Zentralblatt für Chirurgie
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Comparative Study
[The acute mesenteric ischemia - not understood or incurable?].
Despite surgical research and progress, the high mortality of acute intestinal ischemia seems to be improved insignificantly over the past fifty years. In this study we analyzed the specific diagnostic and therapeutic problems of the disease in order to improve further management of acute mesenteric ischemia. ⋯ Early diagnosis before hospitalisation and in-hospital (arteriography) and operation are essential to improve the outcome of patients with acute intestinal ischemia. To avoid short bowel syndrome bowel resection should be combined with mesenteric revascularization. Resection of malperfused bowel should be done cautiously and should be followed automatically by second look operations. Special expertise and good team work of visceral and vascular surgeons are required to achieve better therapeutic results.
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With the planned introduction of Diagnosis related groups (DRG) in the German in-patient reimbursement system an economic brake will be put on the hospitals. The upcoming expected growth of the older German population and the ongoing process of better diagnostic and therapeutic procedures leads to a gap between costs and resources in the established health care system. ⋯ The short time consequences result in great efforts of correct coding of diagnoses and procedures, as a survival strategy for surgical departments. More or less are new structures necessary, the development of "clinical pathways" and the increase or decrease of capacities will become the main tasks in the next years.
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Despite all the efforts made in the areas of intensive care and surgery, severe peritonitis remains a feared condition that is associated with a high mortality rate. Severe abdominal infections are accompanied with a high level of endotoxin production, resulting in the so called systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which is often complicated by multiple organ failure. The surgical eradication of the infectious focus is the most important prerequisite for a successful treatment. ⋯ We analysed patient characteristics and the clinical outcome of 180 patients with diffuse peritonitis, including 36 patients with more than 29 MPI-Points. The mean severity of peritonitis (n = 36) was 33 using the Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI). The hospital mortality rate was 58 % in this group.
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Comparative Study
[The femoral neck fracture in the elderly patient - cemented or cementless hip arthroplasty?].
This is a report on the treatment results of femoral neck fractures with a cemented (group 1) and cementless (group 2) type of hip prosthesis, resp. 72 patients were enrolled. 35 patients were treated with a cemented hip prosthesis (mean age: 78 years), and 37 patients with a cementless modular hip prosthesis (mean age: 77 years). In the cemented group we observed 5 cases of hypotension during insertion of the prosthesis in the femoral shaft. One of these patients required mechanical resuscitation during surgery. ⋯ No prosthesis loosening was observed in either group. In our view the cemented hip prosthesis is the treatment of choice for femoral neck fractures among the old and very old, if no stabile osteosynthesis can be performed. Patients with cardiopulmonary risk factors, however, may profit from cementless hip arthroplasty to avoid the well known cardiodepression during surgery.
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Comparative Study
[Surgical treatment of fractures of the clavicle--Indication, surgical technique and results].
46 cases of clavicular fracture (25 of the middle third and 21 of the distal third) are reviewed concerning indications for surgery, surgical technique and postoperative results. In 32 cases surgery was necessary due to dislocation (in 7 cases with a rupture of the coracoclavicular ligaments), 3 times due to a complex trauma of the shoulder joint, 3 times due to a local neurovascular involvement, 3 times due to a delayed fracture healing and 3 times due to a pathological fracture. In two cases an open fracture required osteosynthesis. The most frequent surgical procedure was plate osteosynthesis using the following materials: 3.5 mm LCDC plate, the so called "Balser plate" and the "Ulrich plate", 3.5 mm reconstruction plate, 3.5 mm T-plate and compound plate. In 14 cases autogenous bone grafting was performed. Additional suture of the coracoclavicular ligaments was indicated in 7 patients. In every case early physiotherapy followed the surgical procedure. ⋯ in 2 cases an avascular pseudarthrosis emerged after plate osteosynthesis without autogenous bone grafting. In one case a non-union developed due to infection. Moreover we found a loosening of a "Balser plate" and in one patient the development of keloid tissue. The functional outcome according to the Constant score was good. 32 patients achieved 89 out of 100 possible points (average follow up 31 months). In distal clavicle fractures we prefer the use of the "Balser plate" combined with a suture of the coracoclavicular ligaments. Due to the occurrance of delayed fracture healing with pseudarthrosis (2/25) in fractures of the middle third, the indication for surgical treatment has to be discussed. In case of local soft tissue trauma and damage of the periostal blood supply, plate osteosynthesis in combination with autogenous bone grafting should be performed.