[Infection with Aeromonas hydrophila after use of leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) in a free microvascular osteo-(myo-)cutaneous flap--suggestions for successful management]. / Aeromonas hydrophila-Infektion nach Therapie mit Hirudo medicinalis bei venöser Stauung nach freiem mikrovaskulären osteo-(myo-)kutanen Gewebetransfer--Empfehlungen zur erfolgreichen Therapie.

Medical leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) are an important therapeutic option in the treatment of venous congestion of flaps. In a case report an infection with Aeromonas hydrophila of a free microvascular osteo-(myo)-cutaneous flap after leech application for venous congestion is described and the current literature reviewed. Infection associated with leech therapy is a documented complication of leech application, with reported incidences ranging from 2.4 to 20 %. In some cases an infection of the wound developed with Aeromonas hydrophila, a Gram-negative rod that lives symbiotically in the intestines of the leech. Because of the risk of graft loss, early diagnosis and immediate initiation of an empirical intravenous antibiotic therapy with Piperacillin/Tacobactam or a third or fourth generation cephalosporins are essential even before results for sensitivity testing are received. An alternative is a short-term preemptive therapy with Cotrimoxazol or Ciprofloxacin during leech application.

Impact of endovascular treatment of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis on endothelial function and arterial blood pressure.

AIM: Renovascular disease may cause arterial hypertension and decreases renal function, which both impair endothelial function. Endothelial function, a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk, can be assessed non-invasively by ultrasound. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of percutaneous transluminal renal artery angioplasty (PTRA) with stenting on endothelial function and arterial blood pressure in patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS). METHODS: Flow mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, flow velocities and shear stress were measured with high resolution ultrasound in 24 hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis prior and one day after revascularization by PTRA with stenting. Endothelial-independent brachial dilatation was measured after application of nitroglycerin. RESULTS: Endothelial-dependent dilatation improved from 2.4±0.9% to 6.1±1.4% (P=0.03), whereas endothelial-independent dilatation did not change after PTRA. Endothelial-dependent reactive hyperemic blood flow increased from 195±40 mL/min to 536±94 mL/min (P=0.0008), whereas endothelial-independent hyperemia did not increase after revascularization. After PTRA, shear stress at rest decreased from 37±11 to 23±3 dyne/cm² (P<0.0001), and reactive hyperemic shear stress increased from 89±29 to 107±12 dyne/cm² (P=0.014). The impact of PTRA on arterial blood pressure resulted in a mean decrease of 21±5 mmHg in systolic pressure (P<0.0001), of 9±2 mmHg in diastolic pressure (P=0.03), and of 14±5 mmHg in peripheral pulse pressure (P=0.0003), respectively. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of renovascular disease improves endothelial function and decreases in resting shear stress.

[Quality management of interdisciplinary treatment of polytrauma. Possibilities and limits of retrospective routine data collection]. / Qualitätssicherung interdisziplinärer Polytraumaversorgung. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen retrospektiver Standarderfassung.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of interdisciplinary multiple trauma management using routinely taken data. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all multiple traumatized patients [Injury Severity Score (ISS)>15] in a university hospital (n=172; time period 01.01.1997-31.12.1999) was carried out concerning epidemiological and clinical variables and hospital outcome (p<0.05). RESULTS: The overall mortality was 22% [n=38; expected Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS) mortality 29%]. Significant parameters for worse outcome in univariate analysis were age>74 years, hypotension, decreasing hemoglobin level and prothrombin time, decreased Glasgow Coma Scale and the number of erythrocyte or plasma concentrates received in the initial period of treatment. The comparison of our results with the data of the German Association for Trauma Surgery registry demonstrated comparable results with respect to management sequence and outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In the quality management of multiple trauma patients retrospective analysis of routinely registered parameters can be a reliable and practical alternative to time-consuming prospective studies when based on prognostic relevant data. Such a procedure allows a preliminary critical comparison with other centers.