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Biomedical subjects

H Fürst

Publications and source records attributed to H Fürst.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Esophageal replacement by interposition of pedicled ascending colon flap supplied by the inferior mesenteric artery].

OBJECTIVE: Colon interposition for esophageal replacement is indicated in patients with benign esophageal disease, in patients who require an esophago gastrectomy for a potential cure and in patients in whom the stomach is no longer available for replacement because of preceding surgery. METHODS: In 30 patients we performed colon interposition grafts for esophageal replacement using a modified technique. This technique includes ligation of the middle and right colic artery, thereby creating an interposition graft of the whole ascending colon which receives blood exclusively from the left colic artery. The main advantage of this procedure is the length of the interposition graft. Preparation of the left colic flexure is no longer required. Nineteen patients had an esophagectomy, 11 patients an esophago-gastrectomy. RESULTS: Minor complications in this unselected patient group occurred six times (20%), and major complications were observed in seven patients (23.3%). Frequency of anastomotic leakage amounted to 13.3%, hospital mortality to 10%. CONCLUSION: Frequency of postoperative complications and hospital mortality of patients in whom a modified colon interposition was done is comparable with published data of unselected patient groups, which had either a standard colon interposition graft for esophageal replacement or a gastric pull-through procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Use of pedicled greater omentum-plasty as thoraco-abdominal defect repair following extensive tumor resection].

Patients suffering from long-untreated malignomas of the chest or abdominal wall may require plastic surgery due to extensive defects after tumor resection. Despite a variety of pedicled or free myocutaneous flaps, there are defects in which these reconstructional options may not be indicated. In these patients, the omental flaps are a valid alternative. Since a secondary split skin graft is mandatory with the omentum flap, antibacterial and granulation-enhancing xerodressings are required for wound bed conditioning. We report one patient in whom the omentum flap was used for coverage of an extensive defect after resection of a widespread basal cell carcinoma at the lateral thorax and abdominal wall. After wound conditioning with silver-impregnated activated charcoal xerodressing (Actisorb) in combination with a hydroactive polymer dressing (Allevyn), secondary skin grafting was performed. In this patient fibrosis and calcification of the omentum led to stable abdominal wall coverage even without the application of a synthetic mesh.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of the carotid and vertebral arteries: comparison of 3D SCTA and IA-DSA-work in progress.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a method for three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the whole vascular system of the carotid and vertebral arteries using spiral computed tomographic angiography (SCTA), that allows accurate, qualitative and quantitative evaluation, of anatomical abnormalities, including detection of additional lesions, and estimation of degree of stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with anatomical and pathological abnormalities of the arterial vascular system detected by color-coded duplex ultrasound were studied using intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA) with aortic arch injection, and SCTA. The carotid and vertebral arteries were segmented using an interactive threshold interval density volume-growing method and visualized with a color-coded shaded-surface display (SSD) rendering method. The adjacent bone structures were visualized using a transparent volume rendering method. RESULTS: In all cases, the entire volume of the vascular system of the carotid and vertebral arteries could be visualized on SCTA, and the anatomical and pathological abnormalities on 3D SCTA correlated well with that seen on IA-DSA. CONCLUSION: Results of 3D SCTA had a high degree of correlation with results of IA-DSA in the evaluation of the vascular system of the carotid and vertebral arteries. The 3D SCTA with a subsecond spiral CT scanner is useful for the visualization of anatomical and pathological abnormalities in the circulation in the carotid and vertebral arteries and offer a promising minimally invasive alternative compared with other diagnostic procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

An evaluation of the tumour markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin marker (CYFRA 21-1) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the differentiation of malignant from benign solitary pulmonary lesions.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the diagnostic value of the tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment marker (CYFRA 21-1) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the differentiation of malignant (MSPLs) from benign solitary pulmonary lesions (BSPLs). METHODS: Solitary pulmonary lesions (SPLs) were diagnosed using plain radiography and spiral computed tomography (SCT) and then completely removed by surgery in 104 consecutive patients (MSPLs; n = 81, BSPLs; n = 23). The serum concentrations of the tumour markers were determined 1-3 days prior to surgery by ELISA for CEA and CYFRA 21-1 and by IRMA for NSE using commercially available assay kits. The cut-off values were set at 3 ng/ml (for non-smokers) and 5 ng/ml (for smokers) for CEA, at 3.3 ng/ml for CYFRA 21-1 and at 12.5 ng/ml for NSE. RESULTS: MSPLs were identified with a sensitivity between 13.6 and 45.7%, a specificity between 87.0 and 100% and an accuracy between 32.7 and 54.8%. Using the tumour markers alone, the highest sensitivity (27.2%) and accuracy (40.4%) was found with CEA, the highest specificity (100%) with CYFRA 21-1 and with NSE. Primary lung cancers (n = 39) were identified with a sensitivity between 17.9 and 61.5%, a specificity between 87.0 and 100% and an accuracy between 48.4 and 71.0%. Using the tumour markers alone, the highest sensitivity (35.9%) and accuracy (59.7%) was found with CYFRA 21-1, the highest specificity (100%) with CYFRA 21-1 and with NSE. The combination of all three tumour markers resulted in a greater sensitivity and greater diagnostic accuracy but a loss in specificity compared with CYFRA 21-1 and NSE. CONCLUSION: The use of the tumour markers alone or in combination showed a low sensitivity and low accuracy for the diagnostic differentiation of MSPLs from BSPLs and primary lung cancers from BSPLs. However, both CYFRA 21-1 and NSE exhibited a specificity of 100% and may be useful complements to standard clinical imaging methods.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1999

Assessment of peripheral sympathetic nervous function for diagnosing early post-traumatic complex regional pain syndrome type I.

Clinical diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) in post-traumatic patients is often delayed since the clinical appearance of this disease resembles normal post-traumatic states to a certain extent (pain, edema, loss of function). The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of specific clinical features in CRPS I patients and normal post-traumatic patients and to evaluate the diagnostic value of a bedside test that measures the sympathetic nervous function. Fifty patients with post-traumatic CRPS I of the upper limb and 50 patients 8 weeks after distal radius fracture with an undisturbed course of disease were subjected to a detailed clinical examination. Pain was assessed using the VAS (visual analog scale), skin temperature measured with an infrared camera and grip-strength with a pneumatic manometer. In CRPS I patients, motor disturbances defined as an impaired active range of motion of the hand, were most frequent (96%, fracture patients: 40%), followed by edema (88%, fracture patients: 80%) and spontaneous pain (VAS 4.0 +/- 2.3, fracture patients: VAS 1.3 +/- 0.6). Systematic temperature differences (>1 degree C) between the affected and unaffected limbs were seen in only 42% of CRPS I patients and in 34% of the fracture patients. Further sensory, sudomotor or trophic changes of the hands were rare. As expected, there were significant differences in the quantity of edema, motor disturbances and sensory disturbances between CRPS I patients and normal fracture patients. However, normal fracture patients still suffered from several of the evaluated symptoms 8 weeks after trauma, which makes an early clinical diagnosis of the complication more difficult. Using a newly developed bedside test, the peripheral sympathetic nervous function was assessed in both groups of patients and in 50 age-matched healthy controls. The decrease in skin blood flow following sympathetic provocation maneuvers, detected by laser Doppler flowmetry, was quantified as sympathetic reactivity. In the affected hands of CRPS I patients, as well as in the contralateral hands, the sympathetic reactivity was obliterated or diminished in contrast to the age-matched controls and normal fracture patients. A multivariate analysis did not reveal any correlation between sympathetic function and the severity of any clinical symptom. Sympathetic reactivity seems to be an independent variable in CRPS I and the test presented may facilitate the difficult clinical diagnosis of this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Tacrolimus (FK506) as primary immunosuppressant after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Our positive experience with tacrolimus (FK 506) in heart transplantation has led to our assessing the use of this medication as a primary immunosuppressant in lung transplantation. 62 of our patients after lung transplantation were included in this study. The first 34 patients were treated with cyclosporine A (CyA), the remaining 28 with tacrolimus. No meaningful differences were found in baseline characteristics. The actuarial one-year survival rate was 70.6% for the CyA group and 92.3% for the tacrolimus group. The number of acute rejection episodes per patient was 1.50 for the CyA group versus 1.18 for the tacrolimus group (p < 0.05). The incidence of infection and their spectrum were comparable in both groups. The most frequently reported adverse events were diabetes mellitus 57% (tacrolimus) vs 23% (CyA), and renal insufficiency (27% vs 15%). Tacrolimus seems to be a more potent immunosuppressant after lung transplantation than CyA; on the other hand, diabetes and nephrotoxicity were diagnosed more frequently using tacrolimus. Although our results are very promising, further follow-up on the incidence of obliterative bronchiolitis is warranted.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1999

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing before and after lung and heart-lung transplantation.

Heart-lung (HLT) and lung transplantation (LT) have been shown to be effective procedures for patients with end-stage cardiopulmonary disorders. As yet, few data exist on the exercise performance of patients before and after thoracic transplantation except with regard to 6-min walk tests. In this article we report cardiopulmonary exercise test results of lung and heart-lung transplant recipients in comparison with their pretransplant values. We studied 103 consecutive recipients of single-lung (n = 46), bilateral lung (n = 32), and heart-lung (n = 25) transplants. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing with a cycle ergometer was performed before and shortly after surgery. Before transplantation, all patients showed severe exercise intolerance and markedly impaired parameters reflecting cardiopulmonary function (e.g., work capacity: 20 +/- 11% predicted; oxygen uptake: 34 +/- 12% predicted; oxygen pulse: 50 +/- 18% predicted; functional dead space ventilation: 57 +/- 10% of minute ventilation; alveolar-arterial oxygen difference during exercise: 79 +/- 15 mm Hg). At 55 +/- 9 d after transplantation, transplant recipients reached maximum oxygen uptakes in the range of 22 to 71% of predicted values; the peak oxygen uptake was increased after transplantation (13.1 +/- 3.4 ml/min/kg versus 10.4 +/- 3.8 ml/min/kg; p < 0.001). Work capacity, oxygen pulse, tidal volume, and peak minute ventilation did not differ in patients following single- or double-lung tranplantation or HLT. Ventilatory factors did not appear to limit exercise capacity in any group. Despite the persistent limitations in aerobic capacity and work rate seen in many of the recipients, cardiopulmonary performance is reasonably well restored shortly after LT and HLT.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after (heart-)lung transplantation. Impaired antiprotease defense and increased oxidant activity.

Increased numbers of neutrophils are a common finding in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples obtained from patients after (heart-)lung transplantation [(H)LTX]. Since proteases and reactive oxygen species secreted by neutrophils are capable of causing substantial damage to the lung tissue if not counterbalanced by the antiprotease and antioxidant screen, we hypothesized that neutrophil products may play a role in the development of obliterative bronchiolitis (OB). A total of 72 BALF samples obtained from 33 patients after (H)LTX were evaluated. Sixteen of these patients were suffering from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) at the time of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). As a control, BALF samples from 17 healthy volunteers were analyzed. Anti-neutrophil elastase (NE) activity was quantified by a titration assay. Concentrations of alpha(1)-protease inhibitor (API), secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), NE-API complex, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured by ELISA. Oxidized methionine [Met(O)] was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Epithelial lining fluid (ELF) from patients suffering from BOS showed significantly increased neutrophil counts, significantly elevated concentrations of NE-API complex and Met(O), and a significant decrease in the concentration of SLPI. Furthermore, a trend toward an increased NE activity and MPO concentration was observed. These findings suggest that neutrophils may be involved in the development of BOS.

Bronchiolitis Obliterans↗
PubMed1998

[Treatment of advanced pleural empyema].

Despite the widespread availability of antibiotics and a declining incidence, pleural empyema still represents a serious intrathoracic disease often requiring surgical treatment for successful therapy. 104 patients with complicated pleural empyema were treated at our hospital between June 1991 and June 1997. In this retrospective study the main causes for pleural empyema were pneumonia in 41.3% and direct inoculation of the pleural space by major and minor thoracic surgery in 30.8%. Further diseases leading to an empyma of the pleural space were oesophageal perforation (11.5%), ARDS (8.7%) and hematogenous infection (7.7%). Eighty-four patients (80.8%) underwent surgery, of whom 17 patients required multiple operations. Conservative therapy with chest tube drainage and systemic application of tested antibiotics was performed in 20 patients. The overall mortality of our patients was 19.2%, but depending on the underlying disease differed considerably between 8.3% and 44.4%. Multiple operations caused by persisting empyema had a significantly higher mortality rate (58.8%) than single operations (10.5%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Surgical treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases].

PURPOSE: To summarize current knowledge on surgical therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis). MATERIAL AND METHODS: To discuss surgical indications and strategies, we reviewed major peer review publications of the last 10 years, and we also analysed data from patients with Crohn's disease who were treated in our institution between 1978 and 1994. RESULTS: With Crohn's disease (305 patients), emergency surgery should be avoided as much as possible, since morbidity (50% vs 8.8%) and mortality (11% vs 0.6%) rise significantly in comparison to elective procedures. With ulcerative colitis, operative therapy is indicated in patients with secondary malignoma, and urgent surgery is requested in cases with associated perforation, toxic megacolon or massive bleeding. With diverticulitis, the first episode should be managed conservatively. Surgery is indicated in patients with recurrent episodes or with secondary complications. DISCUSSION: For treating patients with Crohn's disease or with diverticulitis, an indication for surgery should not be delayed and should be made before complications develop to avoid high risk emergency surgery. Elective surgery in patients with ulcerative colitis usually consists in proctocolectomy. Individual findings and aspects will determine the decision whether to construct an ileoanal pouch or whether ileostoma is more appropriate.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗
PubMed1998

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) for the treatment of early allograft failure after lung transplantation. Munich Lung Transplant Group.

OBJECTIVE: Inhalation of high concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to improve gas exchange and to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance in individuals with ischemia-reperfusion injury following orthotopic lung transplantation. We assessed the cardiopulmonary effects of low doses of NO in early allograft dysfunction following lung transplantation. DESIGN: Prospective clinical dose-response study. SETTING: Anesthesiological intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: 8 patients following a single or double lung transplantation who had a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in excess of 4.7 kPa (35 mmHg) or an arterial oxygen tension/fractional inspired oxygen ratio (PaO2/FIO2) of less than 13.3 kPa (100 mmHg). INTERVENTIONS: Gaseous NO was inhaled in increasing concentrations (1, 4 and 8 parts per million, each for 15 min) via a Siemens Servo 300 ventilator. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Cardiorespiratory parameters were assessed at baseline, after each concentration of NO, and 15 min after withdrawal of the agent [statistics: median (25th/75th percentiles: Q1/Q3), rANOVA, Dunnett's test, p < 0.05]. Inhaled NO resulted in a significant, reversible, dose-dependent, selective reduction in PAP from 5.5(5.2/6.0) kPa at control to 5.1(4.7/5.6) kPa at 1 ppm, 4.9(4.3/5.3) kPa at 4 ppm, and to 4.7(4.1/5.1) kPa at 8 ppm. PaO2 increased from 12.7(10.4/17.1) to 19.2(12.4/26.0) kPa at 1 ppm NO, to 23.9(4.67/26.7) kPa at 4 ppm NO and to 24.5(11.9/28.7) kPa at 8 ppm NO. All patients responded to NO inhalation (either with PAP or PaO2), all were subject to long-term inhalation (1-19 days). All were successfully weaned from NO and were discharged from the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that low-dose inhaled NO may be an effective drug for symptomatic treatment of hypoxemia and/or pulmonary hypertension due to allograft dysfunction subsequent to lung transplantation.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1998

[Progress in diagnostic imaging of the thorax (CT, MRI, intervention)--significance and value for the surgeon].

Among radiological diagnostical procedures, the conventional chest X-ray has retained its significance as a screening investigation up to the present. Digital imaging does not reveal any advantages. Due to its higher resolution the CT scan, particularly the spiral CT scan, has markedly increased radiological possibilities, thus influencing surgical oncology significantly. Tumor invasion of the mediastinum, heart, and thoracic wall has become detectable, as well as enlarged lymph nodes and metastases. CT angiography permits a better assessment of large vessels by aortic rupture or dissection and pulmonary embolism, to name a few. MRI is inferior to CT scan in this respect, displaying a slight advantage in terms of detecting tumor infiltration of the nerval plexus, i.e. pancoast syndrome.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

[Intraoperative diagnosis of a multilocal pheochromocytoma].

Pheochromocytomas are functionally active, catecholamine-secreting tumours of chromaffin tissue. The mainstay of pharmacological therapy is preoperative treatment with oral phenoxybenzamine. This drug irreversibly alkylates alpha-1-adrenergic receptors on vascular smooth muscle and renders them nonfunctional, thereby causing vasodilatation. The duration of action of a single dose is approximately 24 h. Therefore, postoperative hypotension is a hazard of therapy with phenoxybenzamine if adequate plasma volume repletion is not provided. Prazosin, a short-acting, competitive alpha-1 blocker, has been used preoperatively, but has been criticized for its failure to adequately prevent perioperative hypertensive episodes. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who was admitted for elective pheochromocytoma resection. Preoperative therapy with phenoxybenzamine was impossible because of the patient's refusal to take the drug. Preoperative antihypertensive preparation was therefore performed with prazosin 30 mg/24 h and metoprolol 100 mg/24 h. During the surgical preparation of the tumor, sodium nitroprusside was started at an average infusion rate of 4.1 micrograms/kg/min. After resection of the primary tumor, when the sodium nitroprusside infusion was stopped the patient exhibited an increase in systolic blood pressure (BP) up to 210 mg Hg. This hypertensive crisis was managed with sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, and esmolol. A multilocular pheochromocytoma was diagnosed. Further stimuli due to tumour palpation resulted in repeated increases in BP. In this manner, two additional areas of tumour could be diagnosed by BP peaks after reduction of the sodium nitroprusside infusion. After complete resection of a total of three tumours, no further hypertensive crises occurred. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. We conclude that in this patient presenting with an unsuspected multilocular pheochromocytoma, the lack of permanent alpha-blockade was probably helpful in allowing complete resection of all the tumours.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1997

[Locoregional recurrence of colonic carcinoma: prognosis after surgical therapy].

In a retrospective study, we analyzed prognostic factors in 143 patients with locally recurrent colonic cancer (excluding rectal cancer). We saw no influence of primary tumor state on long-term survival. In patients with curative resection the 5(3)-year probability of survival was significantly better than in patients with local palliative resection [45% (50%) vs. 5% (0%)]. In addition, we found striking differences in perioperative mortality which varied with therapeutic intention (37% for local palliative operations without resection, 16% in cases with palliative surgery with resection). No patient died after curative tumor resection.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Surgical interventions in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)].

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a suitable technique for short-term treatment of resistant respiratory failure with a comparably low mortality rate of 32%. However, pulmonary complications are quite often encountered during ECMO therapy making thoracic interventions necessary. The most frequent of these complications is hemorrhage followed by lung fistula, which remain resistant to conventional therapy. The indication for operative lung resection during ECMO treatment must remain restricted to selected cases, since these procedures have a high morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Sarcoidosis recurrence following lung transplantation.

Sarcoidosis is a rare indication for lung transplantation. In this article, our experiences with recurring sarcoidosis following lung transplantation are described. Literature concerning recurrence of the disease in kidney, liver, heart and lung transmission of sarcoidosis via transplanted organs are discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

A standardized bedside test for assessment of peripheral sympathetic nervous function using laser Doppler flowmetry.

In spite of increasing knowledge about the role of the sympathetic nervous system in autonomic disturbances like reflex sympathetic dystrophy, no functional test for the peripheral sympathetic system has been introduced into the clinical routine so far. In the development of a standardized bedside test, effects of arousal stimuli [inspiratory gasp (IG) and contralateral cooling (CC)] on blood flow in the fingertips (FTBF) were studied, using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Fifty-two healthy subjects (ages 17 to 75) and 15 patients with sympathetic reflex dystrophy (SRD) underwent the diagnostic procedure. FTBF of healthy subjects during arousal maneuvers showed a reproducible decrease, which is related to a sympathetic vasoconstrictor response. The standardized test procedure with external body heating made interindividual test results comparable. Examination trials with 4 healthy subjects on 10 subsequent days showed good reproducibility. Mathematical analysis of the LDF curves was performed to calculate the degree of FTBF decrease (SRF = (Fmean - Fmin)/Fmean, QI = integral pre/integral post). In contrast to absolute flow values like Fmean and Fmin or time-related parameters like tdecrease and tregeneration, SRF and QI values presented small coefficients of variation (IG test, SRF 25.7, QI 21.7; CC test, SRF 20.0, QI 15.3). The typical decrease of the LDF signal after sympathetic stimulation was absent or diminished in patients with SRD. SRF and QI values showed statistically highly significant differences (P < 0.001) compared to healthy subjects. The presented test appears reliable for the assessment of peripheral sympathetic nervous function. The narrow physiological range of SRF and QI values enabled the differentiation of pathological sympathetic reactions. The test procedure is easy to perform, noninvasive, and practical even in patients with injuries of the upper limbs.

Adolescent↗