[Treatment of septic complications od secondary peritonitis].

The authors review the current management goals of surgical and antibiotic therapy in secondary peritonitis. Basic therapeutic regimen is the surgical elimination of the infectious source by means of a rational and risk-adapted operative procedure. Other technical procedures (such as intra- and postoperative lavage, drainage of the abdominal cavity, decompression, etc.

[Adjuvant regional arterial port chemotherapy after resection of colorectal liver metastases].

Between 1986 and 1995 we performed radical hepatic resections (R0 resections) in 109 patients with hepatic metastases following colorectal carcinoma. In 50 patients a hepatic arterial port device was implanted for adjuvant regional chemotherapy (HAI). Mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil, and since 1993 folinic acid have been administered during 6 monthly repeated courses.

Modulation of pro- and antifibrinolytic properties of human peritoneal mesothelial cells by transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta).

A decreased fibrinolytic activity of serosal surfaces appears to be a major factor in the development of peritoneal fibrous adhesions. Serosal fibrinolysis is regulated by mesothelial release of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor types 1 and 2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2). We investigated the influence of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) on pro- and antifibrinolytic properties of mesothelial cells (HOMC) using a cell/fibrin clot assay.

The influence of heat shock protein 70 induction on hemodynamic variables in a porcine model of recurrent endotoxemia.

The manipulation of stress gene expression by heavy metals provides protection against the lethal effects of endotoxemia in murine models of septic shock. These findings suggest that the increased resistance to endotoxin in vivo after stress protein induction could be explained by an attenuation of hemodynamic alterations and an altered pattern of inflammatory mediator release. Therefore, we measured main hemodynamic variables such as systemic and pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, central venous pressure, and pulmonary artery wedge pressure, as well as the time-course of thromboxane-B2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and interleukin 6 formation with and without induction of the stress response in an established porcine model of recurrent endotoxemia (Circ Shock 35:237-244, 1991).

Induction of heat shock protein 70 by zinc-bis-(DL-hydrogenaspartate) reduces cytokine liberation, apoptosis, and mortality rate in a rat model of LD100 endotoxemia.

A prospective, randomized model of LD100/24 h endotoxemia was performed in male Wistar rats (n = 26; 250-300 g). The animals were divided into four groups: Group I (n = 5; saline treatment only), Group II (n = 5; Zn2+ treatment only), Group III (n = 8; saline pretreatment, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment), and Group IV (n = 8; Zn2+ pretreatment, LPS treatment). Zn2+ pretreatment was carried out by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg zinc-bis-(DL-hydrogenaspartate) (10 mg/kg Zn2+).

[Stage-oriented antibiotic therapy of peritonitis. Prospective study].

Patients And Methods: In a prospective protocol 25 consecutive patients with diffuse peritonitis were treated in the Surgical Clinic of the RWT-University in Aachen, Germany, from January to December 1995. According to the "Mannheim Peritonitis Score" three different stages were treated with different surgical procedures and a selective antibiotic regimen. Group-A patients with prognostically favorable peritonitis (MPS 0-20) were treated with the so-called standard procedure, group-B patients (MPS: 21-29) with closed postoperative lavage.

Repeat resection of recurrent hepatic metastases--improvement in prognosis?

Objective: To find out if resection of recurrent hepatic metastases improves survival.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University hospital, Germany.

[Surgical treatment of intra-abdominal abscesses].

To define the role of operative treatment of intraabdominal abscesses, we retrospectively reviewed 106 patients, who were operated for intraabdominal abscesses between January 1988 and October 1994. 49 patients had had a primary abscess, 57 patients had an anteceding operation. In both groups appendix and bilio-pancreatic tract were the mostly involved organs.

[Differentiated surgical therapy of diffuse peritonitis--a prospective study].

Patients And Methods: In a prospective protocol 86 consecutive patients with a diffuse peritonitis were treated in the Surgical Clinic of the RWT-University in Aachen (FRG) from January 1992 to June, 1994. According to the "Mannheim Peritonitis-Score" three different stages were treated with different procedures. Stage-I-peritonitis (mild forms, MPS 0-20) was treated with the so-called standard procedure, Stage-II-cases (MPS: 21-29) with the closed postoperative lavage and severe stage-III-cases (MPS > 29) with the so-called "Etappenlavage" (multiple reexplorations and intraoperative lavage).

[Benefits and risk of resection of liver metastases in elderly patients].

Between 1986 und 1995 we performed 60 hepatic resections in 52 patients aged over 70 years for liver metastases of different primary tumours. The results were comparable regarding morbidity, mortality and long-term prognosis to the group of 176 patients under the age of 70 undergoing a total of 210 hepatic resections for metastases during the same time period. Thus liver resections for metastases can be performed with tolerable risks even in aged patients; postoperative mortality is independent of the patients' age and is due to the extent of resection; the survival rate is mainly influenced by radical resection.

Prevention of postoperative adhesions by single intraperitoneal medication.

Postoperative adhesions account for a significant morbidity after abdominal, gynecological, or cardiac surgery. A large number of compounds have been suggested to prevent such adhesions, but none is generally accepted. We have compared eight different substances that could be beneficial for the prevention of postoperative adhesions in a new standardized rabbit model with measurement of the areas of adhesion.

[Prevention and therapy of intra-abdominal adhesions. A survey of 1,200 clinics in Germany].

A survey of 1200 hospitals in Germany was undertaken to estimate the current standards of prevention and treatment of postoperative peritoneal adhesions. The 751 (62.2%) evaluated questionnaires showed a representative distribution according to postal zones and annual laparotomies.

[Endoscopic emergency therapy and early elective operation of at risk bleeding types in gastroduodenal ulcer hemorrhage--a prospective study].

253 consecutive patients with bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers were treated in a prospective protocol from Jan/1986 to Dec/1993. All underwent emergency endoscopy and injection therapy. In ulcers with a high risk of rebleeding (Forrest Ia, Ib, and IIvisible vessel) we performed an early elective operation (n = 126).

[Surgical therapy of liver metastases. Therapeutic procedures, results and prognostic factors].

In a period of 7 years, 151 patients were treated by resection and/or regional chemotherapy after liver metastases from various primary tumours. The subgroup of patients with colorectal liver metastases was evaluated separately from the heterogeneous group with any other primaries. Radical resection of colorectal liver metastases was followed by a 5-year survival of 17%.

[Anastomotic ulcers after duodenopancreatectomy for carcinoma of the head of the pancreas].

Anastomotic ulceration following partial pancreatoduodenectomy carries a substantial risk of complications. More than 50% of patients have episodes of bleeding and up to 20% die as a direct consequence of peptic complications. In a retrospective study of 88 patients, frequency of ulcer was analysed comparing Whipple-Child reconstruction and partial pancreatoduodenectomy with a Roux-Y gastrojejunostomy.

[Surgical therapy of myasthenia gravis and thymoma].

Between 1986 and 1992 eighteen patients underwent transsternal radical thymectomy at the Department of Surgery of the RWTH Aachen. Operation was indicated for myasthenia gravis (n = 14) or suspect of thymoma (n = 4). Patients with myasthenia were preoperatively classified according to Osserman and postoperatively with respect to their clinical status and drug dosages.

Protection of intestinal anastomoses by biodegradable intraluminal bypass tubes under the condition of general peritonitis: an experimental study on the CLP model in rats.

The purpose of this experimental study was to affirm the protective effect of biodegradable tubes for the intraluminal bypass procedure under the adverse condition of general peritonitis. General peritonitis was induced by means of the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model in the rat. The leakage rate in the control group (n = 20) without anastomotic protection was 70 percent (14/20).

[Pneumatosis cystoides intestinii].

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI), a condition involving submucosal or subserosal gas-containing cysts of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, is a rare entity. It is mostly diagnosed between the third and fifth decades of life without a clear sexual predominance. Different aetiopathogenetic factors are under discussion, the most probable being a bacteriologic cause (Clostridium perfringens) in combination with minimal leaks in the mucosal barrier.

[Billroth I hemigastrectomy in complicated recurrent ulcer after selective proximal vagotomy].

The outcome of Billroth I hemigastrectomy for complicated recurrent ulcers after proximal selective vagotomy (PSV) for duodenal ulcer was analyzed in a retrospective study of 15 patients followed up for 15-81 months (mean 3.8 years) postoperatively. Bleeding was reported in 4, stenosis in 5, penetration in 3, perforation in 1 and refractory ulcer in 2 cases.

[Differential surgical therapy in diffuse peritonitis].

96 patients were operated on for diffuse peritonitis from January 1986 to June 1990. They underwent a differentiated therapeutical concept according to the severity of the underlying peritonitis. Mild forms were handled with the standard approach, while mid-severe cases were treated by continuous postoperative peritoneal lavage.

Results of intersphincteric resection of the rectum with direct coloanal anastomosis for rectal carcinoma.

Between 1977 and 1987, 519 patients underwent operation for rectal carcinoma. Sixty-three patients underwent intersphincteric resection with direct coloanal anastomosis (CAA), and 77 had an abdominoperineal resection (APR). Curative surgery was achieved in 57 and 65 patients, respectively.

Bedside ultrasound in decision making for emergency surgery: its role in medical intensive care patients.

During an 18-month period the authors followed 1,024 patients referred to a general medical intensive care unit. A total of 7% of these patients underwent emergency surgery at some point during their admission. The role of abdominal ultrasound in the decision-making process for these emergency surgical interventions was evaluated and the patients were identified for whom the pathologic result of sonography was regarded sufficient to operate without any additional imaging procedures.

[Interrupted suture versus adhesive dressing in skin closure of pediatric inguinal hernia--a controlled randomized prospective study].

The skin closure with resorbable interrupted sutures (Dexon 6x0) was compared with adhesive plasters (Leukostrip) in a randomized prospective clinical trial with 100 children with an inguinal hernia. The same operative technique was used in both groups. There were no significant differences referring to the complication rates and the cosmetic results between both groups.