Percutaneous endovascular Y-stenting of a malignant superior vena cava and innominate vein obstruction.

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is considered one of the telltale signs of a terminal malignant process. We describe a successful endovascular desobliteration of a subtotal occluded SVC and the left innominate vein using a Y-stent technique in a 46-year-old female with a mediastinal nodal metastasis of a relapsing renal cell carcinoma. Complete clinical improvement in the symptoms within the first 24 hours of the procedure and no complication were observed.

Multidrug donor preconditioning protects steatotic liver grafts against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Graft dysfunction of steatotic livers (SL) still remains a major challenge in liver transplantation. Different mechanisms are thought to be involved in the impaired tolerance of SL to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Thus, different pharmacologic strategies may need to be combined to effectively protect SL and to reduce graft dysfunction after transplantation.

Delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy: influence of the orthotopic technique of reconstruction and intestinal motilin receptor expression.

Background: Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is still a common postoperative complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Because different reconstruction techniques after PD and the influence of motilin receptor expression are controversially discussed, the present study analyzed the influence of a total orthotopic reconstruction technique on DGE after PD.

Methods: Data from patients undergoing PD and reconstruction using a total orthotopic technique were reviewed, and correlations between DGE and clinico-pathological variables were analyzed.

Split-liver procedure and inflammatory response: improvement by pharmacological preconditioning.

Background: Final outcome of split-liver (SL) transplantation is impaired due to an increased rate of vascular complications and primary non-function. Herein, we hypothesized that an in situ split-liver procedure induces an inflammatory response and a deterioration of graft quality. We further studied whether graft quality can be improved by pharmacologic preconditioning.

Multidrug donor preconditioning prevents cold liver preservation and reperfusion injury.

Purpose: Primary graft dysfunction still represents a major challenge in liver transplantation. We herein studied in an isolated rat liver perfusion model whether a multidrug donor preconditioning (MDDP) can not only reduce but also completely prevent cold ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods: MDDP included curcumin, simvastatin, N-acetylcysteine, erythropoietin, pentoxyphylline, melatonin, glycine, and methylprednisolone.

Impact of postoperative pancreatic fistula on surgical outcome--the need for a classification-driven risk management.

Background: The International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) classification allows comparison of incidence and severity of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Its post hoc character, however, does not provide a guideline for the treatment of POPF in individual patient. We therefore studied the association of POPF type A-C on secondary surgical morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing pancreatic resection.

Amiodarone pretreatment of organ donors exerts anti-oxidative protection but induces excretory dysfunction in liver preservation and reperfusion.

The continuous shortage of organs necessitates the use of marginal organs from donors with various diseases, including arrhythmia-associated cardiac failure. One of the most frequently used anti-arrhythmic drugs is amiodarone (AM), which is given in particular in emergency situations. Apart from its anti-arrhythmic actions, AM provides anti-oxidative properties in cardiomyocytes.

Antibacterial [corrected] coating of abdominal closure sutures and wound infection.

Background: Poor wound healing and the development of infection in incisional wounds continue to be among the most common complications of open abdominal surgery. Various bacteria may contaminate not only the tissue in the operative wound, but also the actual suture material. To prevent the contamination of suture material in surgical wounds, triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 suture materials with antibacterial activity (Vicryl plus) was developed.