[Laparoscopic esophagotomy without diverticular resection for treating epiphrenic diverticulum in hypertonic lower esophageal sphincter].

Introduction: As a rule, epiphrenic diverticulum occurs in combination with most diverse forms of dysfunction in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and/or in the esophagus itself. The main symptoms are dysphagia, pain, and regurgitation. The operation consists in myotomy, diverticulum resection, and partial fundoplication via abdominal or thoracic approach using conventional or minimally invasive technique.

[Importance of rectal extirpation for the therapy concept of low rectal cancers].

Introduction: The main objective of surgery of rectal carcinomas is to avoid a permanent colostomy by sphincter-sparing surgical procedures. A variety of different abdominoperineal resection rates is described in the literature.

Material/method: The study was performed in 2000 within the framework of a multicentric study including 282 hospitals.

[Local recurrence and survival rate after rectal cancer operations and multimodal therapy].

Introduction: In the guidelines of the German specialist medical societies, postoperative chemoradiotherapy is recommended for rectal carcinomas in stages II and III. In the meantime, there are important study findings favoring preoperative radiotherapy as against postoperative irradiation. In the present unicentric study, the clinical results after preoperative irradiation and postoperative chemotherapy are to be determined.

[Spontaneous bleeding of focal nodular hyperplasia as a rare cause of acute abdomen].

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign tumor of the liver. It is most frequently found in women of reproductive age. An association with oral contraceptives and sexual hormones is therefore possible.

[The "short esophagus problem" in laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery].

Introduction: Esophageal shortening as a complication of advanced gastroesophageal reflux disease is seen in 2-4% of patients with GERD. For such patients undergoing laparoscopic antireflux surgery, the procedure is doomed to failure because of excessive tension. As a consequence, recurrent hiatal hernia or thoracic placement of the fundoplication with unfavorable functional results can occur.