[Psammomatous melanotic schwannoma as indicator of a Carney complex]. / Psammomatöses melanotisches Schwannom als Indikator eines Carney-Komplexes.

Within a few months a 31-year-old female patient was diagnosed with a psammomatous melanotic schwannoma, an atrial myxoma and microfollicular adenomas in both thyroid lobes. Therefore, sufficient diagnostic criteria of a Carney complex were fulfilled. The Carney complex is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder with highly variable phenotypes, which was initially described by Carney in 1985 as a complex of myxomas, spotty skin pigmentation and endocrine overactivity. Pathologists should consider this differential diagnosis in reports when confronted with a psammomatous melanotic schwannoma.

[Examination of the opportunity costs and turnover situation in patients with deep sternal infections]. / Kostennutzenanalyse der Therapie von Risikopatienten am Beispiel tiefer Sternuminfektionen.

BACKGROUND: Each and every hospital of any kind is forced, due to increased cost pressure, to work as economically and as efficiently as possible. This even applies when the operational orientations of the hospitals institutions are different. In the present article an analysis of the repercussions of the treatment of postoperative complications in terms of entrepreneurial practice is given. Our focus is on the opportunity cost. METHOD: A theoretical calculation of opportunity costs is made based on the example of postoperative infections following cardiac surgery and the resulting treatment. The bases of the examinations are the results collected at the hospital Mediclin Herzentrum Lahr / Baden in 2008. The wound healing disorders were recorded from November 2004 until November 2007 and include 3675 patients who were operated on using a median sternotomy. Out of the 3675 patients 45 (1.2 %) were affected. Various treatment options are at hand. The used therapy algorithm in our practice is dependent on the stage and the development of the infection. RESULTS: If the high trim point, the medial trim point and the low trim point of the mediastinitis patients, as well as the average revenue and the surcharge omission on exceeding the high trim point (these data can be found in the annual accounts) and knowledge of the actual length of stay of the mediastinitis patient are known, the opportunity cost, respectively potential turnover increases, can be calculated. Reducing the medial trim point from 48.43 to, for example, 36.37 days could potentially produce a turnover increase of as much as 10 633.41 €. CONCLUSION: Keeping patient safety in mind, significant turnover increases can be achieved with adequate planning. The considered sales situation, however, can only be achieved under the same terms: these being free operating room and bed capacities, available personnel, equal cost of materials as well as enough patients. The consideration of opportunity costs could be important for entrepreneurs if staff shortage continues and, in economical terms, non-expendable capacities are created.

In search of a standardized treatment for poststernotomy mediastinitis.

Poststernotomy mediastinitis following median sternotomy procedures such as open heart surgery is a rare complication which nevertheless has a mortality rate of up to 50 %. Several treatment options are currently available; however, none of them are standardized. Based on the experience gained from open heart surgery performed at the MediClin Heart Institute Lahr/Baden, a therapeutic algorithm was developed. The treatment steps consist of repeated radical surgical debridement, sternal restabilization, vacuum-assisted closure therapy (VAC) as well as a surgical reconstruction via M. pectoralis plasty (MPP). This approach had a 30-day mortality of 0 % and a hospital mortality of 10.4 %. The approach proved to be safe and advantageous for specific patient groups operated on at the MediClin Heart Institute Lahr/Baden.

Long-term results of mechanical and biological heart valves in dialysis and non-dialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: We wanted to answer the question whether biological heart valves are inferior compared to mechanical heart valves in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. METHODS: Between 01/1996 und 12/2006, 44 of 3293 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) in a single institution suffered from dialysis-dependent ESRD and underwent a follow-up investigation after 1.9 years (median). Twelve (28.9 %) of these patients received a biological, 32 (71.1 %) of these patients a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis. To evaluate a possible influence of the valve type (biological/mechanical) on survival, uni- and multivariate logistic regression was used. RESULTS: ESRD patients after AVR had a relatively poor short-term (30-day mortality: 22.7 %) and long-term survival (median survival time: 24.7 months; 95 % CI: 0.2-47.7 months), irrespective of the type of heart valve prosthesis (hazard ratio for mortality depending on heart valve type in dialysis patients: 1.31, P = 0.400). Dialysis-dependent patients were not reoperated due to valve-related reasons. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term survival of dialysis-dependent patients after AVR is low (5-year survival: 29.5 %) irrespective of the type of heart valve prosthesis. Therefore, the use of biological AVR is not contraindicated in this group of patients.

Female gender does not increase perioperative risk in coronary bypass surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Female gender has been identified as an independent risk factor for perioperative mortality in several risk scores for cardiac surgery. Since no explanation has been given for this, this study aimed to evaluate potential differences in the distribution of other risk factors between the genders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 10 714 consecutive coronary bypass patients were analyzed retrospectively. The distribution of the risk factors as used in the EuroSCORE was evaluated. Diabetes mellitus was added to the analysis as an additional risk factor. Patients aged between 60 and 70 years without any additional risk factors were directly compared in a subgroup analysis. Statistical analysis was done using the T-test or chi-square test where appropriate. RESULTS: Female patients were significantly older compared to male ones (69.1 ± 8.5 vs. 65.4 ± 4 years, P < 0.05). The distribution of the analyzed risk factors did not differ except for diabetes mellitus: female patients were more likely to present with diabetes (42 % vs. 29 %, P < 0.05) and in diabetic patients, the incidence of insulin dependency was higher in female patients (50 % vs. 33 %, P < 0.05). Overall perioperative mortality was higher in female patients (2.7 % vs. 1.8 %, P < 0.05). This difference increased when diabetes was present (3.9 % vs. 1.8 %, P < 0.05) and was even higher in insulin-dependent patients (4.9 % vs. 1.9 %, P < 0.05). However, when adjusting for age and diabetes, the differences were reduced. This was most evident when subgroups of age-adjusted patients without any additional risk factors were analyzed: no gender-specific difference in perioperative mortality was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Female gender itself did not present as an independent risk factor. The presence of diabetes mellitus increased the risk in female patients significantly more than in male patients. The higher prevalence of diabetes in female patients in combination with the older age at presentation might result in the higher overall mortality observed in female patients compared to men.

[Integrated case fees in cardiosurgery--a pilot project for fast-track rehabilitation]. / Komplexfallpauschalen in der Herzchirurgie--ein Modellprojekt zur Frührehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Lengthy recovery and treatment times following cardiosurgical interventions were the motivation for introducing a pilot procedure to integrate acute and rehabilitative treatment structures. The advantage of such a pilot procedure is the medico-economic link between direct transition from acute care to rehabilitation treatment and cutting average case costs. With this in mind, shared case fees for patients following cardiosurgery are being agreed in a pilot project between health insurance companies, acute-care hospitals and rehabilitation clinics. The aim of this study was thus to investigate whether rehabilitation directly after cardiosurgery without prior transferral to an acute-care hospital is comparable with the conventional procedure involving acute care. METHODS: A total of 221 patients were included in the investigation. The pilot project group comprised 159 patients (mean age 70 +/- 6 yrs, 117 men and 42 women) who were transferred directly to rehabilitation following cardiosurgery. The control group, comprising 62 patients (mean age = 71 +/- 6 yrs, 42 men and 20 women), was transferred to an acute-care hospital following cardiosurgery before commencing rehabilitation. Sociodemographic and clinical data were comparable between the two groups. RESULTS: At the end of rehabilitation, the mean maximum ergometric performance in the pilot group was 96 +/- 33 W, significantly higher than the control group's performance of 81 +/- 31 W. One difference between the two groups related to complications. During rehabilitation, complications occurred more frequently within the pilot group. In the pilot group, compared to the control group, postcardiotomy syndrome occurred in 45.3 versus 25.8% and impaired wound healing in 10.1 versus 4.8% of cases. Despite these results, the pilot group demonstrated a significantly shorter overall hospital stay of 39.5 +/- 7.5 days compared to the control group stay of 45.7 +/- 9.7 days. CONCLUSION: Compared to the control group, the pilot group was at no disadvantage with regard to clinical or performance data by the end of rehabilitation. Cardiac complications occur more often during rehabilitation taking place directly after cardiosurgery than with the conventional procedure. These can be viewed, however, as complications occurring directly in temporal conjunction with the operation and as to be expected. Complications attributed directly to fast-track rehabilitation can be excluded. In the pilot group the overall hospital stay was thus shortened. In an environment of legislative restructuring within the healthcare sector, this shows that adequate treatment of cardiosurgical patients is still guaranteed with fast-track rehabilitation.

INR self-management permits lower anticoagulation levels after mechanical heart valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The Early Self Controlled Anticoagulation Trial (ESCAT I) showed that anticoagulation self-management after mechanical heart valve replacement decreased complication rates by maintaining INR levels closer to the target range than International Normalized Ratio (INR) home doctor management. The therapeutic range for the INR in that study was between 2.5 and 4.5 for all positions of prosthetic valves. ESCAT II should find out whether lowering the target range for INR self-management would further reduce complication rates. METHODS: ESCAT II is a prospective controlled randomized (valves: St. Jude Medical Standard or Medtronic Hall, treatment: conventional/low-dose) multicenter study with 3,300 patients. We present interim results of 1,818 patients. 908 were categorized as having a low-dose target range, which was INR 1.8 to 2.8 for prostheses in aortic position and 2.5 to 3.5 for prostheses in mitral position or in combined valve replacement. The control group (conventional group) with 910 patients aimed at an INR of 2.5 to 4.5 for all valve positions. RESULTS: In the conventional group, 74% of INR values measured were within the therapeutic range. In the low-dose group, 72% of the values were within that range. The linearized thromboembolism rate (% per patient year) was 0.21% for both groups. The bleeding complication rate was 0.56% in the low-dose regimen group versus 0.91% in the conventional group. CONCLUSIONS: Early onset INR self-management under oral anticoagulation after mechanical heart valve replacement enables patients to keep within a lower and smaller INR target range. The reduced anticoagulation level resulted in fewer grade III bleeding complications without increasing thromboembolic event rates.

Gadolinium-enhanced elliptically reordered three-dimensional MR angiography in the assessment of hand vascularization before radial artery harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting: first experience.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the suitability of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the preoperative evaluation of hand vasculature in potential candidates for radial artery bypass grafting. METHODS: In 21 patients, gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced, three-dimensional gradient-echo sequences of both hands were performed, as well as a Doppler ultrasound study with radial artery compression. Doppler findings were correlated with MRA, focusing on the assessment of anastomoses between the vascular bed of the ulnar and radial arteries. RESULTS: One individual had to be excluded because of accidentally disclosed metal foreign bodies. Sufficient depiction of the hand vasculature was achieved in the remainder. Seventeen patients had evidence of adequate collateral flow between the ulnar and radial artery supply on Doppler ultrasound. Three patients exhibited inadequate collateral flow, with angiographic signs of vessel occlusion or missing collaterals between the palmar arches. Two patients presented with stenosis or occlusion of the radial artery. Magnetic resonance angiograms displayed great variations in hand vasculature and collateral formation, with no mismatch compared with Doppler ultrasound results. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced MRA displays vascularization of the hand in detail and supplies ultrasound flow measurements for radial artery harvest, with high-resolution angiographic data about possible vessel variations and the presence of anastomoses between the radial or ulnar artery supply.

Formaldehyde-free collagen glue in experimental lung gluing.

Because of the well-known limitations of the adhesive strength of fibrin glue, it is imperative to develop a stronger glue with acceptable biocompatibility. This was accomplished by removing the formaldehyde component from gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde glue and replacing it by two less toxic aldehydes--pentanedial and ethanedial. To evaluate the adhesive strength of this new glue, GR-DIAL, lung incisions in rabbit hybrids were glued together. Each group (n = 5) was examined histologically after 2 days and 1, 2, and 4 weeks. The glue disintegrated gradually with good bioresorption when the incision was closed with a thin layer of glue. The healing process was favorable, indicating good biocompatibility. Therefore, GR-DIAL glue is capable of enhancing the use of surgical glues in the field of thoracic surgery by enabling surgeons to close larger parenchymal lesions than with fibrin glue.

Errors of the backextrapolation method in determination of the blood volume.

Backextrapolation is an empirical method to calculate the central volume of distribution (for example the blood volume). It is based on the compartment model, which says that after an injection the substance is distributed instantaneously in the central volume with no time delay. The occurrence of recirculation is not taken into account. The change of concentration with time of indocyanine green (ICG) was observed in an in vitro model, in which the volume was recirculating in 60 s and the clearance of the ICG could be varied. It was found that the higher the elimination of ICG, the higher was the error of the backextrapolation method. The theoretical consideration of Schröder et al (Biomed. Tech. 42 (1997) 7-11) was proved. If the injected substance is eliminated somewhere in the body (i.e. not by radioactive decay), the backextrapolation method produces large errors.

Risks and benefits of cardiac pacing in children.

Forty-nine patients aged 2 days to 14 years (30% below 1 year of age) required implantation of a permanent pacemaker system. Surgically induced bradyarrhythmia was the main indication for treatment (84% of patients). In the follow-up period (ranging from 2 to 140 months) 16 reoperations became necessary for complications in 12 children. Twelve of these were caused by problems related to function of the epicardial electrode (threshold rise 9, lead fracture 2, dysfunction 1). Four patients died, but pacemaker function had remained intact in all. Our experience confirms that artificial cardiac stimulation has become a reliable instrument for improving quality of life and life expectancy of children endangered by postsurgical, congenital and acquired rhythm disorders.

Simultaneous myocardial revascularization and aortic valve replacement: stentless versus stented bioprostheses.

Implantation of stentless aortic valve prostheses is more time-consuming than implantation of conventional stented bioprostheses. Simultaneous myocardial revascularization can result in a considerably prolonged operation time. We reviewed our patients with regard to surgical aspects in the specific patient cohorts. From April 1996 to April 1999, 303 patients were operated for aortic valve disease with or without concomitant coronary artery revascularization. Mean age was 75 years, ranging between 36 and 90 years. Using the Medtronic Freestyle valve, the following techniques of implantation were used: subcoronary technique, 163 patients, 61.5%; root inclusion technique, 7 patients, 3.5%; total root replacement, 30 patients, 15%. Total hospital mortality rate was 5.6%, reflecting age and concomitant disease of these patients. For isolated aortic valve replacement, the mortality rate was 4.7% and 6.7% for combined procedures. Coronary artery patients who are not suitable for stentless valve implantation owing to extensive aortic root calcification have a higher perioperative mortality rate. Compared with the isolated valve replacement and despite more extensive surgery and prolonged operative time, simultaneous myocardial revascularization in patients with stentless prostheses implantation can be performed without an increased risk.

On-line variable live-adjusted displays with internal and external risk-adjusted mortalities. A valuable method for benchmarking and early detection of unfavourable trends in cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Benchmarking and early detection of unfavourable trends. METHODS: We implemented a dedicated project-orientated data warehouse, which continuously supplies data for on-line computing of the variable live-adjusted displays (VLADs). To calculate the expected cumulative mortality, we used the multi-variate logistic regression model of the EuroSCORE model. In addition to the external EuroSCORE standard, we calculated a centre-specific risk score for internal standards by analysing the data of 9135 patients, which enables both internal and external comparisons. The VLADs are embedded into the multi-purpose web-based information portal, so that the physicians can investigate several types of VLADs interactively: performance of different types of surgery and individual surgeons for different time intervals. We investigated clinically important events such as modification of operative techniques and personnel changes of the team by the VLADs. RESULTS: We found transient declines in the performance curves during major changes in patient management, indicating that systemic--rather than accidental or patient related factors--were involved in the mortality risk. The internal standard line represents these clusters more clearly than the external line. We evaluated examples of how periods of increased risk could be monitored by the VLAD curves: (1) the introduction of OPCAB surgery; (2) training of surgeons; (3) staff changes and staff-related management. CONCLUSIONS: On-line VLADs based on a day-to-day updated database, displaying both internal and external standards, are a helpful visualisation tool for earlier detection of unfavourable trends. They enable the surgeon teams and clinical management to take countermeasures at an early stage.

Immunoprophylactic anti-Rho(D) treatment after mismatched transfusions.

80 cases of anti-Rho(D) treatment after mismatched transfusions are reviewed to compare the intramuscular (i.m.) and intravenous (i.v.) route of treatment. No severe reactions such as renal failure occurred with either method of anti-D treatment. If the Rh-immune globulin is injected i.m., 20 micrograms anti-D per ml red cells are used. For i.v. anti-D administration, 10-12 micrograms anti-D are suggested. The i.v. method of anti-D treatment is recommended for the future. Furthermore, a scheme of treatment for after mismatched transfusions is described.

[Recurrent ileus in jejunal diverticulitis]. / Rezidivierender Ileus bei Jejunaldiverticulitis.

Jejunal diverticula are in most cases acquired lesions of the intestinal wall, which are caused by abnormalities of smooth muscle or myenteric plexus. They may lead to more complications than previously expected. The described patient developed an acute abdomen 8 years after an ileus due to jejunal diverticulitis with enterolith formation and resection of two jejunal diverticula. Immediate laparotomy had demonstrated again an ileus, partly induced mechanically by an obstruction due to 2 enteroliths, partly induced paralytically due to local peritonitis. The surgical significance of jejunal diverticula is discussed.

Optimizing deconvolution techniques by the application of the Münchhausen meta algorithm.

A deconvolution applied to disturbed data often gives poor results, due to fundamental difficulties associated with ill-posed problems. Many numerical and theoretical methods have been invented to circumvent this phenomenon. Their performance varies, depending on the given problem and data. The main aim of this paper is to provide a decision rule for choosing a method for deconvolution and application of this method to the same data. We have called this meta-algorithm Münchhausen. In this paper we introduce and describe for the first time the basic principle of artificial disturbance of the data in the set-up of deconvolution. We demonstrate some interesting features of the random procedure Münchhausen, such as the non parametric set-up, robustness to disturbance of the data and last but not least good performance.

Revascularization surgery as a treatment concept for heart failure.

Patients with heart failure symptoms due to ischemic cardiomyopathy face a poor prognosis without adequate treatment. In these patients with viable ischemic myocardium, revascularization surgery is not a new but an established treatment concept. the CASS study, published in 1983, was already able to document the superiority of coronary artery revascularization in patients with poor left ventricular function. It is of utmost importance to predict regional functional recovery in order to assess viability and, thus, the indication for revascularization. Late gadoliniium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance is the new gold standard. By applying this technique, it can be demonstrated that the transmural extent of a scar predicts segmental functional recovery. Numerous studies describe the predictors of survival of surgical revascularization, the indication and impact of medical antiarrhythmic treatment or choice of graft. In addition to conventional surgery, off-pump procedures, minimal extracorporeal circulation and hybrid revascularization have a special role in the treatment of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Surgical techniques and medical therapies continue to improve. The future revascularization in these patients will focus on improving results and making coronary artery bypass grafting for elective revascularization less invasive and safer. Technical evolution, including the use of robotics and anastomotic connectors, intraoperative imaging and protein enzyme therapies, have to be defined concerning their special impact in these patients.

Coronary artery surgery: now and in the next decade.

In coronary artery surgery the superiority of the internal mammary artery graft in 10-year survival was documented in 1986. In 1999 it was demonstrated that death, reoperation and percutaneous transluminary coronary angioplasty were more frequent in patients undergoing single rather than bilateral internal mammary artery grafting. Today coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is challenged by the success story of modern interventional cardiology. The Syntax Study, however, clearly underlined the better outcome for patients with triple-vessel and/or left main disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in terms of repeat revascularization. Another point of ongoing discussion is the comparison between on-pump and off-pump coronary artery revascularization techniques. Even if mixed results exists in the literature, in experienced hands the combination of aortic no-touch and total arterial revascularization, probably leads to the superiority in off pump coronary artery bypass grafting in terms of significantly decreased rates of mortality, stroke, major adverse cardiac and cerebral vascular events. Coronary artery surgery in the next decade will be influenced by the further progression of minimally invasive surgical principles and by a variety of other factors. The role of robotics and hybrid surgery has yet to be defined. Alternatives within surgery will not only need to move to a less disruptive strategy (e.g. from on-pump to off-pump bypass) but also have to secure sustained innovation, as we can be sure that the current coronary artery bypass grafting activity will change substantially.

Management of sterno-mediastinitis.

With an incidence rate of 1-4%, mediastinitis following cardiac surgery is a rarely occurring complication, but may show a mortality rate of up to 50%. Risk factors for sternal instability are insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, obesity, immunosuppressed state, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, history of radiation, renal failure, body height, smoking and nutritional state. The aim of this paper is to show an overview of this clinical picture, present the risk factors and elucidate the therapy options chronologically. As a result of interdisciplinary cooperation, a therapy concept has developed which is adapted to the patient individually. Therapy begins with the simplest measures and, if deemed necessary, this is then escalated step by step. The aim of the treatment is to bring the infection under control, which requires radical surgical debridement, removal of infected and necrotic tissue, removal of all foreign bodies (including wires and osteosynthesis material) and the removal of all infected, necrotic osseous material if necessary followed by vacuum-assisted closure therapy. The reconstruction of defects of the anterior chest wall is achievable using different muscle flaps. Mostly the muscle pectoralis major is used unilaterally or bilaterally with or without disinsertion of the tendon. Other options are the omental flap, the muscle latissimus dorsi flap or the muscle rectus abdominis flap. A combined approach comprising surgical debridement, short-term vacuum therapy and subsequent myoplastic coverage has proved successful and can be carried out with a high standard of safety.

Stentless aortic valves. Current aspects.

The design of stentless valve prostheses is intended to achieve a more physiological flow pattern and superior hemodynamics in comparison to stented valves. First - generation stentless bioprosthesis were the Prima valve, the Freestyle valve and the Toronto stentless porcine valve. The second generation of stentless valves, as the Super stentless aortic porcine valve, need only one suture line. The Sorin Pericarbon Freedom and the Equine 3F heart Valve belong to the third generation of stentless valve pericardial bioprostheses. A stentless valve to replace a full root can be implanted by several surgical techniques: complete or modified subcoronary, root inclusion and full root. The full root technique is accompanied by the lowest incidence of patient-prothesis mismatch. Our own clinical experience reflects more than 3000 stentless valve implantations since April 1996. Randomized study trials showed a hemodynamic advantage for stentless valves, but several could not reach a significant level. Also reported was a significant advantage of stentless bioprostheses concerning transvalvular gradients, effective valve area and quicker regression of the left ventricular mass 6 months after the operation, but at 12 months. Advantages are obvious in patients with a decreased left ventricle ejection fraction of less than 50% and in smaller implanted valve size, concomitant aortic root pathology (e.g. dissection) and aortic valve endocarditis. A survival advantage for stentless bioprostheses in comparison to stented ones has been reported by all studies in the literature. Stentless valves enrich the surgical armamentarium. Time will define the place of stentless valves in the future.