Mind the gap! Interdisciplinary approach to anterior chest wall reconstruction after total sternectomy.

Background: There are various reconstructive methods after total sternectomy. Reproducibility is scarce due to overall small patient numbers. Therefore we present a standardized, interdisciplinary approach for thoracic and plastic surgery.

Influence of dental status on outcome after lung transplantation.

Introduction: Poor oral hygiene can cause infections and inflammatory diseases. Data on its impact on outcome after lung transplantation (LuTX) is scarce. Most transplant centers have individual standards regarding dental care as there is no clinical guideline.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after lung transplantation: Risk factors and management.

Introduction: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare neurologic complication that can occur under immunosuppressive therapy with CNI after organ transplantation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 545 patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2012 and 2019. Within this group, we identified 30 patients with neurological symptoms typical of PRES and compared the characteristics of patients who were diagnosed with PRES (n = 11) to those who were not (n = 19).

COVID-19 in Recent Lung Transplant Recipients: Clinical Outcomes and Management Strategies.

Background: COVID-19 causes a wide range of symptoms, with particularly high risk of severe respiratory failure and death in patients with predisposing risk factors such as advanced age or obesity. Recipients of solid organ transplants, and in particular lung transplantation, are more susceptible to viral infection owing to immune suppressive medication. As little is known about the SARS-CoV-2 infection in these patients, this study was undertaken to describe outcomes and potential management strategies in early COVID-19 infection early after lung transplantation.

Antithrombin therapy in pancreas retransplantation and pancreas-after-kidney/pancreas-transplantation-alone patients.

Antithrombin (AT) is a coagulatory inhibitor with pleiotropic activities. AT reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury and has been successfully used in patients with simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation. This study retrospectively analyzes prophylactic high-dose AT application in patients with solitary pancreas transplantation traditionally related to suboptimal results.

Prothrombin complex concentrate in surgical patients: retrospective evaluation of vitamin K antagonist reversal and treatment of severe bleeding.

Introduction: Prothrombin complex concentrates are recommended for rapid reversal of vitamin K anticoagulants. As they normalize levels of vitamin K dependent clotting factors and re-establish hemostasis, they may also be used as adjunctive therapy in patients with major bleeding. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of prothrombin complex concentrates in the surgical setting.

Immunoglobulin M-enriched human intravenous immunoglobulins reduce leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and attenuate microvascular perfusion failure in normotensive endotoxemia.

Clinical studies indicate potential differences in the efficacy of immunoglobulin (Ig) preparations in patients with sepsis. A recent meta-analysis showed improved survival rates with IgM-enriched Igs. It was the objective of the present study to characterize microcirculatory actions of different clinically used Ig preparations in a rodent endotoxin model by intravital microscopy.

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.

Microcirculatory disorders in sepsis and transplantation: therapy with natural coagulatory inhibitors antithrombin and activated protein C.

Purpose Of Review: Modern technologies allow visualization of microcirculatory disorders. This review describes how the coagulatory inhibitors antithrombin and activated protein C (APC) can improve microcirculation in sepsis and transplantation.

Recent Findings: The effects of antithrombin and APC on microcirculatory disorders in ischemia reperfusion and experimental sepsis have been reported recently.

Single-shot antithrombin in human pancreas-kidney transplantation: reduction of reperfusion pancreatitis and prevention of graft thrombosis.

Reperfusion pancreatitis and graft thrombosis often induce early graft loss in simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation. Antithrombin (AT) is a coagulatory inhibitor with pleiotropic activities that reduces experimental ischemia/reperfusion injury. This study retrospectively analyses prophylactic high-dose AT application in patients with first SPK.

Microcirculatory alterations in ischemia-reperfusion injury and sepsis: effects of activated protein C and thrombin inhibition.

Experimental studies in ischemia-reperfusion and sepsis indicate that activated protein C (APC) has direct anti-inflammatory effects at a cellular level. In vivo, however, the mechanisms of action have not been characterized thus far. Intravital multifluorescence microscopy represents an elegant way of studying the effect of APC on endotoxin-induced leukocyte-endothelial-cell interaction and nutritive capillary perfusion failure.