Safety and outcome of elective synthetic mesh repair for incisional ventral hernias in immunosuppressed patients - a retrospective propensity-score-matched analysis.

Introduction: Incisional hernia remain an important complication after abdominal surgery. Repair often includes use of synthetic mesh, but certain risk factors for complication after mesh hernia repair have been described. Among these, immunosuppression due to co-existing conditions is hypothesized to increase postoperative complications, but data is scarce and contradicting.

Pushing boundaries: simultaneous minimal-invasive resection of complex colorectal liver metastases and its primary tumor.

Introduction: Synchronous liver metastases occur in approximately 15-20% of patients with colorectal cancer. Optimal oncological treatment of oligometastatic disease combines surgical resection and systemic therapy. Open simultaneous resection of the primary and liver metastases is well described, but there is not much evidence for the increasing use of the minimally invasive approach.

Transanal total mesorectal excision: short- and long-term results of four certified colorectal cancer centers in Germany.

Background: Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME), a novel approach for treating low rectal cancer, holds promise. However, concerns exist in certain countries about their oncologic safety due to less-than-optimal outcomes on global studies. This research seeks to evaluate the long-term oncologic outcomes focusing on local recurrence rate and overall survival after TaTME surgery in Germany.

Detrimental impact of immunosuppressive burden on clinical course in patients with Cytomegalovirus infection after liver transplantation.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infection and reactivation remain a relevant complication after liver transplantation (LT). The recipient and donor serum CMV-IgG-status has been established for risk stratification when choosing various pharmaceutical regimens for CMV-prophylaxis in the last two decades. However, factors influencing course of CMV-infection in LT remain largely unknown.

A Reduction of Calcineurin Inhibitors May Improve Survival in Patients with De Novo Colorectal Cancer after Liver Transplantation.

Background and Objectives: After liver transplantation (LT), long-term immunosuppression (IS) is essential. IS is associated with de novo malignancies, and the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increased in LT patients. We assessed course of disease in patients with de novo CRC after LT with focus of IS and impact on survival in a retrospective, single-center study.

Safety of transanal ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: a retrospective observational cohort study.

Background: Colectomy with transanal ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (taIPAA) is a surgical technique that can be used to treat benign colorectal disease. Ulcerative colitis is the most frequent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and although pharmacological therapy has improved, colectomy rates reach up to 15%. The objective of this study was to determine anastomotic leakage rates and treatment after taIPAA as well as short- and long-term pouch function.

Initial Experience with the Safe Implementation of Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) as a Standardized Procedure for Low Rectal Cancer.

Introduction: The laparoscopic approach for TME is proven to be non-inferior in oncological outcome compared to open surgery. Anatomical limitations in the male and obese pelvis with resulting pathological shortcomings and high conversion rates were stimuli for alternative approaches. The transanal approach for TME (TaTME) was introduced to overcome these limitations.

Marginal ulcers after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: analysis of the amount of daily and lifetime smoking on postoperative risk.

Background: A common postoperative complication after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is the development of marginal ulcers (MUs) at the gastrojejunal anastomosis. Several risk factors, such as smoking, seem to have an impact on the development of MUs.

Objective: Very little is known about how much smoking increases the risk.

Preoperative ultrasound improves patency and cost effectiveness in arteriovenous fistula surgery.

Objective: We aimed to compare routine preoperative color-coded duplex ultrasound (DUS) to clinical examination (CE) alone in surgery for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with special emphasis on long-term outcomes and cost effectiveness.

Methods: All patients undergoing an AVF formation or revision between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016, at our tertiary referral center were subject to analysis. Routine DUS was performed in 114 patients and CE alone in 217 patients.