Laparoscopic Appendectomy: A Safe and Definitive Solution for Suspected Appendicitis.

Introduction: Since conservative antibiotic treatment in uncomplicated appendicitis might not solve the clinical problem definitively, it has to compete with the results of today's laparoscopic appendectomy.

Methods: In a county hospital, accommodating also a pediatric department, all cases of appendectomy for suspected appendicitis over 15 years were analyzed retrospectively for the following items: beginning of symptoms, time from admission to surgery, surgical technique as "open," "laparoscopic" or "converted," if perforated at operation and histological confirmation of acute inflammation. Surgical morbidity was detected in distinct categories.

[The influence of various adjuvant drugs used in intensive care on monocyte chemotaxis].

Objective: Monocytes play an important part in all phases of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. In our study, we examined the influence of various drugs used in intensive care (omeprazole, ranitidine, potassium canrenoate, furosemide, clonidine, verapamil, and metamizole) on monocyte chemotaxis in vitro. The 0,1 fold, 1 fold, and 10 fold concentrations, which are detectable in serum after a clinically efficacious bolus injection of the respective drug, were tested.

[Variations of pain in the treatment of one classical acupuncture-point versus one point of Yamamoto's new scalp acupuncture].

Introduction: In an experimental design the pain reduction effect of acupuncture is studied and compared to the treatment of a classical acupuncture point and a point of the Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA).

Methods: Experimental pain stimuli (32 per test person) were set in 42 test persons at the upper calcaneus edge and pain reduction was checked intra-individually by using the following variations of treatment: Acupuncture YNSA basis-point D, Acupuncture at the classical point Xiao Chang Shu = Bl 27, Acupuncture at a placebo point of the head, Acupuncture at a placebo point of the gluteal region.

Results: Evaluation of the data as well as a statistical investigation using a bi-factoral variance analysis with repeated measurements of 2 respectively 1 factor yielded following results: There are highly significant differences concerning pain reduction through the stimulation of the YNSA basis-point D and the acupuncture at the classical point Bl 27 (p < 0,0007).

The influence of intravenous anaesthetics on the activity of enzymes released from polymorphonuclear leucocytes in vitro.

Background And Objective: Polymorphonuclear leucocytes make a decisive contribution to defence against bacterial infections. In particular, the effects of anaesthetics on non-oxidative bactericidal mechanisms have previously only been superficially examined. Although the influence of anaesthetic agents on oxidative bactericidal activity has been thoroughly examined, our study concentrated on the effect on non-oxidative processes, which appears to have been a neglected field of research.

[Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies--anesthesiologic and intensive care management].

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are known to affect humans and various animals. The bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the human Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) are among the most notable degenerative disorders caused by prions. Considering the BSE epidemic and the description of a new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (nvCJD), which is probably related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, TSE have recently gained a lot of public attention.