[Compliance after organ transplantation--influence of quality of life and of the physician-patient relationship].
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Humans↗
Biomedical subjects
C Kugler
Publications and source records attributed to C Kugler.
[Allocating and scheduling operating room time].
During the past decade many scientific advances have been made concerning the development of methodologies to maximize efficiency of surgical facilities through allocating and scheduling of operating rooms. In this article such a methodology is described. Using the analysis of historical data of surgical activity in a facility, future demand is predicted and planned. Part of the methodology includes principles and rules needed for the daily organization and operative management of surgical facilities. They are also derived from the same science and therefore the basis for rational and structured decision making. Medical aspects such as patient safety and free choice of day for surgery have higher priority than the economic goal of maximizing operating room efficiency.
Efficiency, Organizational↗
[Quality of life and exercise capacity in lung transplant recipients].
BACKGROUND: Quality of life in lung transplant recipients (LTR) is reported to be comparable with that of the general population. However, previous studies have shown that exercise capacity was reduced to 30 - 40 % of normal values. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gap between good self-reported quality of life and reduced exercise capacity in LTR, to describe possible correlations and to compare the results with those of a control group (CG). METHODS: 27 LTR 208 +/- 67 days after bilateral lund transplantation (16 male, 11 female; age: 46 +/- 10 years; body mass index: 24 +/- 3 kg x m (- 2), FEV (1) % 75 +/- 27 %) and 30 controls (17 male 13 female; age 47 +/- 15 years; BMI: 26 +/- 4 kg x m (- 2), FEV (1) % 103 +/- 15 %) performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing and were interviewed with the standardized German "Quality of life profile for chronic disease" self-rating questionnaire. RESULTS: Significant differences were shown in objective exercise related variables (peak oxygen consumption: LTR 15.1 +/- 1.8, CG 34.5 +/- 9.1 ml x min (- 1) x kg (- 1); p < 0,01); peak workload: LTR 1.0 +/- 0.2; CG 2.4 +/- 1.0 W. kg (- 1); p < 0.01); percentage of predicted workload: LTR 44 +/- 12, CG 115 +/- 33 %; p < 0.01). The rating of subjective quality of life in physical, psychological and social domains of LTR did not differ from values of the CG or of the general population (n = 1143). The quality of life in the physical domain correlated significantly with peak exercise capacity (LTR r = 0.44, p < 0.05; CG r = 0.37; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients 7 months after lung transplantation described their physical, social and psychological quality of life as equally good as the healthy control group. However, peak exercise capacity and oxygen consumption were markedly reduced. To improve physical capacity in the range of daily activities, an exercise training program should be offered to patients after lung transplantation.
Adult↗
Transient ischaemic attack preceding anterior circulation infarction is independently associated with favourable outcome.
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Aged↗
[Diarrhea as manifestation of allergic diseases. The difficult search for the allergen].
Allergy is a very uncommon cause of diarrhoea. Other mechanisms, medical diseases and infections, psychological and pseudoallergic reactions, intolerance reactions, and enzyme defects/deficiency, and many other conditions are much more common. If food allergy is strongly suspected diagnosis may be difficult, even for allergologists, as it requires a mosaic of history, skin and in vitro tests, diagnostic diet, and even provocation tests. It is important to recognise diarrhoea "accompanying" allergic urticaria and anaphylactic reactions as part of the symptomatology of the primary dermatological or allergic disease and to refer the patient to the appropriate specialist.
Adult↗
Non-small-cell superior sulcus tumor: results of en bloc resection in fifty-six patients - non-small-cell pancoast.
BACKGROUND: Various multidisciplinary approaches are taken in the treatment of superior sulcus tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome, long-term results, and factors associated with prolonged survival after administering different combined radiosurgical regimens in a single institution. METHODS: Between 1986 and 2000, 56 patients (43 men, 13 women) with superior sulcus tumor and histology of non-small-cell lung cancer underwent surgical resection. There were four treatment groups: I - preoperative radiation and operation (n = 15); II - preoperative radiation, operation and postoperative radiation (n = 22); III - operation and postoperative radiation (n = 10) and IV - no radiotherapy (n = 9). Survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were assessed for significance by log-rank test and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The five-year survival rate after complete resection and N0/1 was 34 %. Of the prognostic factors analyzed, the histology, type of irradiation regimen and Horner's syndrome did not influence survival. Completeness of resection and mediastinal lymph node involvement clearly influences survival in univariate analysis. Age, sex and TNM classification were found to be independent significant prognostic factors for survival following resection. CONCLUSION: With superior sulcus tumors, every attempt should be made to resect the tumor completely by en bloc chest-wall resection with lobectomy and systematic hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Mediastinal exploration by routine mediastinoscopy is recommended for identification of patients with advanced nodal involvement. Long-term survival may be relative to care taken in patient selection and extent of the resection performed. No significant difference in survival of patients with different irradiation regimens could be demonstrated in this study.
Aged↗
Evidence-based medicine: lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS).
Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) was developed as a means of surgical treatment for severe pulmonary emphysema. To date, various studies have been designed to explain the mechanisms involved in pathophysiological changes after treatment, to define criteria for patient selection, to identify the surgical technique of choice and to propose appropriate follow-up care. Preliminary results of follow-up studies (up to five years) have already been published, indicating improved pulmonary function and quality of life after surgical treatment. However, the alarming results from the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) Research Group indicated a considerable risk for death in patients with homogenous emphysema and low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) undergoing LVRS. This brief review summarizes the results of currently published studies to supply evidence for selection criteria in order to better define the subset of patients for which LVRS offers an effective and safe means of palliation from the symptoms of advanced COPD. Due to acceptable morbidity and mortality rates, stapler device wedge excision and closure has become the standard procedure for removing non-functioning, hyperinflated lung areas in heterogeneously affected organs. LVRS is carried out in two ways - using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) as well as thoracotomy/sternotomy-and performed in unilateral and bilateral procedures. In contrast, most clinics have found laser resection of emphysematous parenchyma to be unsuccessful. In some patients, LVRS was carried out as an alternative to lung transplantation, whereas in others, it served as a bridge-to-transplant procedure. LVRS has proven effective in the reduction of dyspnea, especially in patients with recovery options in both the circulatory and pulmonary system. In responders, recovery from labored breathing and O(2) dependency and increased physical capacity are usually accompanied by improved spirometric data. These results are mainly explained by a more regular breathing pattern and an increase in the maximum volume of ventilation in the affected lung. In most cases, functional improvement is maximized during the first six months postoperatively and decreases steadily thereafter indicating the need for a systematic postoperative patient care after surgical treatment. After indicating at-risk patients who should not be considered for LVRS, long-term results from the multicenter NETT research group will hopefully help clarify the impact of this treatment on survival of patients further.
Evidence-Based Medicine↗
Pretreatment serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor in non-small-cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are two proteins involved in angiogenesis. In the present study we investigated the association of pretreatment MMP-9 and VEGF serum levels with clinicopathological parameters and outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 1998 to October 1999, pretreatment serum levels of MMP-9 and VEGF were analysed in 118 patients with enzyme-linked immunoassays. At diagnosis 50 patients (42%) were staged as early disease (I/II), 27 patients (23%) as locally advanced (IIIA/IIIB), and 41 patients (35%) had metastatic disease (IV). In 72 of the 118 patients tumours were resected and 46 patients received combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and vinorelbine. RESULTS: The median survival of all 118 patients was 602 days. The 72 patients who had undergone surgery had a median survival of 972 days and the 46 patients who were treated with chemotherapy had a median survival of 298 days (P <0.001). Resected patients with stage I/II disease and an MMP-9 serum level <or=1293 ng/ml or a VEGF serum level <or=630 pg/ml had a significantly longer survival (median survival longer than 1218 days) than patients with higher serum levels (median survival 421 days) (P = 0.001 for MMP-9; P = 0.04 for VEGF). No significant difference in survival was observed in patients with resected stage III disease. Besides tumour stage, Karnofsky performance status and gender, the pretreatment serum level of MMP-9 was identified as an independent prognostic factor in a multivariate Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies may support our hypothesis that the pretreatment serum level of MMP-9 is a new powerful prognostic marker and can help to stratify NSCLC patients with stage I/II disease into low- and high-risk groups.
Adult↗
[Benign, pulmonary metastatic leiomyoma of the uterus].
Pulmonary nodules resected in 10 patients were histologically classified as benign metastatic leiomyoma of the uterus. Hysterectomy because of myoma had been performed between 0 and 24 years earlier (median 14.9 years). Between 1 and 27 nodules were found in one or both lungs. Patients presenting with a single nodule had it resected with diagnostic intent and were followed up. Multiple nodules were resected if the loss of parenchyma was tolerable; otherwise, one lesion was resected for diagnosis. In some cases antihormonal therapy was performed postoperatively. The median duration of follow-up was 4.7 years. In this time, no local complication occurred, and no patient died of this disease. Apparently, benign metastatic leiomyoma of the uterus biologically shows benign behaviour. New manifestation or progressing growth of non-resected lesions does occur, however. Consequently, regular follow-up is required. Local complications indicate surgical intervention.
Adult↗
Focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma of the liver: differentiation with multiphasic helical CT.
OBJECTIVE: Differences of attenuation and enhancement patterns in focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma were evaluated and quantified using triphasic single-slice helical CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five histologically proven focal nodular hyperplasias in 27 patients and 18 hepatocellular adenomas in six patients were examined with helical CT. Quantitative evaluation included the following: attenuation of lesions, scar, and liver parenchyma during unenhanced, arterial (20 sec after injection), and portal venous phases (70 sec after injection); relative enhancement of lesions and liver (the ratio between attenuation in arterial phase and portal venous phase, respectively, and attenuation in unenhanced phase); and the prevalence of scar and its central vessel in focal nodular hyperplasia. RESULTS: The study showed no significant difference between mean attenuation values of focal nodular hyperplasia (mean +/- SD, 51.2 +/- 5.9 H) and hepatocellular adenoma (mean +/- SD, 56.3 +/- 7.8 H) in the unenhanced phase. In the arterial phase attenuation values were significantly higher in focal nodular hyperplasia (mean +/- SD, 117.9 +/- 15.1 H) than in hepatocellular adenoma (mean +/- SD, 80.1 +/- 10.5 H). In the portal venous phase no significant differences in attenuation values were detected between focal nodular hyperplasia (mean +/- SD, 112.1 +/- 20.4 H) and hepatocellular adenoma (mean +/- SD, 110.2 +/- 12.9 H). For enhancement parameter thresholds separating focal nodular hyperplasia from hepatocellular adenoma, the following were found: the relative enhancement was higher in 100% of the focal nodular hyperplasias and lower than or equal to 1.6 (accuracy, 96%) in 87% of the hepatocellular adenomas. CONCLUSION: Triphasic helical CT combined with quantitative evaluation of liver lesions offers the possibility of detecting differences in liver lesions that are visually similar on CT. The attenuation and relative enhancement in the arterial phase show significant differences that make accurate differentiation between focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma possible.
Adenoma, Liver Cell↗
[Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups. Formal and inherent problems of grouping with the example of stroke care].
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the Health Reform 2000, the Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRG), Version 4.1 have been chosen as the basis for the future German costing system for hospitals. With regard to Stroke Severity (Barthel Index [BI]) we investigated to what extent the grouping according to AR-DRGs can reproduce healthcare expenditures for such patients. Options to adapt and optimize the system are discussed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 632 patients who had suffered a cerebrovascular accident and were discharged from conservative acute care in 1999, were classified according to the AR-DRGs. For the grouping we alternatively used data from the current hospital information system and a stroke database for quality assurance. The results were also compared with the clinical profiles for the public hospital sector of the corresponding DRGs in Australia (1997-98). RESULTS: On average 0.99 additional diagnoses per case were documented in the hospital information system, compared to 3.65 in the stroke database. In the stroke database 177 cases (36.8%) were assigned to the DRG with the highest cost weight. 53.7% of these patients suffered a serious stroke (BI < 30). Grouping on the basis of hospital information system data led only to 14 cases (2.8%) assigned to the DRG with the highest cost weight. CONCLUSIONS: Type and extent of additional diagnoses are crucial for the grouping process. From a clinical and economic point of view, measures of disability and impairment should be assigned to the grouping process to improve homogeneity under both aspects. Scores can also serve for determining reliable outcome parameters. For the development of an outcome related reimbursement system, procedures must be included in the definition of medical DRGs. In future, DRGs, which cover overlapping healthcare sectors, should be developed for patients with poststroke rehabilitation.
Australia↗
PAIR as percutaneous treatment of hydatid liver cysts.
Hydatid disease of the liver remains an important and challenging problem in rural areas; although, surgery is considered the treatment of choice, percutaneous treatment of hydatid cysts is relatively new, and the data related to it are limited. The purpose of the study was to present the results of percutaneous treatment of liver hydatid cysts. Thirty-four patients (13 male and 21 female), ranging in age between 14 and 80 years, with 55 liver hydatid cysts underwent percutaneous treatment with albendazole prophylaxis. Cysts were treated with a one-stage procedure that consisted of puncture of the cysts under guidance with computed tomography, aspiration of fluid, injection of hypertonic saline solution as scolicidal agent and reaspiration. Follow-up examinations showed progressive reduction and solidification of the cysts. The mean reduction in volume was 72%. No mortality, abdominal dissemination, or tract seeding occurred. Minor complications were urticaria with pruritus in two patients. One patient had a subcapusular hematoma without problem. Hospitalization courses varied from ambulatory procedures to 15 days of in-patient, mean hospital stay was 1.82 days. The results of percutaneous liver hydatid cyst treatment, indicating that the procedure is efficient and safe and offers complete cure in selected patients with a short hospitalization and that this technique should be considered an alternative to surgery.
Adolescent↗
Association of concentration of asbestos and asbestos-like fibers with the patient's survival and the binding capacity of lung parenchyma to galectin-1 and natural alpha-galactoside- and alpha-mannoside-binding immunoglobulin G subfractions from human serum.
Our aim in this study was to search for lung parenchyma alterations associated with asbestos and/or asbestos-like fiber concentration. This was done by means of immuno- or glycohistochemistry. The hot-ashing technique determined the asbestos and asbestos-like fiber concentrations in the lung tissues of 100 patients of whom 52 were treated for primary lung and 25 for secondary lung tumors; fiber concentration was also measured for 23 patients whose disease was benign. The results were correlated to smoking habits, survival of the patients, and expression of binding capacities for endogenous lectins, natural carbohydrate-binding and lectin-specific antibodies. The cohort with proven asbestos exposure revealed a mean fiber concentration 114 f/g compared to 95 f/g in the non-exposed group. An increased asbestos fiber concentration was correlated to galectin-1-binding and the presence of epitopes for natural immunoglobulin G subfractions with selectivity to alpha-galactosides and alpha-mannosides. The survival of patients with primary and secondary lung tumors was negatively associated with the fiber concentration. The data indicate that increased presence of asbestos is correlated with an alteration of defined glycohistochemical features of alveolar lining cells.
Adult↗
[Quality assurance in treatment of stroke: basic module of the German Stroke Registry Study Group].
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Comparable, standardised data on the quality and efficiency of stroke care in Germany are lacking. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Schlaganfall-Register (ADSR--German Stroke Registries Study Group) has defined a "Minimum DataSet" for the evaluation of quality indicators of stroke treatment in Germany. METHODS: The ADSR is a voluntary network of current regional stroke registries aiming at a standardisation in the use of stroke terminology and methods of data collection for German stroke databases. Currently six regional stroke registries are cooperating in the ADSR, combining data from about 18,000 stroke patients in 110 hospitals annually. RESULTS: In the design of the ADSR DataSet a modular approach was chosen. The ADSR "Minimum DataSet" was adapted for a wide use in different health care facilities. In addition to the "Minimum DataSet" an "Advanced DataSet" will be developed to document additional items of stroke care in specialised stroke centres. The ADSR DataSet collection will be completed by special "Extended DataSets", designed for answering centre-specific and research questions. CONCLUSION: The ADSR "Minimum DataSet" allows a standardised assessment of stroke care in Germany. It is the first questionnaire that provides valid and reliable comparisons between different clinical settings as well as regional stroke databases. The ADSR "Minimum DataSet" defines core items for a future National German Health Report on stroke care.
Data Collection↗
[Treatment of malignant and benign biliary obstructions with metal stents].
The palliative treatment of malignant biliary tract obstructions using a metal stent is now an established procedure in clinical practice. An endoscopic, transpapillary approach is the first choice for implantation of the stent. If it is not possible to insert the stent in this way, which is often the case with high obstructions, a percutaneous approach is chosen. It appears to be beneficial to use a metal stent with a fine-meshed net such as, for example, the Wall stent. Metal stents have a higher patency rate than plastic stents so that the primary choice of a metal stent is justified. Coated stents have not yet shown any major advantages. In cases of stent occlusion, the coaxial implantation of a plastic stent seems to be the most efficient. In cases of benign biliary tract stenoses, a metal stent should only be implanted after a careful evaluation of all possible surgical modalities and exploitation of balloon dilatation and long-term splinting methods.
Aged↗
[Current status of diagnostic imaging of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver].
Ranging behind hemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasias (FNH) are the second most common benign solid liver lesions. Women between the age of 20 and 50 years are predominantly affected. In rare cases FNH may occur in children. Etiologically, an arteriovenous vascular malformation of the liver is discussed, which causes pseudotumorous growth of the surrounding liver parenchyma. Morphological features such as the presence of a radial vascular architecture and feeding arteries within a central scar are characteristic for the presence of FNH. Imaging techniques which enable the depiction of the arterial blood supply with a characteristic centrifugal filling pattern, the contrast enhancement in the early arterial phase, the absence of calcifications and of a tumour capsule and the typical enhancement of the central scar, are of particular importance. Knowledge of these features is important in order to differentiate FNH from other hypervascular focal liver lesions with tendency of scar formation, such as hepatic adenomas, giant hemangiomas, hepatocellular and fibrolamellar carcinomas, and metastases. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of FNH will be enabled by a combined modality approach consisting of (Doppler) sonography and triphasic CT. To confirm the diagnosis of FNH, dynamic MRI is advisable. Because of the invasiveness of angiography as well as the limited sensitivity and spatial resolution of the various scintigraphic methods, these modalities no longer play a role in the diagnostic work-up of FNH. Lesions lacking typical features diagnostic for FNH remain subjects for biopsy and histological examination.
Adult↗
Integrated nuclear fluorescence and expression of hormone-binding sites in malignant pleural effusions.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential disease- and prognosis-associated nuclear and cellular features from cell properties in a prospective study on malignant pleural effusions. STUDY DESIGN: Integrated nuclear fluorescence and the expression of binding capacities of carrier-immobilized estradiol, progesterone and testosterone; and of labeled sarcolectin; and the presence of calcyclin were measured in 50 cases with proven malignant pleural effusions (10 mesotheliomas, 40 metastasizing tumors). A double fluorescence technique using the fluorochrome DAPI and a Texas Red-based avidin-biotin detection system were applied. Detailed clinical data, including the follow-up for up to 40 months, were included. RESULTS: Pleural effusions in all patients with mesotheliomas occurred prior to (9/10) or at the time of histologic confirmation. Mesotheliomas had the highest tumor cell fraction (12.4%) in S phase and breast carcinomas the lowest (10.7%). More than 80% of malignant cells expressed binding capacities for the applied probes. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the S-phase-related tumor cell fraction and the expression of progesterone receptors. Survival was associated with tumor origin, treatment by pleurodesis, and certain cytometric and histochemical features. CONCLUSION: The immunofluorescence double-staining technique can be applied successfully in malignant effusions to combine DNA measurements with those of immunohistochemical and ligand histochemical reactivity.
Aged↗
Drop metastases in a patient with a chondroid chordoma of the clivus.
Metastasising chordomas are extremely rare and only four cases with drop metastases have been reported. We report a patient with an intracranial chondroid chordoma, typically involving the clivus, treated by repeated resection, percutaneous transluminal embolisation and radiosurgery. During follow-up with MRI asymptomatic intradural drop metastases were observed throughout the spine, with transgression of the intervertebral foramen, forming a "dumbbell".
Adult↗