SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Clinical Features of COVID-19 in a German Liver Transplant Recipient Cohort: A Prospective Serosurvey Study.

Background: In liver transplant (LT) recipients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), fatal outcome has been reported in a substantial subset of patients. Whether LT recipients are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 compared with the general population is controversial. Here we report the results of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) serosurvey in a large LT recipient cohort.

Biliary calprotectin, lactoferrin and dimeric pyruvate kinase after liver transplantation are associated with biliary damage and graft survival in a case-control study.

Background: After liver transplantation (LT), biliary complications are associated with reduced graft survival. We tested inflammation markers for their association with biliary damage and graft loss in bile.

Material And Methods: The study design was a retrospective case-control study.

Inflammatory response and peritoneal contamination after transrectal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) versus mini-laparotomy: a porcine in vivo study.

Background: Transrectal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) avoids abdominal organ retrieval during laparoscopic procedures and may reduce surgical trauma. However, this has not been proven clinically and transrectal peritoneal contamination is feared to cause infectious complications. This experimental study was designed to evaluate inflammatory response and peritoneal contamination after transrectal NOSE versus mini-laparotomy.

Transrectal rigid-hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy can be performed without peritoneal contamination: a controlled porcine survival study.

Background And Study Aims: The risk of infectious complications due to peritoneal contamination is a major concern and inhibits the widespread use of transrectal NOTES. A standardized rectal washout with a reversible colon occlusion device in situ has previously shown potential in reducing peritoneal contamination. The aim of this study was to compare the peritoneal contamination rate and inflammatory reaction for transrectal cholecystectomy after ideal rectal preparation (trCCE) and standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy (lapCCE) in a porcine survival experiment.

New device for transrectal trocar placement and rectal sealing for NOTES: a porcine in vivo and human cadaver study.

Background: To date, hybrid NOTES, combining transvaginal and laparoscopic access, represents the most popular clinically applied NOTES approach enabling surgical handling comparable to laparoscopic surgery. The transrectal route could be used in a similar way; however, suitable devices facilitating feasible transrectal access and rectal sealing are lacking.

Methods: In collaboration with Karl Storz GmbH, we tailored a rectoscope and trocars to facilitate transrectal trocar placement and rectal sealing for hybrid NOTES procedures using rigid instruments.