Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Sauerbruch

Publications and source records attributed to T Sauerbruch.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

The Munich Gallbladder Lithotripsy Study. Results of the first 5 years with 711 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term results of three types of shock wave treatment in patients with radiolucent gallbladder stones. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Single-center trial. PATIENTS: Of 5824 patients with gallstones, 19% were eligible; 711 patients were treated. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy as well as adjuvant therapy with bile acids. RESULTS: Lithotripsy was done in three ways, using a water-tank lithotriptor (group A), a water-cushion lithotriptor at low energy levels (group B), and a water-cushion lithotriptor at high energy levels (group C). The rate of complete fragment clearance 9 to 12 months after lithotripsy was done differed significantly among the three groups: Among patients with single stones of 20 mm or less in diameter, the rate of fragment clearance for group A was 76%; for group B, it was 60%; and for group C, it was 83% (P = 0.03). Among patients with single stones of 21 to 30 mm, the rate of fragment clearance for group A was 63%; for group B, it was 32%; and for group C, it was 58% (P less than 0.005). Among patients with two or three stones, the rate of fragment clearance for group A was 38%; for group B, it was 16%; and for group C, it was 46% (P = 0.01). Patients with fragments of 3 mm or less 24 hours after lithotripsy was done showed a higher probability of fragment disappearance than did those with larger fragments (P less than 0.001). The clearance rate was higher in patients who were compliant than in those who were noncompliant with bile acid therapy (P less than 0.001). Adverse effects included liver hematoma in 1 patients, biliary pain attacks in 253 patients (36%), mild biliary pancreatitis in 13 patients (2%), and cholestasis in 7 patients (1%). Elective cholecystectomy was done in 16 patients (2%), and endoscopic sphincterotomy was done in 4 patients (1%). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of complete disappearance of stones after shock wave therapy depends on the size and the number of the initial stones, the diameter of the largest fragment, and the mode of shock wave treatment. Adjuvant therapy with bile acids appears to be important for complete fragment clearance.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Combined treatment of symptomatic gallbladder stones by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and instillation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).

Twenty-four patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones (12 radiolucent and 12 calcified) were treated by a combined approach of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and subsequent instillation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). The patients received a mean of 1500 +/- 185 shock-wave discharges. The mean instillation time of MTBE was 13 +/- 4.2 hr. Treatment was tolerated without major adverse effects. Within a time period of three to five days eight of 12 patients with pure radiolucent stones and four of 12 with calcified stones became stone-free. After a median follow-up of five months (range: one week to 26 months), a total of 11 patients (92%) with radiolucent stones and of eight patients (66%) of those with calcified stones were free of stones, fragments, or debris. These clearance rates appear high when compared with reports on monotherapy with ESWL or MTBE, suggesting a positive effect of a combined approach in selected patients. Two patients exhibited recurrent stones after six and seven months, respectively.

Cholelithiasis↗

Reduction of transmural oesophageal variceal pressure by metoclopramide.

In nineteen patients with portal hypertension and oesophageal varices, transmural variceal blood pressure was determined endoscopically by direct puncture of the varices before and after intravenous administration of 20 mg metoclopramide or placebo. No change in pressure was observed after placebo (mean difference -1.3 +/- 24.5%, N.S.), however, metoclopramide reduced the pressure by 17.6 +/- 18.6% (p = 0.02). Our results suggest that metoclopramide may be beneficial for the prevention or treatment of variceal haemorrhage.

Aged↗

Variceal injection sclerotherapy.

With the development and widespread use of flexible endoscopes, injection sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices has advanced beyond the early stages. Although slightly different techniques and different sclerosants are used, the results are not strikingly different. The cumulative rate of adverse effects is in the range of 20 to 40%, with a procedure-related mortality of around 1 to 2%. Sclerotherapy is the best available treatment for haemostasis of acute oesophageal variceal bleeding. However, as a long-term therapy it is less effective in the prevention of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding events, since obliteration of all varices often takes several months. Furthermore, extra-oesophageal bleeding is not amenable to sclerotherapy. Thus, if repeated injections fail to prevent recurrent bleeding, other options such as shunt surgery, transection, chronic medical portal decompression with beta-blockers or even liver transplantation should be considered according to the needs of the individual patient. Prophylaxis of first variceal haemorrhage was beneficial in selected patients with a high bleeding risk. It cannot, however, be generally recommended at present.

Duodenoscopy↗

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of gall stones: an in vitro comparison between an electrohydraulic and a piezoceramic device.

A comparative study of the effectiveness of two types of lithotripter in fragmenting gall bladder stones is reported. The machines used were a Piezolith 2300, which generates shock waves by the piezoceramic principle, and a Dornier MPL 9000, which produces the shock waves by underwater spark discharge. With each machine, corresponding stones of 45 pairs of weight and volume matched calculi (median volume 0.5 cm3, median diameter 10.5 mm) obtained at cholecystectomy were treated. All stones were successfully disintegrated (fragments smaller than 2 mm) with up to 5400 (median 628) shocks with the Piezolith and 3450 (median 428) shocks with the MPL 9000 lithotripters. With the Piezolith, operating at the highest power setting, a 1.65 fold median higher number of shocks was required for stone fragmentation than with the MPL 9000 at a medium power setting. Stone volume seemed to be the only determinant which affected ease of fragmentation; composition and density of the stones as assessed by computed tomography did not seem to be governing factors.

Cholelithiasis↗

Conservative treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in portal hypertension.

The main aim of conservative treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in portal hypertension is aim to treat and prevent esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Controlled trials show that the hemostasis rate following vaso-active therapy (vasopressin and analogues, somatostatin) is only slightly superior to the spontaneous hemostasis rate. Complications caused by vasopressin treatment can be avoided by concomitant application of nitroglycerin or by alternative treatment with somatostatin. Balloon tamponade is slightly superior to vasopressin for arresting variceal hemorrhage. Injection sclerotherapy influences acute bleeding most positively. Analysis of controlled trials favors sclerotherapy for prophylaxis of rebleeding, but beta-adrenoceptor blockers appear to be almost equally good.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid for dissolution of gallstone fragments: comparison with the combination of ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid.

A prospective, double-blind, randomized, single-center study was conducted to compare ursodeoxycholic acid alone with the combination of ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid for dissolution therapy of gallstone fragments after shock wave lithotripsy. Patients with single radiolucent gallstones up to 30 mm in diameter or up to three stones of similar total volume received either 750 mg ursodeoxycholic acid alone (group A, n = 138) or the combination of 500 mg ursodeoxycholic acid and 500 mg chenodeoxycholic acid (group B, n = 144) in a single bedtime dose. The bile acids were administered from 2 wk before electrohydraulic lithotripsy until 3 mo beyond complete disappearance of all fragments. Patient's characteristics, stones (group A, 82% single stones, maximum diameter 19 +/- 5 mm, mean +/- S.D.; group B, 82% single stones, 18 +/- 5 mm), lithotripsy treatment and follow-up period were not different between the two groups. Between the two groups, no statistically significant difference was found in the time required for complete clearance of the fragments (group A, median time = 15 mo; group B, median time = 13 mo; p = 0.7). At 12 mo after lithotripsy, the probability of complete clearance was 46% +/- 5% in group A and 49% +/- 5% in group B. Diarrhea occurred significantly more often in group B than in group A (p less than 0.001) and was the main reason for withdrawal of randomized medication. Severe adverse effects of the bile acids were not observed. It is concluded that monotherapy with ursodeoxycholic acid is as efficient as the combination of ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid for fragment dissolution after lithotripsy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdominal Pain↗

Prediction of variceal hemorrhage in cirrhosis: a prospective follow-up study.

Endoscopic, clinical, and laboratory parameters including presence of varices in the gastric fundus, red color sign, diameter and number of variceal columns, platelet count, and the Child status were assessed in 109 patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices without previous variceal bleeding. During a mean follow-up period of 21 months, the predictive values of these parameters with regard to first bleeding incidence and mortality rate were studied. The incidence of bleeding was 29%, and the mortality rate 46%. Endoscopic criteria (presence of varices in the gastric fundus, presence of the red color sign, and size of the largest varix) as well as alcoholic etiology of cirrhosis showed a significant positive correlation with the bleeding incidence but not with mortality. Contrary to this, two factors of the Child classification (encephalopathy and ascites) and age positively correlated with mortality but not with the bleeding incidence.

Adult↗

Early gallstone recurrence rate after successful shock-wave therapy.

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy combined with adjuvant bile-acid dissolution therapy results in complete clearance of stone fragments in a high percentage of selected patients with radiolucent gallbladder calculi. With the gallbladder in situ, these patients are at risk of stone recurrence. Therefore, the early rate of stone recurrence after successful lithotripsy was evaluated. Fifty-eight of the first 60 consecutive patients who became stone free underwent follow-up examinations at least 1 yr (range, 12-37 mo; mean +/- SD, 18 +/- 6) after discontinuation of adjuvant bile-acid therapy. Five patients reported recurrent biliary pain within 1 yr after lithotripsy, and recurrent gallstones were detected. Fifty-three patients were asymptomatic during the first yr, and no recurrence was detected. Thus, the rate of gallstone recurrence was 9% within 1 yr. The rate of gallstone recurrence up to 3 yr was estimated by actuarial analysis. The probability of stone recurrence was 11% (+/- 4%) at 1.5 yr, and no further increase was observed up to 3 yr. Gallstone recurrence within 1 yr after successful shock-wave therapy has to be expected in approximately the same percentage of patients as has been reported in earlier postdissolution trials. It causes recurrent biliary pain in most cases.

Adult↗

Antibiotic prophylaxis of infectious complications with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. A randomized controlled study.

Biliary sepsis represents a major percentage of fatal complications after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We performed a randomized controlled study to investigate the value of antibiotic prophylaxis, and to assess the frequency and source of infectious complications associated with ERCP. Ninety-six patients who underwent 100 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies were included in the study. Half of the patients received antibiotic prophylaxis (Cefotaxime 2 g i.v. 15 min before the procedure). Bacteremia was detected in 2% of the patients receiving antibiotic prophylaxis, as compared with 16% (p less than 0.02) in the control group. In order to determine the source of bacteremia, bile samples and irrigation fluid from the suction channel of the endo-scope were obtained for bacteriological evaluation. Several lines of evidence suggested that bacteremia associated with ERCP was essentially caused by mucosal lesions of the oropharynx. Bacteremia was asymptomatic, with the exception of two patients who subsequently developed fever, but recovered rapidly under antibiotic therapy. The frequency of cholangitis following ERCP was not significantly reduced by antibiotic prophylaxis (4% vs. 2%). Recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis are discussed.

Cefotaxime↗