PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Möbius

Publications and source records attributed to E Möbius.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Can diagnostic scoring systems help decision making in primary care of patients with suspected acute appendicitis?].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess two recently developed scoring systems with respect to making or excluding the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on 2359 patients with typical signs of acute appendicitis (AA) were analysed, the results of two diagnostic scoring systems being compared with the diagnosis made by an experienced surgeon. RESULTS: AA was confirmed in 662 of the 22,359 patients (prevalence 28%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and overall accuracy for diagnosis with the Ohmann scoring system were 0.63, 0.93, 0.77, 0.86 and 0.84; with the Eskelinen score the values were 0.79, 0.85, 0.68, 0.81 and 0.835; and by the surgeon they were 0.90, 0.94, 0.85, 0.96 und 0.93. The negative appendectomy or laparotomy rate was 14.3 an 12.3 respectively with the Ohmann score, 29.5 and 26.6 with the Eskelinen score. The numbers of potential and of nondiagnosed perforations were 41% and 37% respectively with the Ohman score and 26.6% and 16.3% with the Eskelinen score. The number of missed cases of AA was lowest with the Ohman scoring system, compared with 1.8% for the surgeon. After excluding AA, both scoring systems had a specificity of -0.99, with a positive probability rate of at least 27 (Eskelinen score) up to 87 (Ohman score). CONCLUSION: Both diagnostic scoring systems are better for excluding than correctly diagnosing AA; the decision to exclude could be made with a high degree of accuracy. Either scoring system may therefore be used in primary care of patients suspected of AA to help decide on referral to hospital.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Pseudo Chiari type I malformation secondary to cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage may occur spontaneously, iatrogenically or from spinal trauma. Postural headache is the cardinal symptom; dizziness, diminished hearing, nausea and vomiting are additional symptoms. In neurological examinations cranial nerve palsies may be found. Due to low CSF pressure neuroimaging studies may reveal dural enhancement and vertical displacement of the brain. We describe a patient with the history of an uncomplicated lumbar discectomy at the level L4-5 and the typical clinical symptoms of intracranial hypotension. MRI of the craniocervical junction showed typical features of a Chiari type-I malformation. After neurosurgical ligation of a CSF leak at L4-5 caused by lumbar disc surgery, the patient was free of orthostatic headache. A repeated MRI showed a striking reduction of the previous downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils and pons.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Surgical treatment of pheochromocytomas: laparoscopic or conventional?

BACKGROUND: The use of minimally invasive techniques in the surgical treatment of pheochromocytoma is controversial because of possible intraoperative excessive hormone release resulting in cardiovascular instabilities. METHODS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in nine patients with a total of 10 pheochromocytomas. Conversion was required in two cases. The relevant data were prospectively documented and compared with a historical group of nine patients who had undergone conventional transabdominal adrenalectomy for unilateral pheochromocytoma. RESULTS: The laparoscopic operations lasted significantly longer than the conventional procedures (median 243 min vs. 100 min, p < 0.01). Intraoperative cardiovascular instabilities (tachycardia, hypertension) occurred in seven laparoscopically and eight conventionally treated patients. All were easily controlled. Blood transfusions were necessary in four patients in the conventional and one patient in the laparoscopic group. Postoperative hospital stay and duration of analgetic treatment were significantly shorter after laparoscopic adrenalectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe procedure for patients with pheochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

[Postoperative complications and long-term results of the surgical treatment of immunogenic Basedow's disease].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The surgical options for immunogenic Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism with ophthalmopathy) are not uniform. This study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of several types of operation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study the data on 99 patients with Grave's disease (aged 10 to 71 years, mean 35 years), operated on from 1987 to 1996 by 28 different surgeons, were analysed. Follow-up examinations were then undertaken a mean of 42 months (range of 12-108 months) postoperatively. RESULTS: Bilateral subtotal thyroid resection had been performed in 45 patients, unilateral subtotal resection with contralateral hemithyroidectomy in 49 and total thyroidectomy in five. Re-operation for postoperative bleeding was necessary in three patients. At follow-up two patients were found to have recurrent nerve palsy. Four patients had to be treated for mild chronic hyperparathyroidism. There was no significant difference between the different operation regarding type and frequency of complications. At following-up examination none of the patients had hyperthyroidism. 37 of 50 patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy were improved after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: With a standardized operative technique and retention of less than 6 g of thyroid tissue a recurrence of hyperthyroidism can be reliably prevented. This form of treatment can be achieved with an acceptable complication rate, which is unrelated to the type of operation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Laparoscopic transabdominal adrenalectomy].

Adrenalectomy is an operation, which is particularly suitable for minimally-invasive techniques. In several surgical departments with special interest in endocrine disorders laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the procedure of choice in the surgical treatment of benign adrenal lesions. In transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy the adrenal region is exposed by mobilizing the liver or the spleen respectively. The inferior vena cava and the left renal vein are the most important landmarks for further dissection and orientation. Different retroperitoneoscopic approaches have been described besides the transperitoneal techniques.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1997

[Laparoscopic adrenal gland surgery].

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy is now an accepted alternative to conventional adrenalectomy. As in open surgery, several different endoscopic approaches to the adrenal glands have been described. In principle, one must distinguish between the laparoscopic and the retroperitoneoscopic access. All adrenal tumors--pheochromocytomas included--except adrenal carcinomas can be removed endoscopically. However, the use of these techniques is limited in patients with particularly large tumors. The results reported to date are convincing. Only limited data are available as yet to compare conventional and endoscopic adrenalectomy. Because adrenal diseases requiring surgery are rare, endoscopic adrenalectomy is an operation that, for the present, will be limited to centers with a particular interest in laparoscopic and endocrine surgery.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

B-50 (GAP-43) in Onuf's nucleus of the adult cat.

The nucleus of Onuf in the sacral spinal cord contains motoneurons that innervate the pelvic floor muscles and possess somatic and autonomic characteristics. We show in this study that in the intact adult cat, the immunocytochemical labelling of the nervous tissue-specific growth-associated protein, B-50 (GAP-43), which persists in Onuf's nucleus, differs markedly from that in the remaining 'purely somatic' motor nuclei of the sacral spinal cord. At the light microscopic level, an intense B-50 (GAP-43) immunoreactivity (B-50-IR) in the neuropil of Onuf's nucleus contrasts with a faint staining in the other spinal motor nuclei. Ultrastructurally, B-50-IR is found in Onuf's nucleus within some unmyelinated small diameter nerve fibres and numerous axon terminals on dendritic and somatic surfaces. Conversely, in all other motor nuclei only a few of these structures are stained. No other cellular profiles show B-50-IR in the tissue examined. According to the proposed functions of B-50 (GAP-43), its persistence in mature spinal axon terminals may indicate a latent capability of functional and structural remodeling, as well as an involvement in long-term enhancement in synaptic transmission. If so, these properties would be considerably more pronounced in Onuf's nucleus as compared to purely somatic motor nuclei.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Contralateral early blink reflex in patients with facial nerve palsy: indication for synaptic reorganization in the facial nucleus during regeneration.

Fifty patients with Bell's palsy and 30 patients with etiologically different symptomatic peripheral facial nerve palsy were studied by means of electrically evoked blink reflexes 1-23 days after onset of paresis. Their results were compared with a normal control group of 30 healthy subjects. In a significant number of patients (64% in Bell's palsy and 53% in symptomatic facial nerve palsy) a contralateral early blink reflex response (R1) could be elicited upon stimulation of the normal side as compared to 13% in the control group. It is suggested that this result may be explained by synaptic reorganization of the facial nucleus leading to functional unmasking of pre-existing crossed trigemino-facial reflex pathways during regeneration. This view is in line with previous experimental data in animals on the time course of structural changes in the facial nucleus after lesioning of the ipsilateral facial nerve.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Local thrombolytic therapy for thromboembolic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.

We report on 10 patients with thromboembolic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) who underwent local thrombolytic therapy. Six patients developed a MCA occlusion during long-standing interventional neuroradiological procedures, while four had a proven or suspected cardio-embolic stroke. Streptokinase or urokinase was applied by a microcatheter placed into the thrombus within six hours of clinical onset. Complete or partial revascularization was achieved in all patients. Recovery was complete in seven and partial in three of the patients. In two patients, minor haemorrhagic transformation of the infarct occurred, which did not lead to neurological deterioration. It is concluded that in a selected group of patients with MCA occlusion, local thrombolytic therapy represents a safe and effective therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Intraventricular antibiotic therapy].

While shunt infections are regularly treated with intraventricular antibiotics, the validity of such an application in bacterial meningitis of other origin is controversial. We report two cases of partly successful treatment with intraventricular Ceftazidime (10-20 mg twice per week). One patient with pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis who was treated as an out-patient for nearly two years died after an attempted withdrawal of the intraventricular treatment. In our experience, intraventricular application of antibiotics can be a part of the therapeutic regimen in all cases of chronic meningitis with problematic bacteria. Depending on the bacillus, Ceftazidime, Vancomycin or Netilmicin can be recommended for intrathecal application.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Recurrent aseptic meningitis (Mollaret meningitis)--spontaneous and drug-induced origin].

Since its initial description by Mollaret in 1944, the etiology of the chronic aseptic meningitis has remained unknown. This rare disease may cause diagnostic problems if bacterial or viral causes are suspected. A different form of aseptic meningitis may be seen following a variety of drug treatments, especially with non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs: In many reports since 1978, meningitic attacks following administration of ibuprofen have been reported. We describe two cases of Mollaret-Meningitis with certain specialities: one case shows clear encephalitic involvement with aphasia in all six attacks. In the other case, five meningitic attacks appeared spontaneously, while two were drug-induced: the first attack was seen after a lumbar myelography with lopamidol and one attack appeared two hours after oral administration of 400 mg ibuprofen. It is suggested that Mollaret-Meningitis is a special form of a drug-induced allergic reaction, the provoking agent of which remains unknown.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical aspects and treatment of spontaneous carotid artery-cavernous sinus fistula].

21 patients, who fulfilled the clinical and angiographic criteria of a spontaneous carotid cavernous fistula (CCF), were studied at the Alfried Krupp Hospital, Essen, Germany, between 1980 and 1988. Of these patients, 4 had direct shunts between the internal carotid artery and the cavernous sinus and 17 patients had unilateral or bilateral dural shunts between meningeal branches of the internal and/or external carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. The most common initial symptoms were eye redness, bruit and headache. 6 of 12 patients with double vision had mechanical disorders of eye movement. A rapid irreversible loss of vision occurred in 2 patients. In 9 of 21 patients either progressive visual deterioration, proptosis or severe orbital pain necessitated prompt institution of treatment. All direct fistulas could be occluded by the use of the detachable balloon technique. 5 patients with dural CCF were successfully treated with particle embolization of the external carotid artery blood supply. In dural CCF not requiring emergent treatment, combined carotid artery and jugular vein compression was preferred and resulted in complete cure or sufficient improvement in all but one patient. We recommend this method as the first stage of treatment in dural CCF with uncomplicated course.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Therapy of orbital and retroorbital space occupying processes with optic nerve compression].

Space occupying lesions involving the optic nerve require individual management. Graves' disease is first treated with cortisone: failures of treatment require radiation and operative decompression. Good results have been achieved with cytostatic drugs and, in acute progressive loss of vision, with plasmapheresis. Idiopathic pseudo-tumor orbitae disappears with cortisone, failures of treatment indicate malignant development of a lymphoma, which requires management with cytostatic drugs or radiation. Granulomatous infiltration of the optic nerve in sarcoidosis should be treated first of all with steroids before proceeding to operative treatment. Primary optic nerve tumors such as gliomas and meningeomas should be removed operatively if they are located in front of the chiasm and continue to grow. If the chiasm is involved, radiation is preferable. Doubtful cases of clinically almost indistinguishable pinealomas which are very radiosensitive require primary radiation therapy. Sinus cavernosus fistulas should be treated by selective angiographic occlusion of the fistula. If this is impossible, the internal carotid artery may be occluded by introducing a ballon catheter. Loss of vision after blunt head trauma should be treated with megadoses of steroids, operative treatment is only promising in cases with progressive loss of vision.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗
PubMed1984

[Treatment of typical trigeminus neuralgias. Overview of the current state of drug and surgical therapy].

Carbamazepine continues to be the most useful drug in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Diphenylhydantoin may be given in addition to or instead of Carbamazepine. Refractory cases may benefit from combination with Baclofen or Chlorphenesin. In cases of persistent pain the concomitant use of tricyclic antidepressant drugs is recommended. If pain continues in spite of multiple medical therapies or if serious side effects develop, then surgical procedures such as percutaneous controlled thermocoagulation or microvascular decompression are indicated. Percutaneous thermocoagulation is associated with the lowest mortality and morbidity rate and can easily be repeated. Microvascular decompression should especially be offered to young patients, who want to avoid any sensory disturbance of the face, and recommended for other patients for whom all other forms of therapy including percutaneous thermocoagulation have failed.

Adult↗