Development and pilot administration of the amputation-related pain and sensation assessment tool.

Purpose: To develop and administer an assessment tool for facilitating patient-clinician discussions regarding amputation-related pain and sensation.

Materials And Methods: An assessment tool was developed to measure the impact of different types of amputation-related pain and sensation on a patient's life. The tool first provides patients with written descriptions and images of three common types of amputation-related pain or sensations: residual limb pain, phantom limb sensation, and phantom limb pain.

Laparoscopic Treatment of Morgagni Hernia: Report of Three Cases.

We report on three cases of diaphragmatic (Morgagni) hernia with different clinical presentation. It is important to consider the possibility of this rare but potentially very dangerous condition in patients with respiratory problems and pain in the upper abdomen. Before laparoscopy, two different approaches were used in diaphragmatic hernia operations (abdominal and thoracic approach).

Laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis: a prospective study.

Background: Surgical treatment of complicated colonic diverticular disease is still debatable. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy in patients with diverticulitis. Patients offered laparoscopic surgery presented with acute complicated diverticulitis (Hinchey type I, II, III), chronically recurrent diverticulitis, bleeding, or sigmoid stenosis caused by chronic diverticulitis.

Circadian input kinases and their homologs in cyanobacteria: evolutionary constraints versus architectural diversification.

The circadian input kinase A (cikA) gene encodes a protein relaying environmental signal to the central circadian oscillator in cyanobacteria. The CikA protein has a variable architecture and usually consists of four tandemly arrayed domains: GAF, histidine kinase (HisKA), histidine kinase-like ATPase (HATPase_c), and a pseudo-receiver (REC). Among them, HisKA and HATPase_c are the least polymorphic, and REC is not present in heterocystic filamentous cyanobacteria.

Laparoscopic treatment of cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix penetrating in the sigmoid colon.

Adenocarcinoma of the vermiform appendix is a rare neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract that most commonly presents as right lower abdominal pain, mimicking acute appendicitis. Presentation caused by loco-regional spread with involvement of adjacent structures is rare. An accurate and complete preoperative diagnosis has been rare in the past; however, modern imaging techniques allow recognition of most complications and associated conditions.

Technique and survival after laparoscopically assisted right hemicolectomy.

Background: The role of laparoscopic colon resection in the management of colon cancer is still controversial. In this article, the surgical strategy and techniques are described, with further consideration of the oncologically relevant aspects.

Methods: Between March 1993 and July 2003, we performed laparoscopic right hemicolectomy in 56 patients with right colon carcinoma.

[Education in endoscopic surgery: courses of endoscopic surgery in Split, Croatia].

Education is very important in endoscopic surgery. It can be performed on endoscopic trainers, live animals, and animal organs, using tissue samples or non-natural materials. Practical work and education can also be performed during the assistance or operating under the supervision.

Disseminating science-based prevention: lessons learned from CSAP's CAPTs.

A wide variety of prevention approaches that reduce substance use and associated problems have been developed and tested. But successes have been limited in promoting the use of these scientific advances by the policy makers, practitioners, and concerned citizens. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's six regional Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CSAP's CAPTs) are a major mechanism by which CSAP brings research to practice.

Adaptive role of increased frequency of polypurine tracts in mRNA sequences of thermophilic prokaryotes.

The mechanism of an organism's adaptation to high temperatures has been investigated intensively in recent years. It was suggested that the macromolecules of thermophilic microorganisms (especially proteins) have structural features that enhance their thermostability. We compared mRNA sequences of 72 fully sequenced prokaryotic proteomes (14 thermophilic and 58 mesophilic species).

[Laparoscopic segmental pancreas resection and pancreatic cystadenoma].

Aside from location, the complex anatomic relationships and advanced laparoscopic skills needed in selected cases of laparoscopic pancreas surgery have increased. We report a 55-year-old woman with cystic adenoma in the area of the corpus who was treated with complete laparoscopic corpus resection while preserving the head and tail of the pancreas and the spleen. The patient was placed in lithotomy position.

[Technique of right laparoscopic hemicolectomy].

Patho-anatomic feature such as easy mobilisation of the colon segment on mesocolon, technically easy approach to the central lymphovascular pedicle, and the possibility of relative uncomplicated salvage and anastomosis warrant including this method in the procedures of modern colorectal surgery. Mobilisation from the vascularisized mesenterial bridges in a window technique, transection of the ileocolic lymphovascular pedicle, lateral and proximal mobilisation of ileocoecum, colon ascendance, right flexure and proximal transversum. After enlargement of one trocar incision the exteriorized colon is resected and an extracorporeal anastomosis is performed in the standard manner.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Background: We performed a prospective study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic hernia repair in our hospital.

Methods: A total of 2500 consecutive laparoscopic transabdominal hernia repairs (TAPP) were performed in 1952 patients. Their average age was 59 years.

[Endoscopic parathyroidectomy. Surgical technique in primary hyperparathyroidism].

We report our experience and technique of endoscopic removal of parathyroid adenomas in case of primary hyperparathyroidism. Scintigraphy, MRI scan and cervical ultrasound enable exact diagnosis and therefore exact localisation and placement of the three 5 mm trocars for endoscopic operation. The placement of the optic and the function trocars depends on the localisation of the adenoma.

Laparoscopic surgery for the cure of colorectal cancer: results of a German five-center study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery for the cure of colorectal cancer with emphasis on oncologic follow-up in particular.

Methods: A study was performed of patients with colorectal cancer treated by laparoscopy in five German centers between May 1991 and September 1997. Surgical and pathologic data were recorded in an anonymous registry database and analyzed by type of resection.

[Laparoscopic gastric banding in morbid obesity].

Laparoscopic "Gastric Banding" is a modern, minimally invasive technique to induce significant weight loss in morbidly obese individuals. If performed according to the established principles of elective surgery, the procedure has to be classified as a serious offer to a specific group of patients, who have, as yet, been confronted with the option of futile conservative therapies or irreversible interventions in the gastrointestine. The technique comprises the laparoscopic placement of a silicone band below the cardia, connected to a port-system.

Voice-controlled robotic arm in laparoscopic surgery.

Aim: To report on our experience with a voice-directed robotic arm for scope management in different procedures for "solo-surgery" and in complex laparoscopic operations.

Methods: A chip card with orders for the robotic arm is individually manufactured for every user. A surgeon gives order through a microphone and the optic field is thus under direct command of the surgeon.

[Laparoscopic hernia repair of recurrent hernias].

Successful treatment of recurrent inguinal hernias is still a problem, in spite of the availability of several different methods. We present our experience with laparoscopic TAP repair, which was performed in 154 patients with 168 recurrent inguinal hernias after traditional anterior repairs. Our results show an acceptable complication rate (5.

[Technique of laparoscopic pancreatocysto-jejunostomy].

Usually the development of a pancreatic pseudocyst in the course of pancreatitis is followed by surgical intervention. In case of operation an internal drainage is preferred to an external according to general experience. We have developed a simplified technique of pancreatocysto-jejunostomy without Braun- or Roux-Y-anastomosis.

[Prevention of thromboembolism in minimal invasive interventions and brief inpatient treatment. Results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled study with a low molecular weight heparin].

A prospective, randomised, controlled clinical trial was carried out in order to elucidate the incidence of venous thromboembolism in selected patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and other types of minimally invasive surgery, as well as to show safety and efficacy of a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in the prevention of post-operative venous thromboembolism. Seven hundred and eighteen patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: One group received physical measures for prevention of deep-vein thrombosis, i.e.

[Robot arm in laparoscopic surgery].

Currently laparoscopic surgery is limited by several factors. One of them is the precise handling of optics. Up to now, in our hospital 52 laparoscopic operations have been done with a voice-controlled robot arm to handle the optics in gallbladder, stomach, large bowel and hernia operations.

[Laparoscopy-assisted colorectal surgery. Early outcome in benign and malignant diseases--a prospective study of 120 patients].

We present our results with laparoscopic-assisted colorectal surgery in 120 patients during the time from January 1993 to September 1996. The types of procedures cover almost the whole spectrum of colorectal surgery. They included hemicolectomies, signmoid resections, low anterior resections, Hartmann closures, proctocolectomies and rectopexies.

[Pancreatic function and quality of life after resection of the head of the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis. A prospective, randomized comparative study after duodenum preserving resection of the head of the pancreas versus Whipple's operation].

Given an indication for surgery in patients with chronic pancreatitis, such as distal common bile duct obstruction, duodenal stenosis, or dilated pancreatic duct with stones and congestion, the surgeon must decide the type of operation to perform. A duodenopancreatectomy, the Whipple procedure, is widely considered to be the gold standard. It is highly effective in relieving pain and eliminating the structural abnormalities noted above.

[Laparoscopic interventions in acute and chronic diverticulitis].

Unlabelled: Since the beginning of 1993 until May 1994 in our hospital 25 patients were operated upon for diverticular disease. 16 patients required a laparoscopic assisted elective one-stage resection. One laparoscopic Hartmann's procedure was performed on account of a free perforation.

[Laparoscopic pancreatocystojejunostomy without entero-entero-anastomosis].

The gradual enlargement of a persistent pancreatic pseudocyst generally requires intervention. When the decision to carry out an operative procedure is made, preference should be given to internal rather than external drainage. We have developed a simple technique in which the pseudocyst is approached directly, to make a pancreatico-cystojejunostomy, which does not require a Braun- or Roux-en-Y anastomosis.

[Prevention of thromboembolism in surgery--results of a survey in West German hospitals].

Unlabelled: In 1990 a questionnaire on methods for prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (LE) was mailed to 940 surgical centers in West Germany (FRG). The return rate was 60% or 564 answers, covering about 1,200,000 operations/year. The results are as follows: (1) Physical therapeutic measures (early mobilisation, elastic stockings) and drug administration are routinely used in all centers.