Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection--a randomized controlled trial comparing the original Beger procedure with the Berne modification (ISRCTN No. 50638764).

Objective: A prospective, randomized study was performed to evaluate two variations of the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR), either with (Beger procedure) or without (Berne modification) the division of the pancreas anterior to the portal vein, in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Methods: Randomized, controlled, patient-blinded trial of patients with inflammatory pancreatic head tumors. The primary endpoint was the duration of surgery.

Localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands by selective venous sampling in reoperation for primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in patients with previous cervical operations is not always successful with noninvasive methods such as ultrasound, sestamibi scan, or magnetic resonance imaging. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of selective venous sampling (SVS) of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) in patients undergoing surgery for primary (75%) or secondary (25%) hyperparathyroidism (HPT).

Methods: Between January 2000 and January 2006, SVS for PTH was performed in 51 consecutive patients with persistent or recurrent HPT or patients with previous cervical explorations.

Duodenum preserving pancreatectomy in chronic pancreatitis: design of a randomized controlled trial comparing two surgical techniques [ISRCTN50638764].

Background: Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease which is characterized by an irreversible conversion of pancreatic parenchyma to fibrous tissue. Beside obstructive jaundice and pseudocyst formation, about half of the patients need surgical intervention due to untreatable chronic pain during the course of the disease. In most of the patients with chronic pancreatitis, the head of the pancreas is the trigger of the chronic inflammatory process.

Postsurgical pain outcome of vertical and transverse abdominal incision: design of a randomized controlled equivalence trial [ISRCTN60734227].

Background: There are two ways to open the abdominal cavity in elective general surgery: vertically or transversely. Various clinical studies and a meta-analysis have postulated that the transverse approach is superior to other approaches as regards complications. However, in a recent survey it was shown that 90 % of all abdominal incisions in visceral surgery are still vertical incisions.