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H Böhner

Publications and source records attributed to H Böhner.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Ultrasonography for diagnosis of acute appendicitis: results of a prospective multicenter trial. Acute Abdominal Pain Study Group.

A prospective multicenter observational trial was performed to assess the performance and clinical benefit of ultrasonography of the appendix in the routine clinical examination. Included in the study were 2280 patients with acute abdominal pain from 11 surgical departments in Germany and Austria. Ultrasonography of the appendix was performed in 870 (38%) of the patients (range 16-85%). The overall sensitivity of ultrasonography of the appendix was 55% (13-90%), the specificity 95% (range 82-100%), positive predictive value 81% (50-100%), and negative predictive value 85% (68-96%). With respect to single ultrasound scan findings, adequate sensitivity (44%) was achieved only with the target phenomen, not with the other criteria. There were no correlations between the ultrasound findings of the appendix and the diagnostic accuracy of the clinician, the negative appendectomy rate, or the perforated appendix rate. From the study it can be concluded that there is no proven clinical benefit of ultrasound scanning of the appendix in the routine clinical diagnosis.

Abdominal Pain

Simple data from history and physical examination help to exclude bowel obstruction and to avoid radiographic studies in patients with acute abdominal pain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of plain abdominal radiographs and of data from the medical history and physical examination in the diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in general and of bowel obstruction in particular. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: 4 university and 2 community hospitals, Germany. SUBJECTS: 1254 patients with acute abdominal pain lasting less than 7 days, and with no history of abdominal injury including surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Standardised and structured medical history and physical examination, study of results of plain abdominal radiographs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Positive predictive value and sensitivity of clinical variables and abdominal film with respect to the diagnosis at discharge. RESULTS: 48 patients (3.8%) had bowel obstruction. 704 patients (56.1%) had plain abdominal films taken at the time of initial presentation. 111 studies (15.8%) showed important findings leading to diagnosis or immediate treatment, 455 (64.7%) showed unimportant or no findings. In 138 (19.6%) results of films were not reported. 16 of 45 single variables were of help in diagnosing bowel obstruction. The six with the highest sensitivity were distended abdomen, increased bowel sounds, history of constipation, previous abdominal surgery, age over 50, and vomiting. If only patients presenting with any two of these symptoms had had radiographs taken, 300 (42.6%) could have been avoided without loss in diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSION: A considerable number of plain abdominal films taken for patients with acute abdominal pain could be avoided by focusing on clinical variables relevant to the diagnosis of bowel obstruction.

Abdominal Pain

[Is ultrasound examination in acute appendicitis dispensable? Acute Abdominal Pain Study Group].

In a prospective multicenter observational trial, the performance and clinical benefit of ultrasound of the appendix was evaluated in the clinical routine. Ultrasound of the appendix was performed in 870 of 2280 patients (38%); the overall sensitivity was 55% (range: 13 to 90%), specificity 95%, positive and negative predictive value 81 and 85%. There was no correlation between the frequency or accuracy of ultrasound and the accuracy of the clinician, the negative appendectomy or perforation rate.

Abdomen, Acute

Indications for and results of splenectomy in different hematological disorders.

The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the indications for splenectomy in hematological disorders and to analyze the results depending on the indication leading to surgery. Fifty-six patients with various hematological disorders were splenectomized between 1990 and 1994. The main indication was noted. Operative success was defined as: return to normal platelet counts without further medication in thrombocytopenia, relief of pain and local compression syndrome in painful splenomegaly, hemoglobin levels > 10 g/dl without the need for further transfusions in hemolytic anemia, response to chemotherapy after splenectomy for prior resistance because of massive splenic infiltration, and relief of infection in splenic infection. Morbidity and mortality were noted. Five major indications for splenectomy were found: thrombocytopenia (n = 36, success 78%), painful splenomegaly (n = 8, success 100%), hemolytic anemia (n = 5, success 60%), resistance to chemotherapy because of massive splenic infiltration (n = 5, success 100%). One patient with thrombocytopenia died (mortality 2%). Seven patients had major complications (13%). In hematological diseases, thrombocytopenia, painful splenomegaly and splenic infection are likely to be improved by splenectomy. In hemolytic anemia it can be a helpful approach, while in resistance to chemotherapy because of massive splenic infiltration success is less likely.

Female

[Is routine tumor after-care after gastrectomy sensible?].

Only 22.3% of patients with recurrence after potentially curative gastrectomy are discovered in asymptomatic stages. Their prognosis is not different from those with symptomatic recurrence. Routine follow-up after gastrectomy can be abandoned.

Aftercare

[Clinical standardization in acute abdominal pain].

The correct diagnosis in acute abdominal pain is necessary for adequate treatment. In several clinical studies it has been shown that, despite improvements in laboratory and technology medicine, errors occur in a considerable proportion of cases due to insufficient history-taking and clinical examination. By the introduction of a standardised and structured history and clinical examination, the diagnostic accuracy can be improved by at least 10%. The aim of this publication is to improve history-taking, clinical examination and diagnostic decision-making by exact definition of all relevant parameters. This was performed by a national clinical expert group, international standardisations were taken in consideration. The standardisation was based mainly on these existing international standardisations (World Organisation of Gastroenterology); however, revisions and corrections were necessary. In order to introduce the standardisation into clinical routine, a documentation form and a documentation program can be provided.

Abdomen, Acute

[Splenectomy in osteomyelofibrosis. Indications and outcome].

Osteomyelofibrosis is a myeloproliferative disorder in which fibrosis and sclerosis finally lead to bone marrow obliteration. Liver and spleen compensate for bone marrow loss with extramedullary hematopoiesis. In some patients the resulting splenomegaly causes severe symptoms such as local compression, thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia. In such patients, splenectomy is the only promising treatment, although it represents a significant risk.

Adult

[Chronic mesenteric ischemia].

Thirty-four patients (twelve men, 22 women, mean age 53[16-71] years) with chronic mesenteric ischaemia were operated upon between 1979 and 1992. The most frequent symptom was loss of weight (50%) and postprandial pain (44%). The mean interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 35 months. Angiography revealed disease of the coeliac trunk (CT) or the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in 16 patients, of only the SMA in ten, and of only the CT in eight. Revascularisation was obtained with an autologous vein graft in 21 patients (on the TC in 12, AMS in nine), while transaortic endarterectomy was performed in 15 (on the CT in seven, the AMS in nine). There was one perioperative death. 20 patients were symptom-free 1-126 months after the operation, while five still had residual symptoms even though improved in three. Seven patients had a recurrence of symptoms, three immediately after operation and four after an initial symptom-free period. These results show that freedom from symptoms can be achieved even in advanced stages of chronic mesenteric ischaemia by reconstructive surgery of the intestinal and visceral arteries. However, residual symptoms that are possibly not of a vascular nature may persist after successful vascular reconstruction. Patients with recurrent obstruction may become symptom-free by repeat surgery even many years later.

Adolescent

[Significance of anamnesis and clinical findings for diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Acute Abdominal Pain Study Group].

UNLABELLED: Acute appendicitis raises considerable diagnostic difficulties. This is proven by rates of negative appendectomies that sometimes extent 30%. In order to find reasons for this we tested 211 patients findings for diagnostic relevance. METHOD: Within the European Community--Acute Abdominal Pain Survey, a study to support diagnosis in acute abdominal pain, 1254 patients were seen in the six participating German hospitals. 16.8% had appendicitis. History data and physical findings were tested for positive and negative predictive value (PPV/NPV), sensitivity and specificity (SEN/SPE). RESULTS: We had 15% negative appendectomies and 16% perforated appendicies. Only few of the parameters tested show a PPW significantly higher than the prior probability of appendicitis: (PPV/NPV/SEN/SPE in %) rebound tenderness 39/63/91/80, tenderness in the right lower quadrant 36/82/95/70, pain right lower quadrant at presentation 34/77/94/70, onset of pain right lower quadrant 29/49/88/75, rigidity 28/9/84/95, guarding 26/43/87/76. All other parameters had a lower PPV. The combination of three parameters leads to maximal PPV of 85%. CONCLUSION: Very few symptoms are helpful in diagnosing appendicitis: the pain related symptoms (spontaneous pain, tenderness and rebound tenderness, guarding) and the history of the pain hint at an appendicitis. A structured and complete medical history and physical examination focussing on these few symptoms, a systematic combination of these and possibly ultrasonography will improve diagnostic accuracy.

Abdomen, Acute