Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen
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The prevalence of diabetes in hospitalized adults is conservatively estimated at 12-25% and rising. Poor glucose control and presence of diabetes complications (e.g. diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, atherosclerosis) are commonly regarded as risk factors for perioperative morbidity and mortality. ⋯ For patients in general surgical units, evidence for specific glycemic goals is based on epidemiologic and physiologic data rather than clinical trials. According to guidelines of the German Society of Nutrition, the approximation of normoglycemia is reasonable as long as hypoglycemia is avoided (suggested range for plasma glucose 80-145 mg/dL).
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Acute pancreatitis is potentially fatal. It can be diagnosed based on present history, clinical appearance, and typical findings from laboratory and radiologic investigations. All patients must be admitted to hospital, as the disease course cannot be predicted at initial presentation. ⋯ The roles of antibiotic therapy and nutritional support in the therapeutic regimen have been profoundly reassessed during recent years. Surgery and endoscopic interventions may be necessary and beneficial in carefully selected patients. In this review we summarize clinically relevant issues of acute pancreatitis.
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Aneurysms of popliteal veins are a rare but silent danger that may involve pulmonary embolism. This case report is of a 63-year-old woman with a venous aneurysm of the left popliteal vein who suffered pulmonary embolism twice during treatment with phenprocoumon. Three days after resection she suffered an embolism of the left popliteal vein. Follow-up at 12 months with duplex showed no signs of thrombosis.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is still the major cause of death under 45 years of age and an important one for children under 15. Its incidence is 332/100,000 inhabitants. It results from an impact with the skull with/without lesion of the brain but at least a short-term neurological disorder. ⋯ With GCS of <15 or with risk factors, TBI requires a CT scan and in-hospital surveillance. Acutely life-threatening, i.e. space-occupying, bleeding must be operated on immediately. Epidural or subdural bleeding, especially in comatose patients, is still a vital risk and thus requires immediate surgery.
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Thoracic sympathectomy is a valuable treatment option for patients with primary hyperhidrosis. However, controversies exist about the optimal technique of sympathectomy and the association between localisation of the focal hyperhidrosis and postoperative results. ⋯ Video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of the sympathetic chain from T2 to T4-5 is safe and effective and leads in almost 100% of cases to the elimination of palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. In contrast to the excellent results in patients with palmar-plantar and palmar-axillary hyperhidrosis, outcome in patients with isolated axillary hyperhidrosis was impaired by a high rate of disturbing compensatory sweating.