[Quantitative Intraoperative Measurement of Tissue Perfusion of Transplanted Kidneys by Indocyanine Green Angiography]. / Quantitative intraoperative Messung der Gewebeperfusion von Nierentransplantaten mittels Indocyaningrün-Angiografie.

Postoperative delayed graft function (DGF) after kidney transplantation is a risk factor for kidney failure and reduced kidney allograft survival after transplantation. The aim of this study was to measure the quantitative perfusion of kidney transplants during kidney transplantation and to investigate whether differences in perfusion predict the development of DGF. Over a period of one year, intraoperative quantitative ICG perfusion measurements were performed with the IC-View camera (Pulsion®) in 36 patients for whom informed consent for ICG perfusion measurement had been obtained. The groups were divided into donation after brain death and living donors and into the occurrence or absence of a DGF. An area with sufficient and low ICG perfusion was determined intraoperatively. The maximum perfusion was significantly decreased in the DGF group compared to living donors in areas with sufficient ICG perfusion and the slope of perfusion in these areas was documented. In addition, the maximum perfusion ratio was investigated. Evaluation was carried out by IC-Calc software (Pulsion). A total of 36 patients were included in this study. DGF occurred in 10 of the patients. No DGF was found in the group of living donors. The maximum perfusion and the slope of perfusion in the defined areas were fewer, but not significant in the group with BDB donor. The less perfused areas showed significant differences between DGF and living donors in maximum perfusion, absolute slope of perfusion and ratio to the standard area. A difference between BDB donor without DGF and the DGF group could not be predicted. This study shows that quantitative perfusion of kidney transplants can be evaluated safely during kidney transplantation. DGF being defined as one or more dialyses after kidney transplantation can only be detected postoperatively, however, it may be predicted intraoperatively.

CUP Syndrome in Neuroendocrine Neoplasia: Analysis of Risk Factors and Impact of Surgical Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN) with unknown primary site (NEN-CUP tumors) may have a poor prognosis. We evaluated the clinical presentation, therapy, outcome, and risk factors for adverse outcomes in patients who had these tumors. METHODS: In 243 patients who had NEN, a retrospective review was performed in 38 patients who had NEN-CUP tumors. The 38 patients who had NEN-CUP tumors were evaluated in three groups: group 1 (surgery; primary tumor detected; ten patients); group 2 (surgery; no primary tumor detected; ten patients); and group 3 (no surgery; 18 patients). Risk factors were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Most patients who had NEN-CUP tumors [32 patients (84%)] had World Health Organization (WHO) performance score of 0 or 1, and most tumors [24 patients (63%)] were well differentiated (WHO grade, G1 or G2; Ki-67 index, ≤20%). Univariate analysis showed that greater survival was significantly associated with lower patient age, lower WHO performance score, lower WHO grade, lower number of metastatic sites, treatment with surgery, and no treatment with chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that low WHO performance score (hazard ratio 7.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.63-22.19) and treatment with surgery (hazard ratio 0.10, CI 0.028-0.381) were significant independent predictors of improved survival. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NEN-CUP tumors, surgical treatment is an independent predictor of better survival. Therefore, surgical treatment may be indicated in patients with good general health status and well-differentiated NEN-CUP tumors.

Aneuploidy and elevated CEA indicate an increased risk for metachronous metastasis in colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Presently, no markers exist to predict metachronous metastasis at the time a primary colorectal cancer is diagnosed. While aneuploidy indicates poor survival prognosis and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels the presence of recurrent disease, the predictive value of both markers regarding imminent metachronous metastases is unclear. METHODS: Sixty patients with distant recurrence throughout a 5-year follow-up (TM+) were randomly chosen and 60 patients without metastasis matched to this cohort (TM-). In addition, an enlarged collective (n = 217; n TM+ = 85, n TM- = 132) with median follow-up of 79.2 months was assessed by logistic regression regarding metachronous metastases. Univariate and stepwise regression analyses included clinicopathological characteristics, preoperative CEA levels and aneuploidy assessed by DNA image cytometry. RESULTS: The matched-pair collective showed aneuploidy in 71.1 % (TM-) and 85.0 % (TM+; p = 0.076), and elevated CEA in 24.5 % (TM-) and 52.2 % [TM+; odds ratio (OR), 3.414; p = 0.007]. The enlarged collective presented aneuploidy in 71.2 % (TM-) and 83.5 % (TM+; OR 2.050, p = 0.038), and elevated CEA in 28.6 % (TM-) and 48.9 % (TM+; OR 2.391, p = 0.020). Elevated CEA and aneuploidy did not show any association (p = 0.919). In contrast, logistic regression analyses demonstrated that besides increased T category (OR 1.745, p = 0.019), both elevated CEA level (OR 2.633, p = 0.015) and aneuploidy (OR 1.929, p = 0.058) were independent predictive markers for metachronous metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that aneuploidy and elevated CEA levels besides increased T category could serve for individual risk assessment to predict metachronous metastases. The fact that still aneuploidy missed the significance level by a small margin emphasizes the need for larger validation studies.

Influence of second or multiple tumours on the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the Western world. A wide variety of prognostic factors for colorectal cancer have been identified. There is, however, a paucity of literature addressing the influence of multiple primary carcinomas on prognosis. We conducted the present study in order to investigate the influence of second or multiple primary tumours on the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1992 to 2005, 1500 patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancer at the University Hospital of Luebeck. Of these, 276 patients (19%) had multiple primary malignant tumours. We performed statistical analyses only on patients who underwent surgery with curative intent in order to minimise additional prognostic factors. The patients were divided into groups according to the time of multiple primary tumour occurrence. Data were analysed for various variables. RESULTS: We did not detect any significant differences in survival either between the various groups or between patients with and without multiple primary tumours. CONCLUSION: The presence of multiple primary carcinomas is not an independent prognostic factor in patients with an index tumour of the colorectum. Multiple primary tumours are thus not necessarily associated with a poorer outcome and patients should receive curative intent surgery and appropriate follow-up care.

Metachronous metastasis- and survival-analysis show prognostic importance of lymphadenectomy for colon carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Lymphadenectomy is performed to assess patient prognosis and to prevent metastasizing. Recently, it was questioned whether lymph node metastases were capable of metastasizing and therefore, if lymphadenectomy was still adequate. We evaluated whether the nodal status impacts on the occurrence of distant metastases by analyzing a highly selected cohort of colon cancer patients. METHODS: 1,395 patients underwent surgery exclusively for colon cancer at the University of Lübeck between 01/1993 and 12/2008. The following exclusion criteria were applied: synchronous metastasis, R1-resection, prior/synchronous second carcinoma, age < 50 years, positive family history, inflammatory bowel disease, FAP, HNPCC, and follow-up < 5 years. The remaining 421 patients were divided into groups with (TM+, n = 75) or without (TM-, n = 346) the occurrence of metastasis throughout a 5-year follow-up. RESULTS: Five-year survival rates for TM + and TM- were 21% and 73%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Survival rates differed significantly for N0 vs. N2, grading 2 vs. 3, UICC-I vs. -II and UICC-I vs. -III (p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed higher age upon diagnosis, increasing N- and increasing T-category to significantly impact on recurrence free survival while increasing N-and T-category were significant parameters for the risk to develop metastases within 5-years after surgery (HR 1.97 and 1.78; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Besides a higher T-category, a positive N-stage independently implies a higher probability to develop distant metastases and correlates with poor survival. Our data thus show a prognostic relevance of lymphadenectomy which should therefore be retained until conclusive studies suggest the unimportance of lmyphadenectomy.

Fournier's gangrene: is the female gender a risk factor?

OBJECTIVE: Fournier's gangrene is a necrotizing fasciitis that affects the perineal, genital, or perianal regions. The objective of this study was to highlight this uncommon condition with a particular focus on the disease course in females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1996 to 2008, we prospectively collected data from 38 patients with Fournier's gangrene (12 women, 26 men) and retrospectively analyzed relevant parameters. RESULTS: The mean age was 60.9 +/- 11.3 years for females (group I) and 56.2 +/- 11.7 years for males (group II). In both groups, the main predisposing factors were diabetes mellitus and obesity (body mass index of 30 or higher). Twelve men (46.2%), but no women, had chronic alcoholism. The most commonly isolated agents were Escherichia coli (n = 22), streptococcal species (n = 18), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 9), and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 7). Mortality was significantly higher among females (50%) than males (7.7%; p = 0.011). Peritonitis was present in seven group I patients (58.3%) and in two group II patients (7.7%). The retroperitoneum was involved in seven female patients (58.3%) and four male patients (15.4%). CONCLUSION: The female gender is a risk factor for mortality in patients with Fournier's gangrene and is associated with a higher incidence of inflammation of the retroperitoneal space and abdominal cavity. Differences in male and female genital anatomy may be the reason for the rapid spread of infection to the retroperitoneum and the fatal outcome in women. Fournier's gangrene as a high-risk disease in females should attract exceeding attention.

Giant bladder diverticulum as a rare cause of intestinal obstruction: report of a case.

We report a case of intestinal obstruction as an unusual manifestation of bladder diverticulum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a giant bladder diverticulum causing acute abdomen as a result of mechanical bowel obstruction.

Surgical management of pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms in association with celiac trunk occlusion or stenosis.

Aneurysms of the visceral arteries, especially of the pancreaticoduodenal artery, are rare. They show a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic incidental findings to rupture-inducing catastrophic bleedings. Since growth progression and the risk of rupture cannot be foreseen and there is no relation between the size of the aneurysm and propensity to rupture, rupture unfortunately carries a high mortality, >50%. Thus, all aneurysms of the pancreaticoduodenal artery should be treated. The therapy of choice, either operative intervention or catheter embolization, is determined by many factors. Among these are localization, size, relation to other vessels and neighboring organs, the urgency of intervention, and the experience of the therapist. Surgical therapy should be favored in patients with pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm due to celiac trunk occlusion. We report here our experience in the surgical treatment of pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms in association with celiac trunk occlusion or stenosis over the last 5 years.

Technical aspects and feasibility of laparoscopic ultrasound navigation in radiofrequency ablation of unresectable hepatic malignancies.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation is safe, practicable, and combines minimally invasive surgery with the advantages of laparotomy. However, application of the laparoscopic freehand puncture is restricted because of capnoperitoneum and the consequent fixation of the needle on two different points. The use of a laparoscopic ultrasound probe with a canal for puncture can solve this problem and improve precision. However, a stiff needle limits the necessary angulation that is needed to reach right-lateral and cranial liver metastases. Therefore we present a new navigation tool for laparoscopic interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The US Guide 2000 (Ultra Guide, Tirat Hacarmel, Israel) is an independent navigation system compatible with all ultrasound machines and has six degrees of freedom. After proper evaluation of this system under operating room conditions during transcutaneous radiofrequency ablation, we used this technique in laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation. A special adapter was developed to attach the ultrasound-based navigation system to a laparoscopic ultrasound probe. After calibrating the system with an ultrasound phantom, laparoscopic navigation in a liver organ model was studied. RESULTS: Even in cases of angulation of the ultrasound probe no disturbances of the navigation system could be detected. Anatomic landmarks in the liver could be safely reached. No interaction between the navigation system and the laparoscopic ultrasound probe or operating instruments was observed. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results show the feasibility of this technique in laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation. The use of an ultrasound-based laparoscopic inline navigation system offers the possibility of out-of-plane needle placement and could combine the flexibility of freehand puncture with the accuracy of a canal for puncture. This could increase the safety and accuracy of punctures.

Hydro-Jet-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND: A new dissection technique with high-pressure water stream (Hydro-Jet) has recently been applied for selective dissection during various surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to compare Hydro-Jet with the conventional technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomized to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy with standard (n = 40) or Hydro-Jet-assisted (n = 40) dissection techniques. The rates of intraoperative complications, including blood loss and injury to the adjacent organs, were compared between the groups. The versatility of this technique and the features of surgical dissection were also evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully completed in all subjects. The mean operative times were 78 minutes (range, 52-120 minutes) and 81 minutes (range, 45-135 minutes) for Hydro-Jet versus conventional dissection, respectively (P = not significant). Complications included gallbladder perforation in 15% and 30% (P <.1) and liver laceration in 0% and 10% (P <.04) with Hydro-Jet and conventional techniques, respectively. Increased hemorrhage from the gallbladder bed that necessitated fulguration occurred in 12 patients with the conventional technique as compared with none in the Hydro-Jet group (P <.001). Hydro-Jet resulted in a selective dissection of connective tissue preserving blood vessels and the cystic duct. The continuous water flow allowed a clear view for the operator, and the dissection was performed in a relatively bloodless field. The ease of blunt dissection with the bent-tip dissector represents another advantage. CONCLUSION: This study shows that Hydro-Jet dissection represents an excellent alternative to the conventional technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The improved anatomic dissection combined with an almost bloodless operating field as the result of continuous water flow decreased the rate of dissection-related complications.

Hydro-jet-assisted pneumonectomy: a new technique in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hydro-jet technology has long been used to cut various materials, such as metal and wood, in the industrial field. In the medical field, this technology has been applied successfully in selective cutting of the parenchyma of the liver. However, to our knowledge, no data are available on the use of the hydro-jet technique for pneumonectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new dissection technique in which a high-pressure water stream (hydro-jet) and a new dissection probe for pulmonary resection are used. METHODS: Thirty pigs underwent right pneumonectomy. Pigs were randomized to either the conventional or hydro-jet-assisted dissection technique. The feasibility of this technique and the features of surgical dissection were evaluated and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Pneumonectomy was successful in all animals. The mean operative times were 55 and 65 minutes and the mean volumes of blood loss were 37 and 65 mL for the hydro-jet and conventional dissection techniques, respectively. Complications included vascular injury in 6% and 20% of cases with the hydro-jet and conventional techniques, respectively. The use of hydro-jet for pneumonectomy had clear technical advantages over the conventional dissection. Hydro-jet resulted in a selective dissection of fibrous and connective tissue, preserving blood vessels for later ligation. Therefore, the dissection was performed in a relatively bloodless field. The ease of dissection with the bent-tip dissector represents another advantage. The continuous water flow allows a clear view for the operator. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that hydro-jet dissection represents an excellent alternative to the conventional technique for pulmonary resection. The improved anatomic dissection combined with an almost bloodless operating field secondary to continuous water flow may decrease dissection-related complications.

Hydro-Jet assisted laparroscopic cholecystectomy: initial experience in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hydro-Jet technology has long been used for cutting various materials like metal and wood in the industrial field. In the medical field, this technology has been applied successfully for selective cutting of the parenchyma of the liver. However, to our knowledge, no data exist on the use of the Hydro-Jet technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new dissection technique using a high-pressure water stream (Hydro-Jet) and a new dissection probe for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Thirty pigs underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Pigs were randomized to receive either the conventional or Hydro-Jet assisted dissection technique. The feasibility of this technique and the features of surgical dissection were evaluated and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successful in all animals with no need for conversion to open surgery. The mean operative time was 28 and 36 minutes for Hydro-Jet versus conventional dissection, respectively. Complications using the Hydro-Jet and conventional techniques included 6% and 20% gallbladder perforation and 6.5% and 13% liver laceration, respectively. The use of the Hydro-Jet for cholecystectomy had clear technical advantages over conventional dissection. The Hydro-Jet resulted in a selective dissection of fibrous and connective tissue preserving blood vessels for later ligation. Therefore, the dissection was performed in a relatively bloodless field. The ease of dissection using the new bent tipped dissector represents another advantage. Finally, the continuous water flow allowed a clear view for the operator. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that Hydro-jet dissection represents an excellent alternative to the conventional technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The improved anatomical dissection combined with an almost bloodless operating field secondary to continuous water flow may decrease dissection-related complications.