[Anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Indications, technique, advantages and disadvantages].

Background: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) for lumbar interbody fusion from L2 to the sacrum has been an established technique for decades.

Objectives: The advantages and disadvantages of ALIF compared to posterior interbody fusion techniques are discussed. The operative technique is described in detail.

[Endovascular implantation of stent-grafts in the thoracic aorta -mid-term results of a prospective controlled study].

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment of various descending thoracic aortic pathologies with covered stent-grafts as an alternative to open surgery.

Methods: Among 16 patients (5 type B dissections, 5 contained ruptures, 3 aneurysms of the descending aorta, 1 thoraco-abdominal aneurysm, 1 mural thrombosis, 1 patch aneurysm) treated between November 1997 and November 2000, eight patients received Talent stent-grafts and another 8 patients underwent a Gore-TAG stent-graft implantation. A clinical follow-up and control CT scans were obtained after the procedure and then at six-month intervals.

A patient with five primary tumours of the aerodigestive tract and the kidney. The Interdisciplinary Tumour Board, Tübingen.

We report the case of a 65-year-old male who developed an oropharyngeal carcinoma, an oesophageal carcinoma and two primary bronchial carcinomas in combination with a renal cell carcinoma as an additional primary entity. By means of an aggressive diagnostic regimen including radiological and nuclear imaging techniques all carcinomas were detected early and could be treated with curative intention.

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement without sternotomy. Experience with the first 50 cases.

Objective: The method of replacing the aortic valve via a mini-thoracotomy has been reported in the recent literature. Although this strategy has clear advantages, further refinements of the process make the procedure even less invasive.

Methods: Aortic valve replacement was performed in 50 patients whose age ranged between 49 and 82 years, averaging 68+/-8.

Single access for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement.

Background: The method of replacing the aortic valve via a minithoracotomy has been reported in the recent literature. Although this strategy has clear advantages, further refinements of the process make the procedure even less invasive.

Methods: Aortic valve replacement was performed in 27 patients via a right parasternal minithoracotomy without rib resection.

Early results of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. Experience with the first 34 cases.

Background: The method of replacing the aortic valve via a minithoracotomy has been reported in the recent literature. This strategy has clear advantages. However, further refinements of the process make the procedure even less invasive.