Effects of malnutrition on complication rates, length of hospital stay, and revenue in elective surgical patients in the G-DRG-system.

Objective: Malnutrition is known to independently affect patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of patients at risk for malnutrition in an elective surgery patient cohort and to analyze the effects of malnutrition on morbidity, mortality, and hospital length of hospital (LOS). Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the economic effect of a diligent coding of malnutrition, as a side diagnosis, in a simulation of the German Diagnosis-Related Group system.

Atrial resection for lung cancer: morbidity, mortality, and long-term follow-up.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine our results of combined resection of the atrium and non-small-cell lung cancer using a concurrent and continuously updated database.

Methods: A total of 35 patients underwent extended pulmonary resection with partial resection of the atrium. The main focus of the study was to define subgroups of patients who can potentially benefit from surgery.

A critical analysis of laparoscopic appendectomy: how experience with 1,400 appendectomies allowed innovative treatment to become standard in a university hospital.

Background: Although advantages of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) have not yet been proved, there is increasing evidence that LA provides diagnostic and therapeutic advantages as compared to conventional surgery. This article reports the introduction of LA in a university hospital where LA now represents the standard operative procedure in patients with suspected appendicitis.

Methods: Consecutive patients with appendectomy were prospectively included in the surgical database from 5/1991 to 10/2005.

Resection of malignant tumors invading the vena cava: perioperative complications and long-term follow-up.

Objective: Invasion of the vena cava by malignant tumors is generally considered an absolute contraindication for surgery as a result of high surgical risk. Surgical treatment with resection of the vena cava may be beneficial for selected patients. This study was performed to evaluate our experiences with resection of the vena cava for malignant tumors, with a special focus on secondary tumors involving the inferior caval vein.

Analysis of specific transcriptional regulators as early predictors of independent prognostic relevance in resected colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Prognostic studies on transcription factors acting at specific promoter elements have never been done so far. However, in tumors with long necessary follow-up, such as colorectal cancer, early-risk predictors would be needed. The invasion-related gene u-PAR is regulated via an activator protein 2 (AP-2)/Sp1 (-152/-135) and an AP-1 binding promoter motif (-190/-171), mediating u-PAR induction by K-Ras and Src.