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Biomedical subjects

H D Saeger

Publications and source records attributed to H D Saeger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography to detect liver metastases : a prospective trial to compare transcutaneous unenhanced and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in patients undergoing laparotomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The advent of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has called into question the efficacy of standard ultrasonographic techniques. In this study, we evaluated B-mode and color-duplex imaging and CEUS in the detection of liver metastases, using intraoperative and histological findings as a reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Before laparotomy, 108 patients suspected of having liver metastases were prospectively examined with B-mode and color-duplex imaging, followed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (2.4 ml SonoVue). Patients with unresectable tumors (n=8) were excluded from the analysis. The sonographic diagnosis in the remaining 100 patients was compared to the intraoperative and histological findings. RESULTS/FINDINGS: CEUS improved the sensitivity for detecting liver lesions from 56.3% (B-mode) to 83.8% (CEUS) (p=0.004). In particular, the contrast agent led to an improvement in ultrasonographic detection in the following cases: nodular metastases smaller than one centimeter; after adjuvant chemotherapy; for tumors near the surface of the liver; and for lesions situated around the ligamentum teres. INTERPRETATION/CONCLUSIONS: CEUS provides significant improvement in the detection of liver metastases, and should therefore, be performed routinely in the surveillance of cancer patients.

Adult↗

[A rare cause of a central bile duct stricture].

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 55 year old female patient was diagnosed because of painless jaundice and weight loss. She had undergone conventional cholecystectomy 15 years before. INVESTIGATIONS: Bilirubin level before ERCP and stent implantation was 287 micromol/l at maximum. A subtotal stenosis was found in the proximal common hepatic duct. Endosonographically, a mass of 14 mm diameter was seen. She was suspected of having a Klatskin tumour Bismuth type II. Tumour markers (CEA, CA19-9) were within normal ranges. TREATMENT AND COURSE: One month after stent implantation open surgery was performed suspecting a malignant tumour of the bile duct. A solid tumour at the hepatic bifurcation was resected completely. Reconstruction was performed by hepatico-jejunostomy was formed and the blind end of the jejunum was anastomosed to the gastric antrum to form an "access loop". Upon histological analysis no malignancy was found. However, a distinct fibrosis within the suspicious area was seen, formed around braided suture material. CONCLUSION: Preoperative distinction between benign and malignant bile duct stenosis can be difficult, even impossible. Thus, every resectable bile duct tumour should undergo surgery even and especially if a histological diagnosis cannot be reached preoperatively and the condition of the patient is adequate.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 polymorphisms in a caucasian population with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: The formation of sporadic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is explained by remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and breakdown of structural components of the vascular wall. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) is one of the principal matrix-degrading proteases and is known to play a major role in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix in arterial vessels. Increased MMP2 expression in the extracellular matrix of the walls of AAAs has been shown in several studies. To investigate the possible impact of genetic variants of the MMP2 gene in the etiology of AAA, we conducted this case-control study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed MMP2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 51 patients with AAA and 48 controls. Differences in genotype and allele frequencies of identified polymorphisms were determined after sequencing the entire coding region and three selected parts of the promoter. RESULTS: Eighteen polymorphisms were identified, 6 of which are newly described, with 3 located in the introns (c.IVS1+31C>G, c.IVS7-18G>A, c.IVS10+26C>T) and 3 located in the coding region (c.124G>A, c.1368C>T, c.1860C>T). There were no statistically significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of the entire coding region and three parts of the promoter of the MMP2 gene failed to show an association between genetic polymorphisms and AAA, suggesting that variations in the MMP2 gene do not contribute to the development of AAA.

Aged↗

[Emergent cholecystectomy after acute cholecystitis with no improvement from i.v. antibiotics].

The complete rotation of the gall bladder followed by acute inflammation is a very rare and dangerous event. Volvulus of the gall bladder almost seems to be caused by an abnormal motility of this organ. Because of the rarity of this disease, the preoperative diagnosis frequently is correct. With this report of three cases who had laparoscopic or conventional surgery within a period of 7 years at our department, the peculiarity of this disease is demonstrated.

Acute Disease↗

Prevalence and treatment of bleeding complications in chronic pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: As spontaneous major haemorrhage in patients with chronic pancreatitis is rare, limited data have been reported, and no evidence-based guidelines are currently available regarding the optimal treatment modality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report our experience with 36 patients with severe bleeding complications from a series of 541 patients presenting with chronic pancreatitis (representing a prevalence of 6.7% of admitted patients), treated in one surgical department over a period of 9.5 years, with a median follow-up of 4.1 years. RESULTS: Haemorrhage was indirectly related to chronic pancreatitis in eight patients (22.2%) with ulcer or variceal bleeding. Three patients (8.4%) demonstrated spleen infarction or rupture. The most common causes of major haemorrhage were pseudoaneurysms in 25 patients (69.4%). Nine of them were treated with primary embolization. Sixteen patients with pseudoaneurysms underwent surgery. The only mortalities (8.3%) observed were from bleeding-associated complications of pseudoaneurysms. Two patients died after surgery, and one after primary embolization. We observed a higher re-bleeding rate after surgery (25% vs 11% after embolization). The presence of haemorrhagic shock, and the amount of blood transfused, were significant determinants of hospital mortality. Patient age, pseudoaneurysm location, and treatment modality had no significant influence on mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Any haemodynamically stable patient with haemorrhage due to arterial pseudoaneurysms should undergo angiography with embolization when technically possible. If there are no other pancreas-related indications for surgery, embolization remains the definitive treatment. If embolization is not available or has failed, surgery is indicated, although perioperative morbidity will be higher.

Adult↗

ADAM9 expression in pancreatic cancer is associated with tumour type and is a prognostic factor in ductal adenocarcinoma.

Gene expression profiling revealed ADAM9 to be distinctly overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We examined the relevance of ADAM9 expression in PDAC diagnosis and prognosis. A total of 59 infiltrating PDACs, 32 specimens from patients with chronic pancreatitis, 11 endocrine tumours and 24 acinar cell carcinomas were immunohistochemically analysed for ADAM9 expression. Staining for ADAM9 was detected in 58 out of 59 (98.3%) PDACs and in two out of 24 (8.3%) acinar cell carcinomas, but not in endocrine tumours. In the non-neoplastic pancreas, whether normal or chronically inflamed, ADAM9 was expressed in centroacinar and intralobular duct cells, but not in interlobular duct cells and their hyperplastic lesions. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas showing cytoplasmic ADAM9 expression correlated with poor tumour differentiation and also with shorter overall survival than in cases showing only an apical membranous staining pattern (P=0.001). Multivariate analysis identified cytoplasmic ADAM9 expression as an independent marker of shortened survival in a set of 42 curatively (R0) resected PDAC (P<0.05, hazard ratio 2.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.21-6.71). The results show that ADAM9 expression distinguishes PDACs from other solid pancreatic tumours. In addition, cytoplasmic ADAM9 overexpression is associated with poor differentiation and shortened survival. Therefore, ADAM9 overexpression might contribute to the aggressiveness of PDACs.

ADAM Proteins↗

Infragenicular polytetrafluoroethylene bypass with tapered versus straight vascular grafts: results from a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Both straight and tapered arterial grafts are commonly used for infragenicular bypass surgery. Opinions vary considerably regarding the use of each type of graft and depend on individual experience, as no trial yet has assessed clinical outcomes comparing both groups. We conducted a prospective, multicenter, cohort study to analyze results for each graft type. From a total of 81 patients, 50 underwent infragenicular bypass surgery with straight PTFE prostheses and 31 with tapered prostheses in a prospective, multicenter trial. Six different centers for vascular surgery took part in the trial. In clinical follow-up at discharge as well as 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after revascularization, various parameters were evaluated comparing patency rates, limb salvage, and major amputation rates. Significant differences were found in limb salvage rates between the two groups. Patients receiving a straight graft fared better in this regard. Further data suggest that short-term primary patency is also improved in straight prostheses. Sixty-four percent of these remained patent after 1 year, while only 50% of tapered prostheses were still patent. No differences between the groups were found for secondary patency. The advantages of straight prostheses seem to be reduction of thrombus formation and intimal hyperplasia. Furthermore, it appears that the surgeons participating in this study prefer the use of straight prostheses. Even though the group of patients that received tapered grafts had slightly more unfavorable preoperative conditions, the data still support the superiority of straight vascular grafts. However, prospective randomized trials are necessary to evaluate the benefit of different bypass designs definitively.

Aged↗

Quality of life and long-term results after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVES: Quality of life as an endpoint of surgery and the long-term prognosis for patients who have survived surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) is not well-documented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of all patients from 1993 to 2000 who underwent resection of RAAA were reviewed. Survival data were calculated from direct contact with the patients or follow-up records. All patients who were alive at the time of our study were invited to participate in follow-up investigations. They received the internationally comparable WHO-QOL-BREF-test. RESULTS: In a period of 7 years, 80 patients underwent surgery for RAAA. The average follow-up time was 5.1 years (1-7.9 years). Our data show that 51% of our patients died within 6 months postoperatively because of the complications of the aortic rupture (in-hospital mortality 39%). Patients who survived the first 6 months after surgery died for the same reasons as the normal population. However, patients who were younger than 75 at the time of RAAA had a higher relative survival rate than a matched sample of the population. There was no significant difference in the quality of life between the study group and the general population. CONCLUSIONS: RAAA survivors had no difference in long-term survival as compared to the general population and also had very few long-term complications. The WHOQOL-BREF-test suggests that the quality of life of survivors of RAAA is similar to the general population.

Aged↗

[Therapeutic options in the treatment of pyogenic liver abscess].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pyogenic liver abscess is a rare and life-threatening disease. Our aim is to discuss the aetiology and problems of diagnosis and treatment of this disease, based on our own clinical experience. We present and compare different therapeutic options, i. e. ultrasound-guided percutaneous abscess drainage, CT-guided drainage and open surgical drainage. PATIENTS/METHODS: In a time period of 8 years, 62 patients with pyogenic liver abscesses were treated. The therapeutic procedure used most frequently was ultrasound-guided percutaneous abscess drainage in 41 patients, followed by CT-guided drainage in 13 cases. 8 patients were primarily treated with surgical drainage or liver resection, respectively. RESULTS: With an overall mortality of 9.6 % we achieved an encouraging result. The comparison of mortality between groups treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous abscess drainage (7.3 %) and CT-guided drainage (7.7 %) revealed no significant prognostic difference. The comparison of local complications and drainage failure between ultrasound-guided percutaneous abscess drainage (2.4 %) and CT-guided drainage (15.4 %), however, showed better results for the ultrasound-guided interventions (1/41 vs. 2/13 patients). Two patients undergoing open surgical drainage died due to an advanced septic shock syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that ultrasound duplex imaging with percutaneous abscess drainage is a reliable and effective approach for the treatment of pyogenic liver abscess. Based on other studies in the literature and our own results we developed a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for the treatment of liver abscesses.

Adult↗

[Early results of esophageal surgery in carcinoma].

AIMS: The aim of this study was the evaluation of early results of esophageal resection for cancer including the assessment of pre-operative risk factors and post-operative mortality (risk score developed by Barthels et al. 1998). METHODS: One hundred and eighty one patients with esophageal cancer were operated with curative intention between October 1993 and December 2002. In a prospective analysis were reviewed: patient characteristics, characteristics of the esophageal cancer, part and type of esophageal resection, radicality, complications and mortality. CONCLUSION: In total, a resection of the tumor could be achieved in 143 cases (79.0%). The overall complication rate was 52.5%, mainly cardio-pulmonary complications (25.9%) were seen. The surgical complications were determined by anastomotic leak (12.6%) and recurrent nerve injury (9.1%). Both types of complications were observed significantly more often after esophageal resection with a cervical anastomosis (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01). The hospital mortality was 8.4%. The 30 days mortality was 4.9%. Using a preoperative risk score retro- and prospectively, our data showed a lower mortality in patients with a low risk profile (2.4% and 2.3%) compared to those with a medium risk profile (7.4% and 6.4%). The only patient with a high risk profile died after resection. DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY: The results of this analysis show that resection of esophageal cancer can be accomplished with acceptable morbidity and mortality. However, it has to be taken into account that the increase of pre-operative factors leads to an increase in post-operative mortality.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[The therapy of benign pancreatic tumors].

A more distinct histopathological classification of pancreatic tumours has been developed during the last years. However, up to now the preoperative diagnostic tools are not able to predict sufficiently the kind of the tumour, particularly the differentiation between benign and malignant. This is the prior condition for limited resection procedures like the enucleation. Therefore partial pancreatic resection is the treatment of choice even for benign tumours except for small insulinomas. These tumours are easy to diagnose, have only a limited potential for malignancy and are removed by enucleation. We report on our experience will 60 benign cases (50 cystic neoplasms, 10 neuroendocrine tumours) during the last 8.5 years in our institution with the following operative procedures: 2 total pancreatectomies, 21 pancreatic head resections, 25 left pancreatectomies, 10 pancreas segmental resections amd 2 enucleations.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

[Surgical surveillance and endoscopy. The problem of secondary complication and local recurrence].

Minimal access techniques in surgery are improving. At the same time, the significance of interventional flexible endoscopy is increasing. Postoperative complications can be treated endoscopically with low rates of morbidity and mortality. Anastomotic strictures after resection of the esophagus, colon or rectum are mostly treated with success by endoscopy. Reoperations are almost never necessary in these cases today. Although the efficient detection of locoregional recurrence of gastrointestinal carcinoma is still the subject of controversial discussion, in contrast, endoscopic therapy for palliation by ablation, dilatation or stenting leads to a clear benefit for many of these patients.

Adult↗

[Results and complications of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair].

During 1993 to 2000 85 patients were treated for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The average age of the patients was 72.4 years (46-90). 71 patients showed an infrarenal rupture and the remaining 14 a suprenal rupture. 76 of 85 cases were covered ruptures. All patients were operated upon. A tube graft was required in 43 cases and 31 needed a bifurcated graft. In further two cases an extraanatomical bypass was necessary due to a mycotic aneurysm. The operation on 11 patients could not be completed and 21 patients died in hospital during the postoperative period. On the other hand, 53 patients survived the rupture of the aneurysm. The mortality rate was 37.6 %. The early non-surgical complications dominated during the postoperative period. Respiratory failure, renal failure and cardiac failure were responsible for the mortality rate. It is unforseeable which patients will survive the emergency operation. Therefore it is always appropriate to attempt the reconstruction of an acutely ruptured AAA.

Aged↗

[Therapeutic strategies in malignant soft tissue tumors. Results of the soft tissue tumor register study of the Surgical Oncology Working Group].

INTRODUCTION: This study, carried out by the Surgical Oncology Working Group (CAO) of the German Society for Surgery, was performed to analyse the strategies in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in adults. METHODS: In a period of 19 months the data on 292 patients suffering from soft tissue sarcomas, treated in 99 surgical departments in Germany, were analysed prospectively. A special questionnaire was developed including pretherapeutic biopsy, previous treatment, definitive surgical treatment, combined modality approach and histopathological results. RESULTS: Thirty-nine per cent of the tumours were treated in university hospitals, 36% in medical centres, 24% in regional hospitals. During the observation period two patients were treated on average (median) by each hospital. Limb-sparing treatment was performed in 96% of the extremity tumours. There was no significant difference in the frequency of R0 resections between the different hospitals. At the university hospitals local extended operations and additive measures were used more often. The indication for adjuvant radiotherapy differed: after compartmental resection, adjuvant radiotherapy was performed in 39% of cases (19/49); after wide-excision of high-grade tumours, in 45% of cases (20/44) no adjuvant radiotherapy was necessary. In spite of less radical treatment in tumours of the trunk, additional radiotherapy was not more frequently performed. CONCLUSION: To improve the quality in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas it seems to be of great importance to avoid inadequate initial treatment (18%), to respect the rules of oncological surgery (tumour rupture in 7% of cases), to improve the histopathological examination (no R classification in 5-12%) and to develop guidelines for multimodality treatment.

Adolescent↗

Combined molecular and clinical approach for decision making for surgery in HNPCC patients: a report on three cases in two families.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is associated with highly penetrant germline mutations in mismatch repair genes. Due to a high lifetime risk in gene carriers for synchronous and for metachronous colorectal cancer and endometrial cancer in women, prophylactic and extended surgery are considered as options for gene carriers. A 54-year-old patient with a history of metachronous rectal cancer and a family history fulfilling the Amsterdam criteria presented with carcinoma of the cecum and highly dysplastic adenomas of the splenic flexure and descending colon. As a result of these findings, medical history and molecular diagnosis, the decision was made to perform colectomy and prophylactic hysterectomy with oophorectomy; histological examination of the specimen showed three synchronous colon carcinomas. The 31-year-old son carrying the pathogenic mutation refused to be included in the HNPCC surveillance program. One year later he presented with symptoms of bowel obstruction, and a carcinoma of the descending colon was diagnosed. Intraoperatively, in addition to the colon cancer, a small bowel cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis were found. In another family fulfilling the Amsterdam criteria without known germline mutation a woman presented with synchronous cancer of the ascending colon and the lower rectum at the age of 49 years. Proctocolectomy and prophylactic hysterectomy were performed, which revealed an additional colon cancer and endometrial cancer. We discuss approaches for individual decision making for surgery in HNPCC patients. Is a subtotal colectomy indicated in the case of first colon cancer in HNPCC patients, or if the first tumor occurs in the lower rectum, should a proctocolectomy or a restorative proctocolectomy be considered? The aim of prospective clinical studies should be to assess acceptability, survival rates, mortality, and the quality of life in HNPCC patients who have undergone surveillance and standard oncological resections versus extended or prophylactic surgery.

Adult↗