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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Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumours. Despite enormous progress in multimodal therapeutic options, surgical resection remains the only chance for curative treatment. Several surgical procedures have been developed with the intention to improve the outcome of this disease. ⋯ In case of tumour infiltration of the portal or the superior mesenteric vein, survival seems to be improved by resection of the affected vessel. Resection of the portal vein can be done safely without affecting morbidity or mortality. In the presence of tumour infiltrating the hepatic artery or other arterial vessels, there is still a need for controlled clinical trials to confirm any survival benefit from arterial resection.