharyngeal dysfunction]. / Operationsindikation bei cricopharyngealer Dysfunktion.

In 1989, five patients were treated for a cricopharyngeal dysfunction by cervical myotomy. In the past, due to extremely limited indications for surgery, repeated efforts of conservative treatment had been attempted in patients with idiopathic cricopharyngeal dysfunction and tracheopulmonary aspiration and/or permanent inability of oral nourishment. These patients underwent surgery after an interdisciplinary clinical assessment. Four out of five patients showed immediate improvement of their serious symptoms. Cervical myotomy is not expected to be successful in patients with insufficient oropharyngeal propulsion, as we could see in one female patient with severe upper oesophageal sphincter spasm. According to the literature and to our results, approximately 70 to 90% of the patients with idiopathic dysfunction of the cricopharyngeal muscle, who underwent surgery, showed significant improvement or even recovery. Due to the multifactoral genesis of the cricopharyngeal dysfunction it is understandable, that the surgical result is heavily dependent on the preoperative interdisciplinary diagnosis. In summary, for idiopathic cricopharyngeal dysfunction with complications we recommend the early and technically simple operation.