[Endoscopic vacuum treatment of an infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis].

Necrotizing pancreatitis remains a therapeutic challenge. Thirty-eight percent of all cases lead to an early organ failure and 15 % cause death. Interventions are necessary in 38 % 1.

[Modern wound dressings].

Chronic wounds are, due to the slow healing, a major clinical problem. In addition to classic materials, a great number of supportive wound dressings for chronic wound treatment, developed on the basis of new knowledge about the pathophysiological events in non-healing wounds, are available on the market. Today we know that modern wound dressings provide the best local environment for optimal healing (moisture, warmth, appropriate pH).

[Calciphylaxis].

Calciphylaxis is a form of extra-skeletal calcification characterized by calcium deposits in arterial tunica media and vascular thrombosis, which leads to tissue ischemia including skin ischemia with consequential skin necrosis. Necroses may also develop in the subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. The cause of this disorder remains unknown.

[Role of debridement in treatment of chronic wounds].

Debridement is the process of removing dead tissue from the wound bed. Since devitalized tissue can obstruct or completely stop healing of the wound, it is indicated to debride wound bed as part of the treatment process. The aim of debridement is to transform a chronic wound into an acute wound and to initiate the process of healing.

[Application of modern wound dressings in the treatment of chronic wounds].

Chronic and acute infected wounds can pose a major clinical problem because of associated complications and slow healing. In addition to classic preparations for wound treatment, an array of modern dressings for chronic wound care are currently available on the market. These dressings are intended for the wounds due to intralesional physiological, pathophysiological and pathological causes and which failed to heal as expected upon the use of standard procedures.