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Biomedical subjects

G Wetscher

Publications and source records attributed to G Wetscher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Skin implant metastasis after percutaneous radio-frequency therapy of liver metastasis of a colorectal carcinoma.

Percutaneous radio-frequency ablation (RFA) of liver tumors has been reported to be an effective approach. Skin implant metastases have been described after RFA of hepatocellular carcinoma. A 56-year-old man underwent resection of the transverse colon for an adenocarcinoma (pT3N2M0) following by adjuvant chemotherapy. He developed multiple liver metastases and underwent RFA. Six weeks after RFA, the patient noticed a painful skin lesion at the entrance side of the probe in the right upper abdominal quadrant. Ultrasound examination and computed tomography scan revealed an intracutaneous tumor of 2-cm diameter. The tumor was excised and revealed a metastasis of the previously described adenocarcinoma. CPT-11 monotherapy was started; however, due to tumor progression, the patient died 35 months after colonic resection and 10 months after RFA. This is the first case of an implant skin metastasis after RFA of secondary liver tumors. Although RFA is a promising option in the palliation of such tumors, such rare complications have to be considered.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2002

Austrian experiences of antireflux surgery.

BACKGROUND: Antireflux surgery (ARS) is a well established treatment for GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). The present study gives an overview of experience in Austria regarding the frequency of open and laparoscopic ARS and how Austrian departments meet the requirements for surgery. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 115 surgical departments in Austria to evaluate in how many institutions antireflux surgery (open and/or laparoscopically) was performed since 1990, and which pre- and postoperative tests were obligatory, optional, or not performed. Units were divided into specialized and nonspecialized. RESULTS: The laparoscopic approach has gained in importance by about 300% in the past 5 years in the few hospitals performing this procedure. Esophageal manometry and 24-h pH monitoring were rarely done in nonspecialized units, despite the fact that GERD is mainly a functional disorder of the esophagus and stomach. In contrast to the nonspecialized units, the specialized unit performed upper endoscopy, esophageal manometry and 24-h esophageal pH monitoring as obligatory tests. CONCLUSIONS: ARS, both open and laparoscopic, is not commonly performed in surgical departments in Austria but the frequency has significantly increased in recent years. Laparoscopic ARS is a safe procedure in hospitals performing this frequently. Laparoscopic ARS should only be performed in specialized units with significant experience in gastroesophageal diseases, where functional testing of the esophagus can be done.

Fundoplication↗
PubMed2001

Effects of adjustable gastric banding on altered gut neuropeptide levels in morbidly obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have alterations of gut neuropeptides, such as neurotensin (N) and motilin (M), which are resolved following antireflux surgery. Obesity is associated with GERD. Since the adjustable gastric band prevents gastroesophageal reflux in morbidly obese patients, this study was performed to investigate plasma levels of N and M before and after adjustable gastric banding (AGB). METHODS: 47 morbidly obese patients were operated laparoscopically using the Swedish AGB. Pre- and postoperatively basal plasma levels of N and M were investigated. Symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation and dysphagia were documented, and esophageal manometry as well as 24-hour pH-monitoring were performed pre- and postoperatively. 11 non-obese, asymptomatic, age-matched volunteers served as controls. RESULTS: After a median postoperative follow-up period of 268 days, a significant weight reduction was observed. Preoperatively, 14 patients suffered from reflux symptoms. An insufficient lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was found in 8 patients, and 2 patients had impaired esophageal body motility. Pathologic pH-testing was found in 6 patients. Postoperatively, reflux symptoms were present in 4 patients; LES findings and pH-testing were normalized in all patients. However, there was significant impairment of esophageal peristalsis. Preoperatively, levels of N were significantly decreased and levels of M increased compared with control subjects. Postoperatively, there was a significant increase of N and levels of M were normalized. Alterations in gut neuropeptides did not correlate with reflux symptoms, impaired gastroesophageal motility, age, gender or BMI. CONCLUSION: Morbid obesity alters gut neuropeptides, which are resolved by AGB. This may be caused by reduction of hypercaloric nutrition postoperatively rather than by improvement of gastroesophageal reflux.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Capnocytophaga pleural empyema following laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. A rare complication, a rare pathogen.

Empyema complicating laparoscopic fundoplication is exceedingly rare, as is Capnocytophaga infection in the immunocompetent host, with the exception of gingivitis. We report a 29-year-old healthy man who presented with Capnocytophaga empyema 10 days after uneventful elective, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease. The exact mechanism of this complication is not known, but hypotheses, including a mini-Boerrhave's syndrome, can be drawn based on knowledge of the operation, the involvement of Capnocytophaga sp., and a patient history that included severe gingivitis. Because of prompt operative evacuation of the empyema and expedient identification of Capnocytophaga in the empyema fluid, appropriate antibiotic therapy was initiated. The infection was adequately treated, and the patient recovered fully. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a complication.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The use of ultrasound to differentiate rectus sheath hematoma from other acute abdominal disorders.

BACKGROUND: Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) is a rare entity that can mimic an acute abdomen. Therefore, we designed a study to analyze the etiology, frequency, diagnosis using ultrasound, and treatment of RSH. METHODS: A total of 1,257 patients admitted for abdominal ultrasound for acute abdominal pain or unclear acute abdominal disorders were evaluated. RESULTS: In 23 (1.8%) patients, an RSH was diagnosed; three of them were not diagnosed preoperatively by ultrasound. Of 13 men and 10 women (mean age, 57 +/- 23 years), 13 developed RSH after local trauma, three after severe coughing, two after defecation, and five spontaneously. Fifteen had nonsurgical therapy, and eight underwent surgery. The use of anticoagulants was accompanied by a larger diameter of the RSH (p <.012), and surgical therapy was more frequently required in these patients. In the surgically treated group, more intraabdominal free fluid could be detected by ultrasound (p <.0005), patients required less analgesics (p <.001), and the mean hospital stay was shorter (p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: RSH is a rare condition that is usually associated with abdominal trauma and/or anticoagulation therapy. Ultrasound is a good screening technique. Nonsurgical therapy is appropriate but leads to a greater need for analgesics. Surgery should be restricted to cases with a large hematoma or free intraabdominal rupture.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1998

Dieulafoy's disease of the large and small bowel.

The Dieulafoy lesion is a rare cause of severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The lesion is usually located in the stomach, although it may occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. We describe four patients with extragastric Dieulafoy's disease, in the duodenum (one), the proximal jejunum (two), and the left hemicolon (one). Diagnosis was made by endoscopy in all four and confirmed by histology in three. The pathology of the Dieulafoy lesion is essentially the same throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopic treatment by sclerotherapy combined with electrocoagulation was successful in the duodenal and colonic Dieulafoy lesions, but not in the jejunal lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Obstructive ileus of large bowel is associated with low tissue levels of neuropeptides in prestenotic bowel segment.

The neuropeptides substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and the recently discovered peptide secretoneurin are neurotransmitters of the intrinsic nervous system of the gut and effect gut motility. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these neuropeptides are involved in the pathophysiology of large bowel ileus. Five patients underwent colonic resections for obstructive cancer of the colon. Full-thickness specimens of the resected colon were taken 10 cm proximal and 10 cm distal to the site of tumor obstruction. Substance P-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, and secretoneurin-like immunoreactivities were measured in the specimens by radioimmunoassay. In addition immunocytochemistry was performed. Tissue levels of substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and secretoneurin were lower in the prestenotic than in the poststenotic bowel segment. In accordance, immunocytochemistry revealed a denser staining of ganglion cells and fibers for all three neuropeptides in the poststenotic bowel. The decreased tissue levels of substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and secretoneurin in the prestenotic bowel segment may contribute to the final decompensation of obstructive ileus.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: medical or surgical treatment? Report of an interactive workshop.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract. With the introduction of proton pump inhibitors medical treatment of GERD has been significantly improved. However, the development of laparoscopic antireflux surgery resulted in an increasing interest of surgeons in this disease. An interactive meeting was organized in order to develop an agreement between gastoenterologists and surgeons regarding therapeutic decisions and this is the main topic of this paper.

Barrett Esophagus↗
PubMed1994

Ultrasonography in the management of blunt abdominal and thoracic trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of ultrasonography in patients with blunt abdominal or thoracic trauma in regard to the indication for immediate operation, delayed abdominal exploration, or conservative treatment. DESIGN: A retrospective study was conducted after consecutive sampling of 1151 patients in a nonrandomized control trial. SETTING: The study was conducted at the University Hospital of Innsbruck (Austria), which serves as a general community hospital and a major primary care and referral center. PATIENTS: All patients with blunt abdominal or thoracic trauma with or without polytraumatization were eligible for the study; a total of 1151 patients were observed from 1980 to 1990. According to the ultrasonographic findings, patients were divided into three groups: immediate operation, primary conservative treatment, and conservative treatment (normal ultrasonographic findings). Ultrasonography was repeated when the clinical findings or laboratory test results showed the development of intra-abdominal hemorrhage or signs of organ laceration. INTERVENTION: Ultrasonography in the emergency department or intensive care unit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Conservative or operative treatment based on ultrasonographic and clinical findings. RESULTS: Ultrasonography showed a sensitivity of 99%, a specificity of 98%, a positive predictive value of 0.97, and a negative predictive value of 0.99 in regard to the indication for surgery in cases of blunt abdominal or thoracic trauma. Ultrasonography is not reliable in patients with intestinal perforation and large retroperitoneal hematomas. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography saves time and money, can be performed in the emergency department, shows high sensitivity and specificity, and is the method of first choice in the evaluation of blunt trauma.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1994

Bone disorders following total gastrectomy.

Bone disorders following gastrectomy were studied by measuring absolute and relative bone mineral density of the Wards triangle, serum 1,25-(OH)2-D, alkaline phosphatase, and total serum calcium. The subjects were 20 males who had undergone total gastrectomy not more than three months previously (group A1). Seventeen of these patients were reviewed three years later (group A2). Absolute and relative bone density were significantly lower in group A2 than in A1 (0.52 +/- 0.011 g/cm2 versus 0.6 +/- 0.014 g/cm2, P < 0.01 and 85.5 +/- 1.4% age-matched control versus 95 +/- 1.3%, P < 0.01). 1,25-(OH)2-D was significantly lower in group A2 than in group A1 (14.3 +/- 0.97 pg/ml versus 20.6 +/- 1.02 pg/ml, P < 0.01). There was no difference in alkaline phosphatase and calcium serum concentration. The mean weight loss was 6.26 +/- 0.57% over the follow-up period, and weight loss correlated with absolute and relative bone density (r = -0.74, P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between 1,25-(OH)2-D and absolute or relative bone density (r = 0.67, r = 0.62 and P < 0.01). These data suggest that bone density decrease has already occurred three years after total gastrectomy and is positively correlated to 1,25-(OH)2-D deficiency. As no differences in serum alkaline phosphatase and serum calcium concentration were found, these factors are of little value for the early detection of postgastrectomy bone disorders, whereas weight loss is a valuable screening parameter.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Lymphangitis carcinomatosis of the lesser omentum: a prognostic factor in gastric cancer.

A series of 126 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy with systemic lymph node dissection revealed 9 patients who survived for a median time of only 3 months. Of these 9 patients, 4 were classified by the UICC system as stage II and 5 as stage III, all of whom had lymphangitis carcinomatosis of the lesser omentum. These data suggest that although lymphangitis carcinomatosis of the lesser omentum is an uncommon finding, if it is present, curative surgery is impossible and an operation should therefore be limited to tumor palliation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Altered antroduodenal motility after cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Persistent nonspecific symptoms such as epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, and bilious vomiting are common following cholecystectomy. The etiology of these symptoms is unknown, but abnormal antroduodenal motility associated with duodenogastric reflux (DGR) is a possible cause. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen postcholecystectomy patients and 19 healthy volunteers ("normals") were studied. Ten of the patients were asymptomatic and 6 were symptomatic. The study consisted of a 4-hour 99mTc-DISIDA (diisopropyl imidodiacetic acid) infusion and gastric aspiration, 24-hour intragastric pH monitoring, and 24-hour ambulatory antroduodenal manometry. RESULTS: The postcholecystectomy patients showed increased DGR of the infused 99mTc-DISIDA. The data are given as coulter counts x 10(6)/min. The increase was more marked in symptomatic postcholecystectomy patients (2.54 +/- 0.15) compared to asymptomatic patients (1.21 +/- 0.46) or normals (0.26 +/- 0.15). Postcholecystectomy patients had increased percentage of time with intragastric pH > 3. In the supine period in particular, the pH was > 3 in symptomatic patients 25.4% +/- 7.7% of the time versus 8.1% +/- 4.3% for asymptomatic patients (P < 0.01). The antral phase III frequency after cholecystectomy was 2.5 +/- 0.09 cycles/min compared to 3.2 +/- 0.08 cycles/min in normals (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, propagation of the phase III front in the duodenum was significantly slowed to 0.14 +/- 0.02 cm/s after cholecystectomy compared to 0.27 +/- 0.02 cm/s in normals (P < 0.001). The duration of phase III in the proximal duodenum after cholecystectomy was also decreased to 4.3 +/- 0.27 min compared to 5.9 +/- 0.35 min in normals (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Fasting antroduodenal motility is altered after cholecystectomy. The abnormality is associated with increased DGR, which is more marked in symptomatic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Subcutaneous abscess due to gallstones lost during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

No complications caused by gallstones lost during laparoscopic cholecystectomy have yet been described in the literature. In one animal study in rats, it has been shown that pigment calculi, but not cholesterol stones, lead to severe local inflammation of the abdominal cavity. We present a case of a chronic subcutaneous and subfascial abscess in the lower abdomen, which included multiple pigment calculi, six months after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. During the procedure, multiple small pigment calculi had been lost into the free abdominal cavity.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1994

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is an effective treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

OBJECTIVE: The open Nissen fundoplication is effective therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease. In this study, the outcomes in 198 patients treated with the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication was evaluated for up to 32 months after surgery to ascertain whether similar positive results could be obtained. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: To ensure surgical success, patients were required to have mechanically defective sphincters on manometry and increased esophageal acid exposure on 24-hour pH monitoring. The patients either had severe complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease or had failed medical therapy. These requirements have been found to be necessary to ensure a successful surgical outcome. METHODS: The disease was complicated by ulceration (46), stricture (25) and Barrett's esophagus (33). Patients underwent standard Nissen fundoplications identical in every detail to open procedures except that the procedures were carried out by the laparoscopic route. RESULTS: Perioperative complications included gastric or esophageal perforation (3), pneumothorax (2), bleeding (2), breakdown of crural repair (2) and periesophageal abscess (1). The only mortality occurred from a duodenal perforation. Six patients required conversion to the open procedure. The median hospital stay was 3 days. One hundred patients were observed for follow-up for 6 to 32 months (median 12 months), with outcomes similar to the open Nissen fundoplication. Further surgery was required for two patients who had recurrent gastroesophageal reflux and one who developed an esophageal stricture. Ninety-seven percent are satisfied with their decision to have the operation. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can be carried out safely and effectively with similar positive results to the open procedure and with all of the advantages of the minimally invasive approach.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1994

Traumatic bilhemia.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective analysis was done of three cases with severe liver trauma and excessive serum bilirubin levels caused by a traumatic biliovenous fistula. The literature is reviewed. METHODS: Diagnostic measures included laboratory findings, computed tomography, ultrasonography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). RESULTS: The biliovenous fistula was detected by ERCP in two cases. In one case a left hemihepatectomy was carried out, and the patient was cured. The other patient received drainage of a huge necrotic cavity in the center of the liver. Ten months later the patient underwent reoperation, and left hepatic resection was performed. The patient died of liver function failure on postoperative day 7. In the third case the fistula subsided spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: An excessively high serum level of direct bilirubin and only moderately elevated liver enzymes indicate bilhemia in trauma patients. ERCP is most reliable in localizing the fistula; computed tomography/ultrasonography are valuable in detecting the extension and localization of the parenchymal destruction. Conservative therapy is justified if the patient is in good condition or if the localization of the fistula is unclear. Spontaneous closure of the fistula may occur. Surgical treatment options are partial liver resection and suture of the fistula and T-tube drainage of the common bile duct and drainage of the rupture site.

Adolescent↗