Does the breast reconstruction method have an impact on time delay to adjuvant chemotherapy - A comparison between autologous and expander/implant breast reconstruction.

Introduction: This study aims to analyze whether autologous breast reconstruction as compared to expander/implant reconstruction has a higher risk of postoperative wound healing problems (WHPs) and thus potentially delays chemotherapy start.

Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2019, a total of 64 women with NSME/SSME and autologous (Group1,  = 33) or expander/implant reconstruction (Group2,  = 31) and adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this study conducted at Innsbruck Medical University Hospital. Immediate postoperative WHPs in each group were compared, and the time from operation to initiation of chemotherapy was analyzed.

Influence of Incision Site on Postoperative Outcome in Skin-/Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Is There a Difference between Radial and Inframammary Incision?

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in results between the radial and the inframammary approach in nipple-/skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction.

Methods: The patients were divided into two groups (group 1: radial incision; group 2: inframammary fold incision [IMF]), each consisting of two subgroups for direct-to-implant reconstruction (1a, 2a) and expander reconstruction (1b, 2b). The patients were operated on between March 2012 and May 2017.

Therapeutic management and outcome of locoregional recurrence after curative colorectal cancer therapy-a single-center analysis.

Locoregional tumor recurrence after curative therapy for colorectal cancer is therapeutically challenging and associated with poor prognosis. Goal of this single-center study was to analyze patients with locoregional recurrence with regard to therapeutic strategies and outcome for colon and rectal cancer each. Charts of all patients surgically treated for colorectal cancer in the period from 2000 to 2011 (n = 1296) were examined; patients with locoregional recurrence (n = 86) were then further analyzed.

Study protocol: the effect of whole body vibration on acute unilateral unstable lateral ankle sprain- a biphasic randomized controlled trial.

Background: Ankle sprains often result in ankle instability, which is most likely caused by damage to passive structures and neuromuscular impairment. Whole body vibration (WBV) is a neuromuscular training method improving those impaired neurologic parameters. The aim of this study is to compare the current gold standard functional treatment to functional treatment plus WBV in patients with acute unilateral unstable inversion ankle sprains.

Tacrolimus monotherapy following alemtuzumab induction in combined kidney-pancreas transplantation: results of a prospective randomized trial.

Background: We investigated the safety and efficacy of Campath induction and tacrolimus (TAC) maintenance therapy compared to ATG induction with TAC +MMF + steroids in de novo kidney-pancreas transplanted patients.

Material/methods: 14 patients (Group A) received Campath 30 mg + methylprednisolone 500 mg before revascularization followed by TAC monotherapy, and 16 patients (Group B) ATG 8 mg/kg with TAC + MMF+ steroids (withdrawn at month 3). TAC trough levels (ng/mL) of 12-15 were aimed for in both groups until month 6 and thereafter 6-12.

Is limited surgery justified in the treatment of T1 colorectal cancer?

Background: Surgical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) should be aimed primarily at achieving a combination of surgical-oncologic radicalness and the highest possible quality of life. In recent years, surgical therapy for T1 CRC has tended toward less radical interventions. The question regarding changes in survival and recurrence rates still is unanswered.

Incidence and predisposing factors of cold intolerance after arterial repair in upper extremity injuries.

Objective: The purpose of this report was to present abnormal posttraumatic cold intolerance in patients that previously underwent repair of arterial injuries after civilian upper limb trauma in our institution.

Methods: All patients who underwent repair of arterial lesions after upper limb trauma since 1990 were reviewed, and clinical follow-up studies were performed. Patients were asked to complete the cold intolerance symptom severity (CISS) questionnaire to evaluate presence and severity of self-reported cold sensitivity, and the disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire to analyze functional disability.

Single shot of alemtuzumab as induction therapy after kidney transplantation is sufficient.

In an earlier study, we were able to show that Tac monotherapy following 2 × 20 mg alemtuzumab induction is at least as effective as Tac-based triple-drug immunosuppression in cadaveric renal transplantation. We were interested to learn whether 1 × 30 mg of alemtuzumab is as effective as 2 × 20 mg. Patients of the initial study group (group A) received 20 mg alemtuzumab on days 0 and 2, and tac monotherapy from day 2 on.

Long-term results and complications following adjustable gastric banding.

This study was performed to assess our long-term results with laparoscopic gastric banding in patients with an observation period of at least 9 years calculated from the date of operation. Between January 1996 and December 2000, a total of 276 patients (83% female) underwent laparoscopic gastric banding at our institution. Mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 44 +/- 6 kg/m(2).

Virtual neck exploration: a new method for localizing abnormal parathyroid glands.

Background Data: Computed tomography (CT) together with 99mTc-sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (MIBI-SPECT) image fusion (CT-MIBI-SPECT image fusion) allows virtual exploration of the neck. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether CT-MIBI-SPECT image fusion is superior to MIBI-SPECT and CT in detecting abnormal parathyroid glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: CT-MIBI-SPECT image fusion for preoperative localization was performed in 116 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT).

Results and complications after Swedish adjustable gastric banding-10 years experience.

Background: Bariatric surgery is currently the only effective treatment for morbid obesity. The main advantage of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is that this operation is minimally invasive to the stomach and adjustable to the patient's needs. Few long-term studies on Swedish adjustable gastric banding (SAGB) have been published.

CT-MIBI-SPECT image fusion predicts multiglandular disease in hyperparathyroidism.

Background: To perform focused or minimally invasive surgery for hyperparathyroidism (HPT) exact preoperative localization is mandatory. Computed tomography-(99m)Tc-sestamibi-single photon emission computed tomography image fusion (CT-MIBI-SPECT) serves this difficult task in single gland HPT to a large extent. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether CT-MIBI-SPECT image fusion is superior to MIBI-SPECT alone and CT alone in detecting abnormal parathyroid tissue in patients with multiglandular disease.

Target registration and target positioning errors in computer-assisted neurosurgery: proposal for a standardized reporting of error assessment.

Background: Assessment of errors is essential in development, testing and clinical application of computer-assisted neurosurgery. Our aim was to provide a comprehensive overview of the different methods to assess target registration error (TRE) and target positioning error (TPE) and to develop a proposal for a standardized reporting of error assessment.

Methods: A PubMed research on phantom, cadaver or clinical studies on TRE and TPE has been performed.

Disappointing mid-term results after laparoscopic gastric banding in young patients.

Background: When gastric banding was introduced as a bariatric operation about 12 years previously, its early results were promising, with a low complication rate. Only a few long-term studies on this subject have been published. This study was performed to assess our results with laparoscopic gastric banding in young patients after View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Virtual neck exploration in patients with hyperparathyroidism and former cervical operations.

Background: In surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism, preoperative localization together with intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay is important when minimal invasive operations of the parathyroid glands are intended. In cases of reoperation, correct localization of the abnormal parathyroid glands is extremely instrumental. Computed tomography (CT)-(99m)Tc-sestamibi (MIBI)-single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image fusion allows for a virtual exploration of the neck by showing the suspected gland three-dimensionally with all the anatomic landmarks in correct position.

Protein levels of heme oxygenase-1 during reperfusion in human kidney transplants with delayed graft function.

Introduction: Delayed graft function (DGF) as a consequence of ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is associated with a decrease in long-term allograft survival. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress responsive gene that is highly expressed in multiple pathological processes. The aim of our study was to analyze whether HO-1 protein levels in human kidney transplants during IRI correlate with the incidence of DGF.

A comparison of outcomes after robotic open extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the surgical approach on surgical and neurologic outcomes after extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the institutional extended thymectomies for myasthenia gravis within the last decade was performed. Patients of group A (open access by total median sternotomy; n=10; 1996-2002) and of group B (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery approach with the da Vinci robotic system; n=9; 2003-2006) did not differ with regard to gender distribution, age, body mass index, American Association of Anaesthetists score and Osserman classification of myasthenia gravis.