Diaphragmatic dysfunction as the presenting symptom in neuromuscular disorders: A retrospective longitudinal study of etiology and outcome in 30 German patients.

Diaphragmatic dysfunction is well-known in advanced stages of neuromuscular disorders. However, data on its presence as the presenting symptom in neuromuscular disorders is scarce. The goal of this retrospective longitudinal study was to evaluate the etiology and clinical outcome in patients, in whom uni- or bilateral diaphragmatic dysfunction was primarily diagnosed, before a specific neuromuscular disease was found.

Stroke in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study in 54 Patients.

Background And Purpose: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most frequent skeletal muscle myopathy. Nearly all patients develop cardiomyopathy in their second decade of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency, cause, and outcome of stroke in a German cohort of patients with DMD.

[What do Interpreters Understand as their Role in a Medical Consultation and How do they Carry it out in Reality?].

Objectives: In the literature the role of an interpreter in the clinical setting is not yet clearly defined. The aim of the study is to explore, which role the interpreters assign to themselves and which role they actually take in the clinical setting.

Methods: In the quantitative part of the study, the interpreters evaluated their role in the clinical encounter through a questionnaire, whereas in the qualitative part the interpreters' role was assessed by analysing videotapes of the clinical encounters.

Stapled bowel anastomoses in newborn surgery.

Background: In this work, we have described our experience with repair of bowel discontinuity by applying stapled anastomosis. The aim of this study was to compare two basic intestinal anastomotic techniques and to establish the feasibility of the stapled connection of bowel in neonates and infants.

Methods: Between August 2009 and December 2011, we have performed 23 cases of hand-sewn anastomosis (group I) and 21 cases of mechanical anastomosis (group II) in children during the first 3 months of life.

Laparoscopic inguinal preperitoneal injection--novel technique for inguinal hernia repair: preliminary results of experimental study.

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is the most common procedure in pediatric surgery. Suture techniques for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in children are easy to perform and popular with a low recurrence rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic preperitoneal injection of three-dimensional gel on closing of the inguinal hernia sac (IHS) in laboratory animals.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery for pyloric stenosis.

Background: Laparoscopy is the most common procedure for correction of congenital pyloric stenosis. The standard laparoscopic approach is based on the three-port technique. In contrast to the standard laparoscopic technique, the single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) requires only one incision.

SETT--subcutaneous endoscopic transaxillary tenotomy for congenital muscular torticollis.

Background: Surgical correction of the congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is recommended for patients with unsuccessful conservative treatment. Open operative techniques all leave noticeable scars. Tenotomy can be performed endoscopically.