Photobiological hazards in shielded metal arc welding.

PURPOSE: Photobiological hazards caused by artificial optical radiation are assessed for the most commonly used arc welding technique, the SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), which operates with a hand-held system and is widely used both at occupational and domestic environments, expanding our previous investigation of a robotic arc welding process. METHODS: The complex exposure limits of the emitted blue and visible light, ultraviolet and infrared, are assessed through the European Directive 2006/25/EC, using three dedicated sensors set to measure irradiance from various typical welding procedures in the controlled environment (currents, electrodes, etc.) of a welding laboratory. In this sense, field measurements are employed, applying existing policies. Occupational limits are also applicable to the domestic welding. RESULTS: Apart from sub-minute overexposures, which were detected in every spectral band, overexposures in the order of one second were also observed at very close distances, which are common at complex working environments. Investigation of the initial welding procedure, which is often performed without the use of Personal Protective Equipment, revealed exposure of the order of the corresponding limit. CONCLUSIONS: Simulation of a 'bad' welding procedure revealed increased exposure, indicating the importance of training in the occupational environment. Concern for the exposure of near-by workers (working a few meters away from the welding point) is also crucial. Future work needs to incorporate more welding techniques and measurements from original workplaces, in order to set the basis for an integrated risk assessment and provide valuable information concerning occupational diseases.

Bilateral Spontaneous Supraspinatus Tendon Rupture Under Prolonged BRAF/MEK Targeting Treatment in a Melanoma Patient.

The B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF)/ mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) targeting agents have become the treatment of choice for BRAF-mutated melanoma during the last decade. However, it is possible that some long-term adverse events of these drugs have not yet been reported. A case of bilateral spontaneous, non-traumatic, supraspinatus tendon rupture in a 65-year-old Caucasian male suffering metastatic melanoma under prolonged and successful combination treatment with dabrafenib plus trametinib is presented. These damages could not be attributed to some other probable cause. The ruptured tendons were promptly restored arthroscopically. Oncologists should remain vigilant for the early detection of potential side effects of BRAF/MEK targeting agents that have not been systematically recorded yet but may appear and affect patients in the long run.

[SMAR3T©-a new time-saving diagnostic emergency room management algorithm]. / SMAR3T© ­ ein neuer zeitsparender diagnostischer Schockraumalgorithmus.

BACKGROUND: Primary computed tomography (CT) plays an increasingly important role in diagnosing life-threatening conditions in polytrauma patients; however, it is associated with two major problems: suboptimal interobserver reliability with unstructured reports especially when the reporting is undertaken by physicians in training during working hours and a delay in beginning urgent surgical interventions, which is mainly due to the time taken until the CT report is available and less to the technical time necessary for the CT. This is why the clinical benefits of a primary CT scan in hemodynamically unstable patients after polytrauma is currently under interdisciplinary discussion. OBJECTIVE: The present study focused on the development and evaluation of a standardized imaging and reporting protocol for initial CT diagnostics of injuries that need immediate treatment after polytrauma. METHODS: In this study 30 patients after polytrauma were subjected to a novel imaging and reporting protocol, SMAR3T, consisting of an imaging protocol with decreased thin-slice axial scan sequences and a standardized structured reporting protocol. These were compared to conventional emergency room CT protocol with respect to time efficiency and quality of the results. RESULTS: The application of the SMAR3T algorithm significantly reduced the time from scan to reporting from an average of 59.6 ± 4.2 min to an average of 8.5 ± 0.6 min (p < 10-23). With the conventional reporting protocol as well as the novel SMAR3T reporting protocol, all life-threatening conditions and injuries requiring immediate treatment were detected. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of 30 CT scans in polytraumatized patients, the SMAR3T algorithm significantly reduced the time to surgical intervention without compromising diagnostic accuracy with respect to life-threatening conditions. Additionally, the reduction in imaging data volume could facilitate telemedical transmission of data to superordinate centers.

Cross-sectional increase of adherence to multidisciplinary tumor board decisions.

BACKGROUND: Cancer research has made great progress in the recent years. With the increasing number of options in diagnosis and therapy the implementation of tumorboards (TUBs) has become standard procedure in the treatment of cancer patients. Adherence tests on tumor board decisions are intended to enable quality assurance and enhancement for work in tumor boards in order to continuously optimize treatment options for cancer patients. METHODS: Subject of this study was the adherence of the recommendations made in three of 14 tumorboards, which take place weekly in the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) at the University Hospital Bonn. In total, therapy recommendations of 3815 patient cases were checked on their implementation. A classification into four groups has been made according to the degree of implementation. A second classification followed regarding the reasons for differences between the recommendation and the therapy which the patient actually received. RESULTS: The study showed that 80.1% of all recommendations in the three TUBs were implemented. 8.3% of all recommendations showed a deviance. Most important reasons for the deviances were patient wish (36.5%), patient death (26%) and doctoral decision, due to the patient's comorbidities or side effects of the treatment (24.1%).Interestingly, deviance in all three tumor boards in total significantly decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Aim of the study was to clarify the use of tumor boards and find approaches to make them more efficient. Based on the results efficiency might be optimized by increased consideration of patients` preferences, improved presentation of patient-related data, more detailed documentation and further structuring of the tumor board meetings.

[Anorectal malignant melanoma : Treatment recommendations]. / Das anorektale maligne Melanom : Eine Therapieempfehlung.

BACKGROUND: Anorectal malignant melanoma is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. Typical symptoms (bleeding, pain, perianal mass) are characteristic of hemorrhoids. This, together with the high rate of amelanotic tumors, often delays diagnosis. No therapy guidelines exist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on our own experience of surgically treated patients and an extensive literature search, we present a stage-dependent therapeutic concept. RESULTS: Eight patients (six women) with a mean age of 65 ± 8 years were treated at our institution. Six underwent abdominoperineal resection; two had local excision. Two patients additionally underwent inguinal lymph node dissection. Median survival was 12 months with a disease-free survival of 6 months. Forty treatment studies with a total of 1,970 cases could be identified. Prognostic factors are age, time to correct diagnosis, tumor extent, tumor stage, and perineural invasion. The impact of lymph node metastases and R0 resection varies. Surgery is the only effective therapy. Local excision is sufficient when free resection margins are achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Locally limited tumors should be resected; if possible using local excision. Larger tumors or tumors with sphincter infiltration often require abdominoperineal resection with curative intent. When regional lymph node metastases are present, we advise regional lymphadenectomy of the affected area. In the case of distant metastases, palliative surgery is needed for metastasectomy and in cases of incontinence or refractory pain.

Artificial Optical Radiation photobiological hazards in arc welding.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is associated with crucial social, economic, cultural and technical issues. A highly specialized OHS sector deals with the photobiological hazards from artificial optical radiation (AOR), which is divided into visible light, UV and IR emitted during various activities and which is legally covered by European Directive 2006/25/EC. Among the enormous amount of sources emitting AOR, the most important non-coherent ones to consider for health effects to the whole optical range, are arcs created during metal welding. This survey presents the effort to assess the complicated exposure limits of the Directive in the controlled environment of a welding laboratory. Sensors covering the UV and blue light range were set to measure typical welding procedures reproduced in the laboratory. Initial results, apart from apparently justifying the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) due to even subsecond overexposures measured, also set the basis to evaluate PPE's properties and support an integrated risk assessment of the complex welding environment. These results can also improve workers' and employer's information and training about radiation hazards, which is a crucial OHS demand.

[Posthepatectomy Liver Failure in Extended Liver Resections: An Overview Based on a Retrospective Single-Centre Analysis]. / Postoperatives Leberversagen nach erweiterten Leberresektionen - eine Übersicht, gestützt durch eine retrospektive Single-Center-Analyse.

BACKGROUND: Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is one of the most serious complications after major liver resections and an important factor in terms of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Despite many advances in the understanding and grading of PHLF, the definitions found in literature are very heterogeneous, which complicates the identification of high-risk patients. In this study we analysed the results of extended liver resections and potential risk factors for PHLF based on patient data derived from our tertiary referral centre. The aim of the study was to gain an overview of the essential aspects in the prevention of PHLF combined with key intraoperative issues and postoperative treatment strategies. METHODS: We analysed data from 202 patients who underwent extended elective liver resections at our centre between April 1989 and September 2009 (135 right hemihepatectomies, 39 left hemihepatectomies, 28 right trisectionectomies). According to Balzan's "50/50 criteria", PHLF was defined as prothrombin time (PT) < 50 % combined with serum bilirubin (SB) > 50 micromol/L on postoperative day (POD) 5 or as death due to primary or secondary liver failure. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality and overall in-hospital mortality were 4.95 and 8.91 %, respectively. Twenty-eight (14 %) patients developed PHLF and 16 (57 %) patients died. Compared to patients with normal postoperative liver function, several significant pre- and intraoperative factors for PHLF were identified, e.g. primary malignant liver tumour (p < 0.001), extended liver resection (p < 0.001), time of surgery (p < 0.001) and intraoperative transfusion of packed RBC (p < 0.02) or FFP (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although progress has been made in hepatobiliary surgery, PHLF remains a serious complication, especially after extended liver resections. Careful, optimised preoperative risk stratification is required to identify patients at risk for PHLF.

[Surgical Therapy and Prognostic Factors for Carcinoma of Vater's Papilla]. / Chirurgische Therapie und prognostische Faktoren des Papillenkarzinoms.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of ampulla of Vater are rare tumours of the GI-tract with an improved prognosis compared to other periampullary tumours. Analysis of survival and prognostic factors are limited due to the low incidence of the carcinoma. The intention of this study in patients with papillary carcinoma was to evaluate short- and long-term survival and to identify prognostic factors for pancreatectomy and reconstruction using pancreatogastrostomy as treatment of carcinoma of Vater's ampulla. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1989 and 2008 76 patients with a carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater were treated by oncological resection followed by pancreatogastrostomy. Various factors such as demographics, perioperative factors, histopathological findings as well as short- and long-term survival were evaluated retrospectively. Data were analysed statistically using Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival with log-rank test and uni- and multivariate analysis with Cox regression. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival was 46 %, the 10-year survival 26 % for resected patients. By univariate analysis we could demonstrate that lymph node metastasis is the only predictor for outcome. In the multivariate analysis, age, sex, grading and especially lymph node status were a significant predictor for the survival of patients. CONCLUSION: In the current patient cohort lymph node status was the most important independent predictor of outcome after resection of carcinoma of Vater's papilla.

[Immunomodulatory aspects in the development, prophylaxis and therapy for postoperative ileus]. / Immunmodulatorische Aspekte bei der Entstehung, Prophylaxe und Therapie des postoperativen Ileus.

Postoperative ileus (POI) is defined as a transient episode of impaired gastrointestinal motility after abdominal surgery, which prevents effective transit of intestinal contents or tolerance of oral intake. This frequent postoperative complication is accompanied by a considerable increase in morbidity and hospitalisation costs. The aetiology of POI is multifactorial. Besides a suppression of peristalsis by inhibitory neuronal signalling and administration of opioids, particularly in the prolonged form, immunological processes play an important role. After surgical trauma, resident macrophages of the muscularis externa (ME) are activated leading to the liberation of proinflammatory mediators and a spreading of the inflammation along the entire gastrointestinal tract. To date, no prophylaxis or evidence-based single approach exists to treat POI. Since none of the current treatment approaches (i.e., prokinetic drug treatment) has provided a benefit in randomised trials, immunoregulatory interventions appear to be more promising in POI prevention or treatment. The present contribution gives an overview of immunological mechanisms leading to POI focusing on current and future therapeutic and prophylactic approaches.

The novel orally active guanylhydrazone CPSI-2364 prevents postoperative ileus in mice independently of anti-inflammatory vagus nerve signaling.

PURPOSE: Postoperative ileus (POI) is an iatrogenic complication of abdominal surgery, mediated by a severe inflammation of the muscularis externa (ME). Previously, we demonstrated that intravenous application of the tetravalent guanylhydrazone semapimod (CNI-1493) prevents POI, but the underlying mode of action could not definitively be confirmed. Herein, we investigated the effect of a novel orally active salt of semapimod (CPSI-2364) on POI in rodents and distinguished between its inhibitory peripheral and stimulatory central nervous effects on anti-inflammatory vagus nerve signaling. METHODS: Distribution of radiolabeled orally administered CPSI-2364 was analyzed by whole body autoradiography and liquid scintillation counting. POI was induced by intestinal manipulation with or without preoperative vagotomy. CPSI-2364 was administered preoperatively via gavage in a dose- and time-dependent manner. ME specimens were assessed for p38-MAP kinase activity by immunoblotting, neutrophil extravasation, and nitric oxide production. Furthermore, in vivo gastrointestinal (GIT) and colonic transit were measured. RESULTS: Autoradiography demonstrated a near-exclusive detection of CPSI-2364 within the gastrointestinal wall and contents. Preoperative CPSI-2364 application significantly reduced postoperative neutrophil counts, nitric oxide release, GIT deceleration, and delay of colonic transit time, while intraoperatively administered CPSI-2364 failed to improve POI. CPSI-2364 also prevents postoperative neutrophil increase and GIT deceleration in vagotomized mice. CONCLUSIONS: Orally administered CPSI-2364 shows a near-exclusive dispersal in the gastrointestinal tract and effectively reduces POI independently of central vagus nerve stimulation. Its efficacy after single oral dosage affirms CPSI-2364 treatment as a promising strategy for prophylaxis of POI.

[Abdominal wall components separation method for closure of complicated abdominal hernias]. / Komponentenseparationstechnik bei komplizierten Bauchwandhernien.

BACKGROUND: The repair of complicated abdominal hernias remains a challenging problem. The components separation technique introduced by Ramirez et al. is an increasingly popular method for autogenous reconstruction of the abdominal wall, especially in combination with epifascial mesh reinforcement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study carried out at a university hospital, 40 consecutive patients between 2002 and 2010 were analyzed. RESULTS: Indications for abdominal reconstruction were fascial defects after secondary healed laparostoma in 22 patients (55%) and fascial defects combined with colostomy reversal after a Hartmann procedure in 10 patients (25%). A total of 9 wound infections (22.5%) occurred and 10 hernia recurrences (10/36 patients) were identified in the follow-up (mean 3.8 years, range 1-9 years). Reconstructions with mesh reinforcement resulted in a lower rate of recurrences (19% with mesh vs 40% without mesh). CONCLUSIONS: The components separation technique, in combination with epifascial mesh reinforcement as appropriate, is the procedure of choice for most complicated abdominal wall hernias. Therefore, each visceral surgeon should be able to perform this method. Recurrence rates depend on the underlying disease of the patient and the complexity of the hernia.

Secondary surgery subsequent to distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early revision procedures after pancreatic head resection significantly increase mortality. Due to their complexity, secondary operations at a later stage rank amongst the most demanding surgical procedures. We sought to critically analyze indications and outcome from early revision and subsequent redo procedures following distal pancreatic resection (DPR). METHODOLOGY: During a 5-year period 53 subsequent patients undergoing DPR were identified from a pancreatic resection database and analyzed regarding indication for and outcome of early revision and late redo procedures. RESULTS: Six patients (11%) underwent early revision procedures during the same hospital stay. Indications were peritonitis (n = 3), intraabdominal hemorrhage (n = 2) and oncologic re-resection (n = 1). Four patients (7.6%) were readmitted after 192 days (d) on average (range 53 - 538d) and underwent subsequent redo surgery due to occurrence of metastases in 2 cases, and insufficiency of an ascendo-rectostomy and adhesive ileus. Hospital stay and mortality were significantly increased after early revision surgery (40d vs. 18d; 33% vs. 0%). Splenectomy during DPR was carried out in all patients requiring early operative reintervention, compared to 63% in patients without secondary surgery (p < 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Early revision surgery following DPR increases postoperative mortality and length of hospital stay. Risk factors were complex injuries (e.g. gun shot wound), concomitant portal hypertension with collateral circulation and splenectomy. Subsequent redo surgery following DPR was performed on average within 7 month following the index operation without mortality and with comparable morbidity. Indications were recurrent malignant disease and complications of the intestine.

["Fast-track surgery": Perioperative management]. / "Fast-track"-Chirurgie: Perioperatives Management.

The multimodal therapeutic concept of fast-track surgery is directed against the pathophysiologic functional changes following elective surgery. This concept has been proven to reduce postoperative morbidity and convalescence. This benefit is based on an interdisciplinary approach by surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, and physiotherapy staff to optimise perioperative care in order to decrease surgically-induced stress. Fast-track surgery after elective colorectal surgery has been shown to reduce the rate of postoperative complications and shorten hospital stay significantly. A prerequisite for successfully implementing this concept is the willingness of the participating surgeons to abandon conventional traditions. In addition to abdominal procedures, the basic concept of fast-track surgery has been successfully instituted in other surgical fields, such as urology.

[Trauma mechanism and diagnosis of blunt diaphragmatic rupture]. / Indirekte traumatische Zwerchfellruptur. Unfallmechanismus und Diagnostik.

BACKGROUND: Indirect diaphragmatic rupture (DR) is defined as acquired complete split of the diaphragm after blunt trauma and occurs in 1-5% of massively traumatized patients. The diagnosis is often difficult. However, particular trauma mechanisms and associated injuries may suggest the existence of DR. METHODS: A retrospective study was done of 21 consecutive patients from 1993 to 2004 at an university hospital. RESULTS: This study revealed a striking combination of DR with pelvic fractures (12/21, 57%). Of 19 polytraumatized patients, diagnosis was made initially in 13 (68%) and with a delay in six (32%). Right-sided injuries were common (8/21, 38%). Thus a 'protective' function of the liver does not exist. Diaphragmatic rupture can be missed in ventilated patients until extubation leads to herniation of abdominal organs into the thorax. CONCLUSIONS: Diaphragmatic rupture should be excluded in all severely abdominally traumatized patients, in particular those with concomitant pelvic fracture. Computed tomography with oral contrast medium is diagnostic in most cases. Access by laparotomy should be preferred after acute trauma, since additional intra-abdominal injuries are frequent.