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Biomedical subjects

K Käch

Publications and source records attributed to K Käch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Intestinal infarction after nonabdominal trauma; association with cerebral trauma.

Nonocclusive bowel infarction in nonabdominal trauma has been ascribed to periods of hypotension. However, to our knowledge only 17 cases have been reported, and hypotension was not always found. We studied the frequency and possible causes of intestinal infarction in all patients treated at our traumatologic intensive care unit from 1977 through 1986 (n = 2350). Intestinal infarction was diagnosed at the time of surgery or autopsy; patients with pre-existing vascular disease were excluded. We found 12 patients (incidence: 0.5%) of age 45 +/- 20 years (mean +/- SD). All had severe cerebral trauma [Head and Neck Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score: 4-5, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score: 6.5 +/- 3.8]. Eight patients suffered from additional injuries. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 27 +/- 7. All patients received ventilator assistance continuously before the diagnosis of intestinal infarction or death. The leading symptom of intestinal infarction was sepsis and multiple organ failure with abdominal distention. Five patients with favorable cerebral prognosis underwent surgery: one survived with good cerebral and gastrointestinal recovery. Four patients did not have surgery because of a poor cerebral prognosis. Three patients died of their cerebral trauma before intestinal infarction was clinically manifested. The data show that early diagnosis in ventilated patients with head injuries is extremely difficult because of the heterogenicity of this group of patients, the low frequency of the complication, and the complexity of the clinical picture. Although patients inevitably were exposed to several agents or situations associated with intestinal infarction, the ubiquitous causes were dehydration and diuretic therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Differences of acute and chronic epidural hematoma].

Standard neurosurgical management demands prompt evacuation of all extradural hematomas to obtain a low incidence of mortality and morbidity. In selected cases some authors have suggested that moderate hematomas can be managed conservatively without risk to the patient and with a normal outcome. The goal of this study was to analyze the differences in preoperative clinical parameters between a group of acute and a group of chronic extradural hematomas (chronic extradural hematoma was defined as a delay of more than 72 h from the accident to diagnosis). One hundred fifteen (115) patients with extradural hematomas underwent a standard evaluation, documentation and neurosurgical management (prompt evacuation of all extradural hematomas through a craniotomy). Ninety-five patients (83%) had an acute extradural hematoma. Twenty patients (17%) had a chronic extradural hematoma. We analyzed the following parameters: age, cause of accident, clinical findings, Glasgow Coma Score, morphology of hematoma, location of hematoma, cause of bleeding and clinical outcome. The mean age (chronic 30/acute 32) and age distribution were not significantly different between groups. There were no differences in the cause of accident. All patients in both groups had skull fractures. There was no difference between groups regarding hematoma location, most of there being located in the temporal fossa. In the group of acute extradural hematomas, 62% of patients had a Glasgow Coma Score of less than 8 and 47% had pupillary dilation. In the group of chronic extradural hematomas, moderate clinical symptoms were found, with headache and discrete psychological changes most common. Eighty percent (80%) of the patients had a Glasgow Coma Score of greater than 13 and no patients had pupillary dilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

[Severe necrotizing fasciitis].

The pathophysiology of necrotizing fasciitis remains unclear in patients with no apparent immunologic disorders. Between 1987 and 1990 we treated six patients with necrotizing fascitis and septic-toxic multiple organ failure, three patients survived. The mean age was 38 years (25-62). In all patients the primary bacteriological examination revealed streptococcus. Between the first symptoms and an adequate therapy were 4 days in surviving patients and 7 days in patients who died. Four patients showed spread of the gangrene into the adjacent tissue: muscles (n = 3), bowel (n = 2), mediastinum (n = 1). Adequate débridement was not possible or not performed in patients with spread into the abdominal cavity or the mediastinum. These patients did not survive. The duration of intensive care treatment in surviving patients were 14 to 78 days. We conclude that survival of patients with severe necrotizing fasciitis is influenced by the delay before adequate treatment, the localisation of the gangrene and intensive care facilities.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Callus distraction in traumatology: concepts and indications].

The understanding of the conditions under which bone and soft tissue can be regenerated by distraction has opened a new era in the field of limb reconstruction. Success in lengthening for posttraumatic limb length discrepancy has led to different applications of the distraction techniques. We present an overview of the clinical new possibilities, the strategy, the techniques and the complications using the distraction technique in the trauma patient. The optimal biologic method (limb distraction after resection or callus distraction by a transport technique) and the optimal fixation devices depend on the indication (local aspect, polytrauma, patient, motivation).

Bone Lengthening↗
PubMed1992

[Extended surgical indications in combined shoulder girdle fracture].

The combination of an ipsilateral clavicule and scapula fracture causes a double instability of the shoulder. In opposite to an isolated clavicule or scapula fracture this injury should be treated operatively. Diagnosis of the scapula fracture in polytrauma can be difficult. If there is a clinical or radiologic suspicion, the indication for a CT scan is given. Osteosynthesis with plates from separated approaches, first the scapula from dorsal then the calvicule from ventral has proven good. The nervus suprascapularis must be treated carefully and, if necessary, liberated from the fracture. The optimal treatment of this injury is not always possible in polytraumatised patient.

Clavicle↗
PubMed1992

[Who should be hospitalized following mild craniocerebral trauma?].

The frequency of minor closed head injuries is high. These injuries may be complicated by the development of life-threatening intracranial hematomas. A well-defined selection criteria for admission must be proposed to guarantee an efficacious observation. In our series of 489 hospitalized patients with a GCS of 15 when seen in the emergency room: 4 patients required evacuation of an intracranial hematoma, 11 revision of a depressed skull fracture or a compound fracture of base of the anterior fossa. Using the existence of a skull fracture as a selection for admission, a strategy proposed by Jennett and colleagues, it would have been possible to reduce the number of patients hospitalized by 70% without missing a patient who developed an intracranial hematoma. Following these criteria no intracranial hematoma would be missed in our patients with a GCS of 15. We suggest that the use of plain x-rays to identify skull fractures and subsequent hospitalization prevents missing an intracranial hematoma. Those patients with diminished levels of consciousness of focal neurologic deficits require admission irrespective of skull fractures.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Bone segment transport in femoral defects. Animal experiment study].

The aim of our experimental study was to realize the Ilizarov concept using a reamed intramedullary interlocking nail with an internal transport system. In 8 mature dogs a bone defect of 3 cm was performed at the femur. A distally osteotomized bone fragment (length 3.5 cm) was lowered through the bone defect. 4 times we had to exclude the animal from the evaluation. In this case the interlocking nails were broken within 6 weeks. In 3 dogs a regeneration of bone was found in the defect. In 6 dogs a deep infection along the transport system had developed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Injuries of the lower extremity with vascular lesions of the popliteal area. Management errors].

Lower extreemity injury complicated by limb-threatening vascular injuries of the popliteal artery present an infrequent but difficult management problem. In a retrospective study 37 consecutive patients with severely injured lower extremities after blunt trauma, all complicated by popliteal vascular injury, were evaluated. In 10 patients we found severe management errors: In 7 patients a delay in diagnosis of the vascular injury, in 3 patients with extensive bone and soft-tissue damage an inadequate stabilisation of the fracture. The optimal management of complex injury with associated vascular injuries requires a high index of suspicion and a treatment of all components of such an injury. The initial goals are the accurate diagnosis or exclusion of arterial injury, surgical debridement, adequate bony stabilization with minimal additional bone and soft-tissue trauma, revascularisation by interposition of a vein graft after resection of the damaged segment, immediate fascial decompression and early soft-tissue reconstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Callus distraction by an internal bone transport system in unilateral fixation].

The problem of the treatment of bone defects can be solved by distraction osteogenesis as developed by ILIZAROV. This study shows how the bone transport technique can be adapted to every common external fixator while using a new internal distraction system. In 20 dogs a bone defect of 6 cm was performed at the femur. The femur was stabilized with an unilateral frame. A proximal or distal corticostomized bone fragment (length 2.5 cm) was descended through the bone defect (1 mm day). In 15 dogs a new regeneration of bone was observed. The quality of the regenerated bone depends upon stability of the fixation. In 5 dogs with osteotomy and rapid dislocation of the transported fragment no bone bridging was found.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Indications for and results of interlocking nailing in lower leg fractures].

At the clinic for Traumatology at the University Hospital of Zürich between 1981-1986 53 tibial fractures in 52 patients have been treated with interlocking nails. The system of Grosse and Kempf was utilized. The fractures were produced by a variety of mechanisms of injury, of which 70% were caused by traffic accidents. Associated injuries to other organ systems were sustained by 44% of the patients, overall there were 13% considered to have multiple trauma. 21% of the fractures were open. 21% required stable fixation, 17% were dynamized. The remaining 79% fractures were treated with dynamic nailings. A bridging callus was observed after an average of 6 weeks, and cortical bridging at 18 weeks following nailing. Complications included local infection around the proximal transversal screws in 2 and osteomyelitis in 1 case.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Acute mesenterial infarcts--results of surgical therapy].

Forty-five patients with mesenteric infarction documented by laparotomy or autopsy were reviewed. 35% of the patients had superior mesenteric artery occlusion by embolus, 27% by thrombosis, 11% had venous thrombosis, 9% nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia, and 18% were unclear. The mortality rate was 60% within half a year postoperatively. 22% had inoperable lesions, 46% underwent bowel resection, and 32% were managed by revascularization. In the group treated by bowel resection (n = 21) 30% died, in the group treated by revascularization 80% of the patients died.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Indications and results of interlocking nailing of the femur].

Since the introduction of an interlocking nail in 1972, different systems have been developed for the management of unstable femoral fractures. At the Clinic for Traumatology at the University Hospital of Zürich, the system of Grosse and Kempf was utilized until 1986, after which the AO universal nail system has been and still is used. Between 1981 and 1987, 63 femoral fractures in 62 patients have been treated with interlocking nails. The fractures were produced by a variety of mechanisms of injury, of which 75% were caused by traffic accidents. Associated injuries to other organ systems were sustained by 73% of the patients, overall there were 33% considered to have multiple trauma. 25% of the fractures were open. 44% (n = 28) required stable fixation, 15 were dynamized. The remaining 35 fractures were treated with dynamic nailings, 8 proximal and 27 distal. 15% were open nailings. Following dynamic stabilization full weight bearing was obtained after 56 and stable fixation after 120 days. A bridging callus was observed after an average of 8 weeks, and cortical bridging at 26 weeks following nailing. Complications included displacement of transversal screws in 3, local infections around the distal or proximal transversal screws in 3 and osteomyelitis at the fracture site in 3 cases.

Adolescent↗