Influence of resection extent on morbidity in surgery for squamous cell cancer at the pharyngoesophageal junction.

Purpose: Squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the pharyngoesophageal junction area has a poor prognosis mainly due to late symptom manifestation and diagnosis. Treatment of choice is still pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy, substantially affecting quality of life. Limited surgical procedures have been adopted as well.

Chemical impurities and contaminants in different silicone oils in human eyes before and after prolonged use.

Background: Intraocular silicone oil (SiO) impurities as low molecular weight components (LMWC) and residual catalysts are thought to cause ocular toxicity. A case-control study was initiated to determine if highly purified SiOs of equal viscosity from two different manufacturers had a similar chemical stability after prolonged clinical use as a vitreous substitute in patients.

Methods: Medical grade samples of AcriSilOl 5000 (ASO 5000) and Vitreocrom 5000 (VC 5000) were obtained.

Thoracoscopic and anatomic landmarks of Kuntz's nerve: implications for sympathetic surgery.

Background: Kuntz's nerves (KN) have been blamed for surgical failures of endothoracic sympathectomy. The prevalence of these fibers, however, varies between the surgical (about 10%) and anatomic literature (about 80%). This clinically orientated cadaveric study was conducted to explain this discrepancy, to reveal possible reasons for the low thoracoscopic detection rate, and to define anatomic structures as possible landmarks of KNs.

Histopathology of the endoscopic esophagogastric junction in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Discrepancy exists between the endoscopic (rugal folds) and the histopathologic (oxyntic mucosa) definition of proximal stomach. We compared endoscopy and histopathology of the esophagogastric junction in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Methods: A total of 102 consecutive patients (60 women) with gastroesophageal reflux disease prospectively underwent endoscopy including multilevel biopsy sampling at the level of the rise of rugal folds (level 0), and also 0.

Age, microbiology and prognostic scores help to differentiate between secondary and tertiary peritonitis.

Background And Aims: Tertiary peritonitis is a severe persisting intra-abdominal infection and associated with high mortality. The aim was to find significant risk factors for mortality and tertiary peritonitis including the Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI), the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, and a sumscore of both.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective single-center cohort study, 122 patients were treated at the Surgical Department of a University Hospital.

The value of intraoperative pentagastrin testing in medullary thyroid cancer.

Background: The decrease of calcitonin levels after curative operation in patients with medullary thyroid cancer is characterized by individual variation; therefore, intraoperative calcitonin measurements to evaluate the completeness of the resection seem to not be feasible. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an intraoperative pentagastrin test after thyroidectomy and central neck dissection is useful to predict lymph node involvement of the lateral neck.

Methods: A group of 30 consecutive patients underwent primary surgery.