Search

Background:  Implant of indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) represents an established therapy method in addition to pleurodesis for symptomatic recurrent benign and malignant pleural effusions (BPE and MPE).There are only few studies on IPC safety during follow-up, especially with regard to infection and pneumothorax rates.The aim of our investigation was to determine the complication frequency after IPC implant and its predictive factors in patients with BPE vs. MPE., Methods:  Retrospective analysis of all IPC implantations in the pneumology department at the University Hospital Dresden during 2015 - 2018., Results:  An IPC was implanted in 86 patients (43 m/f each; age 66.9 ± 13.3 years) with symptomatic BPE and MPE. BPE and MPE was present in 12.8 % (11/86) and 87.2 % (75/86) of the patients, respectively.A predominantly small and asymptomatic pneumothorax was detectable as an immediate complication in 43/86 (50 %) of patients; 34/43 (79 %) of patients did not require any specific therapy. For 9/43 patients, IPC suction was required for a median period of three days; 8/43 patients had a large pneumothorax with partial or complete regression after a median period of two days.Catheter infection developed in 15.1 % (13/86) of the total group and 36.4 % (4/11) of the BPE vs. 12 % (9/75) of the MPE after a median period of 87 (BPE/MPE 116/87) days. This was more common in BPE (p = 0.035), large pneumothorax (4/8 patients; p = 0.015) and longer catheter dwell times (124 ± 112 vs. 71 ± 112 days; p = 0.07)., Conclusion:  Small pneumothoraxes are frequent after IPC implantation, but usually do not require specific therapy. IPC infection was detected in 15.1 % of all patients after a median period of 87 days. This was more common in patients with BPE, longer catheter dwell times and large pneumothorax., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Background: Epiphora is the classic symptom of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, particularly among elderly people. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) via external (Toti) and endonasal (West) approaches are well-established surgical treatments., Objective: The aim of the present article is to describe the etiology and diagnostics of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Furthermore, treatment modalities are discussed according to the current literature, with particular consideration of the otorhinolaryngologist's perspective., Materials and Methods: A search of the current literature focused on the past 5 years was performed in PubMed., Results: Several retrospective and prospective randomized studies describe the external and endonasal DCR approaches as safe surgical procedures, with high success rates of around 90 %. The endoscope is standardly used for visualization during the endonasal approach. Powered instruments such as diamond drills enable generation of a large rhinostomy, even in very hard bone. The application of silicone stents does not confer a significant additional advantage in terms of postoperative success rates., Conclusion: DCR is a safe surgical procedure with high success rates. It can be strongly recommended for patients suffering from intra- or post-saccular nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Furthermore, the external and endonasal approaches (according to Toti and West, respectively) are comparable techniques. The use of silicone stents is indicated only in special cases.

Introduction: Pleural empyema in a post-pneumonectomy cavity (PEC) occurs with a frequency of 2% -15% and a mortality of more than 10%. It can occur with or without bronchopleural fistula (BPF). The treatment of empyema in the PEC requires a strict algorithm: drainage, bronchoscopy, closure of the fistula, thorough cleaning of the PEC, filling the cavity, thoracoplasty., Methods: 39 cases with an empyema in the PEC were analysed retrospectively (men: n = 38; women: n = 1; mean age: 60.3 ± 7.6 years). In 32 (82.1%) of the patients, a BPF was detected (right: n = 26, left: n = 6). The average length of stay in hospital was 125 days (22 - 293 days). Cleaning of the PEC was achieved in all surviving patients (n = 23, 65.1%). All patients (n = 39) underwent bronchoscopy with placement of a chest tube for drainage. The BPF was closed in three cases (7.7%) with a stent while in 12 cases (30.8%) a vascularized flap was used. In 14 patients (35.9%) the bronchial stump was either reclosed with sutures or resected. In three cases (7.7%) a re-anastomosis was performed., Results: The PEC became sterile by regular flushing with antibiotic solution in three patients (7.7%). In 35.9% of the patients (n = 14), aggressive surgical debridement (Weder procedure) was necessary. A thoracic window was applied in 22 patients (56.4%), followed by negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and change of dressing every three to four days or a tamponade of the thoracic cavity with simple dressings. In 19 patients (48.7%) the thoracic cavity was sealed with an antibiotic solution. In 5 cases an Alexander thoracoplasty took place., Conclusions: Pleural empyema after pneumonectomy still poses a serious postoperative complication. A bronchopleural fistula is often detected. Thus, two problems arise at the same time – fistula and infection in the pleural cavity. Through a strict algorithm, both problems can be dealt with in stages. After sealing the fistula, the thoracic cavity is thoroughly cleaned and finally the thorax is closed. Only in a small number of patients (1.3%) in whom these measures remain ineffective (persistent MRSA, aspergillus colonization) should the cavity be obliterated by thoracoplasty., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

A 61-year-old man with occlusion of the common bile duct due to metachronous metastases after surgery for adenocarcinoma of the stomach underwent a bile drainage intervention using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). A self-expanding metal stent was inserted into the common bile duct of the liver via the esophagus. Successful drainage of the bile fluid into the duodenum was achieved for 14 months until the death of the patient. EUS interventions are becoming increasingly common. Although many questions such as the methodological details still remain, EUS interventions have the potential to become standard procedures especially in the situation of malignant stenoses of the bile or pancreatic duct.

Background: The simultaneous use of abdominal and endoscopic vacuum therapy in a case of an abdominal abscess caused by gastric perforation is demonstrated and innovative operative endoscopic management is described., Case Report: A computed tomography scan performed on a 67-year-old female patient showed a large abscess of the upper abdominal cavity where laparoscopic fundoplication had been performed 6 months previously. Endoscopy showed a transmural perforation of the dorsal wall of the stomach. The gastric perforation was closed and drained using intracavitary endoscopic vacuum therapy. Open pore polyurethane foam drainage was inserted through the defect into the extraluminal cavity for 3 days. A second period of therapy followed using intraluminal therapy with total drainage of the stomach, simultaneous enteral nutrition via a jejunal tube and a vacuum pressure of - 125 mmHg was applied with an electronic vacuum device. The abdominal abscess was drained via laparotomy and intra-abdominal vacuum therapy was performed with an open pore double-layered film using a vacuum pressure of - 75 mmHg. The perforation defect was not treated by operative means. Abdominal vacuum therapy ended 3 days postoperatively and the abdominal wall was closed by suture. Endoscopic vacuum therapy of the gastric perforation was terminated after 7 days and primary wound healing could then be achieved., Conclusion: Use of endoscopic and abdominal vacuum therapy as well as new open pore material is an innovative option for operative management.

Tympanostomy is the most frequently performed surgery procedure in Germany. It enables middle ear ventilation and discharge of secretion from the middle ear with immediate hearing improvement and avoidance of complications and long-term pathologies of the tympanic membrane and the tympanum. The economical importance is emphasized by the fact that about 300,000 myringotomies are performed yearly. The best type of middle ear drainage and ventilation should be chosen on a case-by-case basis. In this context, the various techniques like conventional myringotomy, laser-myringotomy, short-term and long-term tympanostomy tubes and indications, complications and their treatments are described., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

A chest tube is used to drain the contents of the pleural space to reconstitute the physiologic pressures within the pleural space and to allow the lungs to fully expand. Indications for chest tube placement include pneumothorax, hemothorax, pleural effusion, pleural empyema, and major thoracic surgery. The most appropriate site for chest tube placement is the 4th or 5th intercostal space in the mid- or anterior- axillary line. Attention to technique in placing the chest tube is vital to avoid complications from the procedure. Applying the step-by-step technique presented, placement of a chest tube is a quick and safe procedure. Complications - frequently occurring when the tube is inserted with a steel trocar - include hemothorax, dislocation, lung lacerations, and injury to organs in the thoracic or abdominal cavity.", (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: It is to be expected that, microsurgical operations in ENT must be partially performed without direct vision, e. g. without the possibility of controlling the preparation progress. This study provides a clinical example of how instrument navigation may be used in a safe and reasonable manner to the benefit of treatment quality. It is assumed that a median frontal sinus drainage procedure may be performed by means of a tracked sinus drill using solely instrument navigation., Material and Methods: The sinus drill was registered using an optoelectric navigation system. An optical registration device was attached to the drill. In the period from 1 December 2011 to 30 April 2012 (5 months) 24 patients underwent a median frontal sinus drainage. 12 of the surgeries were performed under the condition operation navigation. The other 12 surgeries were performed using solely instrument navigation., Results: When applying mode Instrument Navigation (IN), a significantly reduced incision-to-suture time was registered within both groups. Within the group Draf IIB, it was reduced to 68.5% (from 67.1 min to 46.0 min). Resection efficiency, i. e., the ratio between the width of the frontal sinus ostium and the required total surgery time, widely differed to the benefit of group IN. Within both groups, the questionnaire revealed a high level of confidence in Surgical Management and Guidance Systems (SMGS) functionalities (100%)., Conclusion: The present study was designed to show for the first time a median frontal sinus drainage under the condition solely instrument navigation., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: After pancreatic head resection the reconstruction of small and fragile bile ducts is technically demanding, resulting in more postoperative bile leaks. One option for the reconstruction is the placement of a T-tube drainage at the site of the anastomosis., Material and Methods: Standard reconstruction after pancreatic head resection was an end-to-side hepaticojejunostomy with PDS 5.0, 15-25 cm distally from the pancreaticojejunostomy. For patients with a small bile duct diameter (≤ 5 mm) or a fragile bile duct wall the reconstruction was performed with PDS 6.0 and a T-tube drainage at the side of the anastomosis., Results: The reconstruction with a T-tube drainage at the site of the anastomosis is technically easy to perform and offers the opportunity for immediate visualisation of the anastomosis in the postoperative period by application of water soluble contrast medium. If a bile leak occurs, biliary deviation through the T-tube drainage can enable a conservative management without revisional laparotomy in selected patients. Whether or not a conservative management of postoperative bile leaks will lead to more bile duct strictures is a subject for further investigations., Conclusion: A T-tube drainage at the site of the anastomosis can probably not prevent postoperative bile leaks from a difficult hepaticojejunostomy, but in selected patients it offers the opportunity for a conservative management resulting in less re-operations. Therefore we recommend the augmentation of a difficult hepaticojejunostomy with a T-tube drainage., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Objective: In patients with malignant effusions and ECOG 3 - 4 or unexpandable lung, the PleurX® catheter system provides an effective at-home palliation of symptoms associated with recurrent pleural effusions. We investigated the clinical results of patients treated by this method in our population., Methods: All patients treated with PleurX between June 2005 and September 2010 in our clinical center were recorded using a predefined data sheet. Primary points of interest were complications associated with the insertion procedure, short- and long-term complications after insertion of the catheter, the rate of pleurodesis, the frequency of hospitalizations due to effusion-associated symptoms, time of drainage and survival time after insertion. In order to assess follow-up, a standardized questionnaire was sent to the attending practitioners., Results: Pleural effusions were most frequently due to lung cancer, breast cancer and mesothelioma. The rate of compilations associated with the insertion procedure was 7 %, and complications could easily be managed. The rate of short-term complications after insertion of the catheter was 7 %, and of long-term compilations 18 %. The rate of pleurodesis was 16 %. 78 % of patients did not need another hospitalization due to effusion-related symptoms. The mean time of drainage was 52 days. The mean survival after insertion of the drainage was 76 ± 85 days (1 - 453)., Conclusions: The insertion of a PleurX catheter is associated with a low complication rate. Short-term and long-term complications are usually mild and can be readily managed. Hospitalizations due to effusion-related symptoms were not necessary in the majority of patients., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

In certain cases, the use of a Jones Tube is necessary for lacrimal duct reconstruction. Although the principle is straight forward, the practical procedure can prove to be difficult. The procedure requires the resection of the medial bony wall of the lacrimal sac. We form a duct between the medial canthus and the nasal cavity using a 14 gauge canula. By removing the needle, the catheter remains in place and serves as a guide for the placement of the Jones Tube with the assistance of an obturator. Thus the duct is not lost and an additional puncture is unnecessary., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart, New York.)

Umbilical hernia repair is often accompanied by complications in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites. In recent years we have been using the following concept for treating umbilical hernias in such patients: repair of the hernia by direct sutures and concomitant implantation of two large bore Robinson drainage tubes until the wound healing was completed within the next postoperative 10-14 days. During this time the reconstruction of the abdominal wall is in our opinion as robust that the ascites no longer represents a risk. Preconditions to perform this procedure were the best medicamentous treatment of ascites as ever possible and the perioperative administration of prophylactic antibiotics like gyrase inhibitors to avoid spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Over a period of 10 years (01.01.1997-31.12.2006) we operated on 22 patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and ascites because of a complicated umbilical hernia (incarceration, irreponibility, skin ulceration, leackage of ascites). One group of patients (n=10) was treated by umbilical hernia repair with the concomitant implantation of two drainage tubes and the other group (n=12) by umbilical hernia repair without draining off the ascites. Morbidity and mortality were compared in both groups in a retrospective analysis. The postoperative morbidity could be reduced from 25% to 10% by using the drainage tubes as well as the rate of recurrent hernias in the drainage group. Due to these experiences we use the concept as standard in such patients and would like to recommend it further. However, we would like to initiate a prospective, randomized, at best multicenter trial for further validation.

Glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs) have a fixed place in the treatment of complicated refractory glaucoma. By implantation of an episcleral GDD, a permanent open sclerostomy is formed, through which a silicone tube is placed into the anterior chamber (or pars plana). Thus, aqueous humor is drained out of the eye under the Tenon and conjunctiva, leading the fluid to a base plate made from silicone or polypropylene. Placed near the equator of the eye, this base plate leads to the formation of a cyst that renders resistance to fluid transport, ultimately leading to a final drop in intraocular pressure. GDDs have been mainly used in complicated glaucoma cases that had previous unsatisfactory results from conventional glaucoma surgery. Recent studies suggest that the implants can also be used satisfactorily in early stages of glaucoma. Other devices are positioned and fixed in the chamber angle. Here they either drain aqueous humor into the Schlemm's canal or into the subconjunctival or subchoroidal space. This article gives an overview of the current principles, indications, methods, and possible complications of implantation.

Purpose: Sonographically guided fine-needle punctures (p.) are considered to be a low risk procedure. Interventions with needles with a larger diameter seem to cause more complications. In search of potential complications, we examined 1923 sonographically guided interventions of the liver and pancreas in a retrospective analysis., Materials and Methods: We examined the coherence of the kind of intervention and complications. We considered bleeding with a need for transfusion and/or a need for surgical treatment as complications. Diseases and medication increasing the probability of post-interventional bleeding were also detected., Results: 1923 sonographically guided interventions in the abdomen (1800 in the liver, 123 in the pancreas) were analyzed (n = 1696 diagnostic interventions, n = 227 therapeutic interventions). Needles with diameters > 1 mm were primarily used. Drainage and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (12 % of all interventions) were performed with devices with diameters between 2 - 3.96 mm. A need for transfusion was found in 8 / 1923 patients (0.4 %), predominantly in the first 24 h. There was no significant correlation between coagulation preventing drugs (heparin, NSAIDs, antiaggregants) and bleeding events. Patients who suffered from liver cirrhosis with a thromboplastin time of < 50 % had a higher risk of post-interventional bleeding than patients with liver cirrhosis and a thromboplastin time > 50 %. Furthermore, therapeutic interventions showed higher complication rates than diagnostic procedures., Conclusion: Severe bleeding complications with a need for transfusion in sonographically guided procedures are rare (0.4 %). Our results showed that liver cirrhosis with a low thromboplastin time (< 50 %) seems to be the most important risk factor for patients. Overall, sonographically guided interventions are safe and have low complication rates considering careful performance and contraindications.

A chest tube is used to drain the contents of the pleural space to reconstitute the physiologic pressures within the pleural space and to allow the lungs to fully expand. Indications for chest tube placement include pneumothorax, hemothorax, pleural effusion, pleural empyema, and major thoracic surgery. The most appropriate site for chest tube placement is the 4th or 5th intercostal space in the mid- or anterior- axillary line. Attention to technique in placing the chest tube is vital to avoid complications from the procedure. Applying the step-by-step technique presented, placement of a chest tube is a quick and safe procedure. Complications - frequently occurring when the tube is inserted with a steel trocar - include hemothorax, dislocation, lung lacerations, and injury to organs in the thoracic or abdominal cavity.

Background: The treatment of therapy-resistant secondary glaucoma with cyclodestructive approaches may give rise to unsatisfactory intraocular pressure results, leading to phthisis. A final option may be the implantation of an external glaucoma drainage system (GDS). A consecutive positioning of the drainage system under the conjunctiva and implantation of the drainage tube into the anterior chamber, may result in an uncontrolled reduced of intraocular pressure leading to intraocular haemorrhages into the anterior chamber or vitreous cavity. In particular, expulsive haemorrhages are feared as deleterious complication., Patients and Methods: 15 patients (15 eyes) with secondary glaucoma received a GDS. All patients were previously unsuccessfully treated by numerous approaches (mean 2.7 times). The mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 37 mmHg (range: 22 to 55 mmHg). We performed a sequential approach: during the first operation we implanted and fixed the resorption site of a Molteno GDS onto the sclera close to the equator in the superotemporal quadrant. After an inflammation-free interval of 2 - 3 weeks we placed the drainage tube into the anterior chamber. The average postoperative follow-up period was 20.5 months (range: 3 to 62 months)., Results: The implantation of the GDS using a sequential approach was well tolerated by all patients. While 14 out of 15 eyes achieved an IOP of 15 mmHg (range: 12 to 18 mmHg), 2 of them still required additional topical glaucoma treatment. An unsatisfactory IOP regulation was observed in only one eye although a revision surgery was performed postoperatively. Four eyes developed a light anterior chamber haemorrhage that resorbed without serious complications within 3 weeks. A choroidal effusion in one eye was treated by an anterior chamber injection of a viscoelastic gel., Conclusion: The potential disadvantage of the GDS can be almost completely avoided using a sequential approach. The implant heals well in the subtenon space during the first postoperative week, thus preventing an overfiltration of anterior chamber fluid. Our positive results show that the GDS is an important treatment option in selected patients.

Background and Purpose: Complicated parapneumonic effusions (PPE) and pleural empyemas (PE) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IFT) has been established, besides video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS), in the management of PPE and PE. Combination of IFT and small-bore catheter drainage has previously not been investigated., Patients and Methods: 15 patients consecutively referred for PPE and PE were managed with simultaneous IFT via small-bore catheter drainage (9, 12, 14 F). In addition to evaluation of primary outcome, lung function testing and radiologic studies were obtained after 3 months to predict potential pulmonary restrictive impairment and residual pleural thickening., Results: Primary outcome of all 15 patients was positive. Only one patient showed a significant residual pleural thickening. None of the patients showed a restrictive lung function pattern., Conclusion: Proven applicability of IFT via small-bore catheter drainage seems to be effective in the face of long-term outcome. Further prospective and multicentric studies should be initiated to investigate the practicability of IFT via small-bore catheter drainage.

Stents and prostheses in the hepatobiliary system are visible by ultrasound examination and can be checked for their function. The reappearance of mechanical cholestasis, stent dislocation or formation of sludge on the stent tip is signs of stent dysfunction. Graduation of the biliary obstruction can help to find the best time for changing the stent. After intervention hematoma, abscess, intraabdominal fluid or gas may occur and can be diagnosed by ultrasound. Tumor stenosis in the gastrointestinal tract can be treated by self expandable metallic stents. Ultrasound helps to localize the stent in the correct position and to observe the reduction of occlusive ileus. Percutaneous and gastrointestinal drainage of pancreatic cysts, necrosis and abscesses are often controlled by ultrasound to evaluate size, echogenicity and localized pain. Many procedures and interventions in gastroenterology can be monitored by an experienced ultrasound examiner in an effective and inexpensive manner.

Introduction: Wound drainage after radical prostatectomy is used to reduce postoperative hematomas and lymphoceles and to drain any leakage at the vesicourethral anastomosis. We evaluated two different suction-drainage systems regarding their efficacy., Material and Method: Fifty-seven patients with radical retropubic prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were prospectively randomized. Two drains were placed bilaterally, using the Ulmer drain (16, F, Unoplast A/S, Maersk Medical) with suction. Patients with Ulmer drain were randomized to removal with and without prior shortening of the drain. The third system was the Blake silicon drain with J-VAC system (19F, Ethicon) with continuous suction., Results: Of the 57 patients, 19 were treated by J-VAC drainage (J-VAC), 19 received the Ulmer drain with drain shortening (Ulmer-with) prior to removal and 19 received the Ulmer drain without any drain shortening (Ulmer-without). Total drainage volume (mean) was statistically significantly different (p < 0.001) with 760 cc for J-VAC, 309 cc for Ulmer-without and 234 cc for Ulmer-with. Ultrasonography demonstrated 11 lymphoceles, with 5 occurring with J-VAC, 3 with Ulmer-with and 3 with Ulmer-without. These differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.67). Intervention was needed in 3 of the 11 patients with lymphoceles (2 with J-VAC, 1 with Ulmer-without). The mean drainage time was 3.8 days for J-VAC, 2.9 days for Ulmer-with and 2.5 days for Ulmer-without, which was statistically significant different (p = 0.005)., Conclusions: Perioperative wound drainage after radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy is useful to reduce perioperative complications. Different wound drainage systems demonstrate different efficacy regarding drainage volume, drainage duration and lymphocele formation. Our data are in favor of the Ulmer drain system with shortening of the drain prior to removal.

Aim: The benefits of postoperative wound drainage in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with regards to mobilisation and wound healing were studied. We wanted to determine the efficacy of an autologous blood retransfusion system., Method: 150 patients with TKA were divided into three groups of 50 patients: A) three wound drainages with an autotransfusion system and suction; B) no wound drainage; C) one intraarticular wound drainage without suction. Hemoglobin values, blood transfusion requirements, blood loss, postoperative range of motion, Insall knee score and rate of complications were observed and recorded. All patients were operated without tourniquets for lower blood loss., Results: In the group of patients with wound drainage and a retransfusion system the requirement of postoperative additional blood transfusion was not significantly less than in the group without wound drainage. Group A had the highest blood loss of all. The group without wound drainage had more hematomas and wound healing complications. Best results were observed within the group with one intraarticular drainage without suction. The rate of complications was not increased and the blood transfusion requirements were the lowest., Conclusion: This study shows that total knee replacement involving one intraarticular wound drainage without suction attains the best results.

Objective: The feasibility of prototypes of the LTS, a laryngeal tube with an additional oesophageal drain tube for pressure relief, was tested for ventilation during surgery., Methods: After approval of the ethics committee, a LTS was placed in 30 orthopaedic patients, ASA I and II, induction of general anaesthesia with fentanyl and propofol. Position of the LTS was verified by auscultation and end tidal CO(2)-measurement. Oxygen saturation, number of placement attempts, cuff pressure, time until first tidal volume, tidal volume and airway pressures were registered intraoperatively. Patients were questioned about hoarseness and soar throat 1 h, 6 h and 24 hours after surgery, graded on a visual analogue scale (VAS)., Results: 16 women and 14 men were investigated. In 29 patients (96.7%), the LTS was placed successfully (second attempt in three patients). In one patient, sufficient ventilation was not possible. In this case and in another patient with sufficient ventilation but estimated duration of surgery >3 h, endotracheal intubation was performed. Average time until first tidal volume was 17.3 seconds, ventilation was performed for 74 minutes. Pulse oximetric oxygen saturation was > or =97% at all times. Auscultation over the stomach was negative in all patients with an average cuff pressure of 73.7 cm H(2)O. During controlled ventilation aiming at an end tidal CO(2) of 35 mmHg (average 36.3 mmHg), an average tidal volume of 579 ml was reached, resulting in an inspiratory peak pressure of 20.2 cm H(2)O. Minimal traces of blood on the LTS were found in 5 patients, hoarseness was present in one patient after 6 hours, soar throat was stated after 1 hour by one patient (VAS 3), after 6 hours by 6 (average VAS 2.7) and after 24 hours by 3 patients (VAS 1.3)., Conclusions: The LTS can be used for ventilation during elective surgery and can be placed with a high success rate. Postoperative complaints are infrequent and mild.

Obstructive jaundice is a common clinical sign in patients with pancreatic cancer. 52% of all patients with a potentially resectable pancreatic cancer suffer from painless obstructive jaundice. There are no prospective studies showing a beneficial effect of preoperative drainage in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. Morbidity (53%) and mortality (15%) in patients without preoperative biliary drainage are not significantly different from those who had endoscopic drainage preoperatively (morbidity 41%; mortality 15%). However, there are some logistic reasons for preoperative drainage, especially if surgery is delayed. In cases of nonresectable pancreatic cancer endoscopic drainage for palliation of obstructive jaundice is the method of choice. The decision between metallic and plastic stents for palliation is based on expected survival time and quality of life. Implantation of metal stents is the method of choice in patients with life expectancy exceeding six months. Scheduled three months exchange of plastic stents is recommended to avoid complications. After a six months interval about 70% of patients with scheduled exchange are without symptoms, compared to about 40% of patients who had exchange of plastic stents on demand. Scheduled three months exchange of plastic stents leeds to a patency rate of plastic stents comparable to those of metallic stents.

Closed suction drains are still commonly used following orthopedic procedures. While empirical recommendations predominated until the 1980s,many randomized controlled studies concerning the use of drains have been conducted within the last 20 years. This article compares studies that have been performed in a prospective randomized manner.Numerous investigations have shown that there is no positive effect of suction drains with regard to long-term results in aseptic orthopedic surgery. This even holds true in the fields of endoprosthetic surgery and procedures that are associated with a high incidence of complications, e.g., bone grafting from the iliac crest.Moreover, there is evidence from some studies that septic complications are significantly higher in the suction drain groups.Evidence-based surgery should call for a very critical indication to use suction drains;however, the acceptance of this evidence is very low among surgeons up to now.

The long history of surgical drainages stands in contradiction to available and reliable data. As of today, closed systems made of silicone are preferable. Taking possible complications into consideration and the good results of routine operations without drainages, indication for use should be critically evaluated. Interdisciplinary research,however, offers the chance of optimizing material and surface characteristics, biostability, biocompatibility, and flow rates. New drainages with improved performance and reduced side effects may counteract the current tendency to do without.

Pleural drainage becomes a vital measure to restore physiological conditions in cases of loss of pleural negative pressure, regardless its etiology. Therefore, it is not surprising that hardly any evidence based publications on this topic are available. For the treatment of pleural empyema,the history of pleural drainage goes back to antiquity.Nowadays, quite a number of synonymously used terms are wrongly employed instead of the correct terms of thoracic or pleural drainage. Indications for placing a pleural drainage are: pneumothorax, pleural effusion, pleural empyema,hemothorax and chylothorax. As a standard method, it is recommended that the pleural drainage be placed in the fifth or sixth intercostal space in the anterior axillary line. It is not advisable to use a closed insertion with the help of a trocar due to the significantly increased risk of injury. The insertion of a pleural drainage when correctly placed is a safe procedure; rare typical complications involve the wrong placement of the drainage, hemorrhage or infection like pleural empyema. The complication rate, however, does not exceed 3%.

The use of drainages in abdominal surgery is characterized by tradition and personal experience of the surgeon. There are only a few high-quality, randomized studies on the use of prophylactic drainages. The risk of postoperative mediastinitis leads surgeons to maintain the use of drainages in esophageal anastomosis. The use of drainages in gastric and small bowel surgery appears to be negligible. There are evidence grade A recommendations for hepatobiliary surgery (without biliodigestive anastomosis) to abstain from the use of drainages. One prospective, randomized study showed an advantage of surgery without drainage in pancreatic resections (and bilioenteric anastomosis). The situation is clear for colorectal surgery. Several prospective, randomized studies have shown the advantages of avoiding drainages. The use of drainages in perforated appendicitis appears to be associated with an increased rate of postoperative complications. There are no general recommendations for the use of drainages in cases of peritonitis. The few high-quality studies published show that the use of drainages in visceral surgery has to be questioned continuously. High-quality clinical studies are necessary to obtain evidence-based recommendations for the use of drainages in visceral surgery.

Due to the advanced technical possibilities, there are now up to 30 different drainage systems available for soft tissue surgery. The differences between these systems involve the mode of drainage (open into the bandage, closed into bag/bottle), the kind of suction (gravity drainage, low-vacuum and high-vacuum up to 900 mbar) and the material of the tube (PVC, silicone or polyurethane). There also exists a marked controversy about the fundamental necessity for drainage after surgery. A survey of the literature indicates that there is a distinct discrepancy between scientific knowledge and daily routine action. For primarily uninfected wounds, the application of an open drainage system,with the secretion going directly into the bandage, is obsolete. Gravity drainage systems guarantee just as effective secretion drainage in comparison to high vacuum drainage according to Redon. In soft tissue wounds, high-vacuum suction leads to the sucking in of tissue and blood,whereby comparatively elevated quantities of secretion can be produced. During the removal of Redon-drainage, there is stronger pain than on the removal of gravity drainage systems consisting of silicone or polyurethane. Prophylactic insertion of drainage in uncomplicated thyroid surgery and for hernia repair is not necessary. Insertion of drainage for up to 72 h is not accompanied by an elevated infection rate. The routine microbiological examination of the tip of the drainage tube is not recommended.

We report on two patients with postinterventional retrogastric abscesses, one as a postoperative complication after partial pancreatectomy, one as a complication of biliary pancreatitis. In both cases, the abscess cavity could be completely drained by EUS-guided endoscopic application of a short "Amsterdam" stent, length 4 cm, 11.5 Fr. The stents could be removed by endoscopy after an interval of several weeks. In suitable cases EUS-guided endoscopic transgastral stenting appears to be the therapy of choice for retrogastral abscesses.

In vitro studies with the transprosthetic drainage system (TDS) have revealed a reduction in intrafemoral pressure in cemented total hip prosthesis. The aim of the present study was to establish whether the incidence of fat embolic syndrome (FES) is also reduced. Ten patients underwent standardized cemented total hip replacement using TDS under standardized general anaesthesia. The usual peri-operative monitoring measures were extended to include cardiopulmonary monitoring (pulmonary artery catheter, intra-arterial blood pressure) and two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography. Previous studies had reported an increased risk for fat embolic syndrome with conventional, and even with vacuum cementing techniques. Our recorded cardiopulmonary data and the data provided by two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography show a significant reduction in pulmonary embolism with TDS. This technique can be recommended in particular for high-risk patients (osteoporosis, elderly patients) and the implantation of long femoral stems. On the basis of the clinical data, a new femoral stem allowing the use of the TDS technique is being developed.

Unlabelled: Combined endoscopic and percutaneous transhepatic approach in postsurgical common bile duct occlusion., History and Clinical Findings: A 48-year-old patient was transferred to our hospital suffering from acute cholangitis due to complete bile duct occlusion one year after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Main complaints were fever over 40;C and chills, accompanied by right upper quadrant abdominal pain and jaundice., Investigations: Cholestastic enzymes, transaminases and leucocytes were increased. Transabdominal utrasound showed massive dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. ERCP was performed and revealed a complete and impassable obstruction of the proximal common bile duct., Treatment and Course: The bile duct occlusion following cholecystectomy was the reason for the patient inverted question marks cholangitis. Neither via ERCP nor via the percutaneous transhepatic approach was it possible to make a communication between the proximal and the distal biliary system, none of the guidewires being able to pass the obstruction. However, we finally managed to pass the obstruction in a combined endoscopic-percutaneous transhepatic rendezvous technique. The patient received a percutaneous large-calibre plastic prosthesis (Yamakawa type). 4 months after the procedure the stenosis could hardly be detected., Conclusion: Endoscopic treatment is successful in most patients with post-cholecystectomy bile duct strictures. Therefore, repeated surgery is usually not necessary. Even in complete bile duct occlusions, the combined endoscopic-percutaneous transhepatic method can re-open the obstruction and is therefore a possible alternative to surgery in selected cases.

Purpose: To investigate interactive MR-assisted bile duct drainage in pigs with the passive visualization technique using near real-time imaging., Methods: 8 bile duct drainages were placed in an open low-field MR system (0.2 Tesla) in 4 pigs with surgically induced cholestasis. After planning the intervention with magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC), both the puncture and catheter placement were interactively guided using a fast T2-weighted true FISP sequence., Results: MRC enabled interventional planning in all puncture attempts. Punctures were unproblematic in all attempts, the bile ducts were punctured 6 times after the first and twice after the second attempt. Placement of the passively visible catheter was successful in all animals. The applied sequence enables interactive fluoroscopy-like positioning of the devices., Conclusion: The procedure introduced here enables reliable and fast placement of a bile duct drainage in an animal model using a low-field MR system.

Background and Objective: Endoscopic drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst is an alternative to surgical intervention. But transmural drainage carries the risk of bleeding or perforation. Effectiveness and complication rate of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage, to avoid these risks, was investigated., Patients and Methods: Eleven patients (eight men, three women; mean age 55 years) with a pancreatic pseudocyst (nine with alcoholic and two with biliary pancreatitis) were studied prospectively between 1996 and 1998. In all of them transpapillary drainage of the cyst had not been technically possible. After an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examination, the gastric wall was incised with a fistulotome under EUS guidance. A guide-wire was then advanced through the fistulotome into the pseudocyst. A double pigtail catheter was implanted for drainage. The size of the pseudocyst was monitored sonographically at two-week intervals., Results: A cystogastrostomy was successfully established in ten of the twelve patients without serious complication. The pseudocyst was no longer demonstrated after a mean of 4.2 months (2 weeks to 6 months), while a small pseudocyst (1.6 cm [0.9-2.4 cm) remained in three patients. In two of the latter the size of the pseudocyst increased again after removal of the drainage catheter. Complete drainage by repeat cystogastrostomy succeeded in one of them, while a cystojejunostomy was established in the other., Conclusion: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transgastric drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst is an effective treatment with few complications.