Open abdomen (OA) may be required in patients with abdominal trauma, sepsis or compartment syndrome. Vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) is a widely used approach for temporary abdominal closure to close the abdominal wall. However, this method is associated with a high incidence of re-operations in short term and late sequelae such as incisional hernia. The current study aims to compare the results of surgical strategies of OA with versus without permanent mesh augmentation.
Methods
Patients with OA treatment undergoing vacuum-assisted wound closure and an intraperitoneal onlay mesh (VAC-IPOM) implantation were compared to VAWCM with direct fascial closure which represents the current standard of care. Outcomes of patients from two tertiary referral centers that performed the different strategies for abdominal closure after OA treatment were compared in univariate and multivariate regression analysis.
Results
A total of 139 patients were included in the study. Of these, 50 (36.0%) patients underwent VAC-IPOM and 89 (64.0%) patients VAWCM. VAC-IPOM was associated with reduced re-operations (adjusted incidence risk ratio 0.48 per 10-person days; CI 95% = 0.39–0.58, p < 0.001), reduced duration of stay on intensive care unit (ICU) [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.53; CI 95% = 0.36–0.79, p = 0.002] and reduced hospital stay (aHR 0.61; CI 95% = 0.040–0.94; p = 0.024). In-hospital mortality [22.5 vs 18.0%, risk difference − 4.5; confidence interval (CI) 95% = − 18.2 to 9.3; p = 0.665] and the incidence of intestinal fistula (18.0 vs 22.0%, risk difference 4.0; CI 95% = −10.0 to 18.0; p = 0.656) did not differ between the two groups. In Kaplan–Meier analysis, hernia-free survival was significantly increased after VAC-IPOM (p = 0.041).
Conclusions
In patients undergoing OA treatment, intraperitoneal mesh augmentation is associated with a significantly decreased number of re-operations, duration of hospital and ICU stay and incidence of incisional hernias when compared to VAWCM.
Open abdomen (OA) treatment with temporary abdominal closure using negative-pressure wound therapy has become a standard of care in trauma patients undergoing damage control surgery [1]. OA is also increasingly used in non-trauma patients with abdominal sepsis or abdominal compartment syndrome as a life-saving procedure, especially in the growing older population with increased comorbidities and limited physiologic reserve [2].
Temporary abdominal closure needs to ensure the integrity of the abdominal wall and to compartmentalize abdominal contents to avoid treatment-related complications (e.g., intestinal fistula, inability to close the abdominal wall). Several methods for temporary abdominal closure have been described of which vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) has been reported to be associated with the lowest fistula rate with high rates of fascial closure [3]. However, using the VAWCM technique, multiple surgical revisions are often required for definitive abdominal closure, which may lead to a prolonged ICU and total hospital duration of stay [4]. In addition, these patients exhibit a high rate of incisional hernias of up to 66% during long-term follow-up potentially because of local fascial traction [5].
Anzeige
Therefore, novel strategies to support the abdominal wall in these patients are required. Synthetic mesh implantation has been shown to effectively support the abdominal wall [6]. However, the use of such meshes in OA may have been limited due to the lack of robust data and due to reports of mesh related complications [7]. We have previously shown that the use of synthetic meshes in patients with peritonitis or fascial dehiscence is an effective approach [8, 9]. Thus, a therapeutic algorithm that includes mesh-augmented definitive abdominal closure (VAC-IPOM) in this severely ill patient’ population has been developed and introduced at the Bern University Hospital in 2005. The aim of this large two-centre study was to compare this VAC-IPOM technique with the current standard of care (VAWCM) in patients undergoing OA treatment.
Materials and methods
Study design
All consecutive patients treated for OA between January 2005 and December 2015 from two centers were analyzed. The participating centers were the Department for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland (patients with VAC-IPOM) and the Department for Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital Vienna, Austria (patients with VAWCM). Patients not using the VAC-IPOM technique at the University Hospital of Bern (n = 22) were excluded from the study. Cantonal ethics committee of Bern, Switzerland and the institutional review board of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria have approved this study.
Outcome parameters
The primary outcome parameter was hernia-free survival. Secondary outcome parameters comprised of general complications such as re-operations, duration of hospital stay, duration of stay on intensive care unit (ICU), mortality and mesh-associated complications such as intestinal fistula and surgical site infection (SSI). SSI infection was defined according to CDC criteria [10]. Intestinal fistula was defined as the persistent leakage of bowel contents within 100 days of the initial OA.
Surgical strategy
VAWCM group
OA was covered with abdominal dressings and dynamic tension on fascia was applied to avoid fascial retraction. Dynamic tension on fascia was applied either via vessel loops or temporary inlay meshes as previously described [11, 12]. The vessel loops were sutured to the anterior sheet of the rectus muscle and constant tension was applied to approximate the fascial edges. In addition, 18 (22.2%) patients received a temporary large-pore polypropylene inlay mesh. The mesh was sutured to the fascial edges with non-absorbable sutures and was removed at definitive abdominal closure. The fasciae were closed with absorbable loops.
VAC-IPOM group
The technique has been previously published [13]. Briefly, patients with OA were treated for one or two cycles with abdominal dressings to stabilize the patients’ conditions. After this initial period, intraperitoneal onlay mesh implantation was performed using dual-layered-, large pore, synthetic meshes. Meshes were placed with an overlap of at least 5 cm on all sides. The meshes were fixed in all corners with a non-absorbable polypropylene suture (Prolene®, Ethicon) and the edges were attached to the peritoneum with the same suture. The fascia was partially or completely closed with a PDS running suture (PDS®, Ethicon). A vacuum dressing (V.A.C.®, KCI) was then placed on the mesh and continuous suction was applied (25–75 mmHg suction). Wound treatment included: (1) vacuum dressings until an adequate formation of granulation tissue was achieved and (2) skin re-adaptation with non-resorbable sutures (Dermalon®, Covidien).
Statistical analysis
Data were reported as median and interquartile ranges (IQR), or numbers and percentages, as appropriate. Patients’ groups were compared using Fisher’s exact test and Mann–Whitney U test for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Time-to-event outcomes were analysed using the log-rank test. Effects are reported as risk differences or c-statistics with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The primary endpoint hernia-free survival, was analyzed with Kaplan–Meier curves and a log-rank test for statistical comparison. The effect of mesh treatment on hernia-free survival and secondary outcomes was adjusted in multivariable regression analyses. Clinically important and potential confounder variables (age, gender, BMI, emergency primary operation, malignancy, ASA score, immunosuppressive drugs) were tested in univariable models and included in the multivariable model if the p value was below 0.2. Logistic, Cox or Poisson regression were fitted for binary, time-to-event or count outcomes, respectively. Results were reported as odds ratio (OR), hazard ratio (HR) or incidence risk ratio (IRR) with 95% CI and p values. A two-sided p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistical tests were performed using SPSS Statistics (Version 17.0.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).
Anzeige
Results
Meshes used in the VAC-IPOM group include polypropylene-based mesh in 39 (78%) patients, (Parietene composite®, Medtronic, in 34 (87.2%) patients; Dynamesh®, FEG Textiltechnik mbH, in 4 (10.3%) patients; Vipro®, Ethicon, in 1 (2.5%) patient) and polyester-based meshes (Parietex composite®, Medtronic) in 11 (22%) patients. Patients’ characteristics are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Patients’ characteristics
VAWCM (n = 89)
VAC-IPOM (n = 50)
p
Age, median in years (IQR)
55 (48–67)
61 (55–72)
0.046
Male patients (%)
52 (58.4%)
30 (60.0%)
1.000
Body mass index in kg/m2 (IQR)
24.8 (21.0–29.2)
27.3 (23.1–35.0)
0.172
Known malignancy (%)
36 (41.8%)
27 (54.0%)
0.212
Type 2 diabetes (%)
15 (17.0%)
6 (12.0%)
0.471
Cardiac disease (%)
47 (52.8%)
23 (46.0%)
0.483
Pulmonary disease (%)
16 (18.0%)
20 (40.0%)
0.008
Liver disease (%)
18 (20.2%)
14 (28.0%)
0.303
Kidney disease (%)
20 (22.5%)
9 (18.0%)
0.665
Anticoagulation preoperative (%)
Phenprocoumon
1 (1.2%)
5 (10.4%)
0.024
Platelet aggregation inhibitors
5 (6.0%)
4 (8.3%)
0.723
Dual anticoagulation
11 (13.1%)
2 (4.2%)
0.132
Immunosuppressors (%)
Immunosuppressive drugs
1 (1.2%)
4 (8.2%)
0.090
Cortisone
5 (6.2%)
2 (4.1%)
Both
4 (4.9%)
–
ASA score (%)
2
35 (41.7%)
8 (16.3%)
< 0.001
3
43 (51.2%)
18 (36.7%)
4
3 (3.6%)
22 (44.9%)
5
3 (3.6%)
2 (4.1%)
Type of primary surgery (%)
Hepatobiliary surgery
4 (4.5%)
1 (2.0%)
0.011
Pancreatic surgery
6 (6.7%)
–
Upper GI surgery
14 (15.7%)
6 (12.0%)
Resection of intestine with preserved continuity
23 (25.8%)
9 (18.0%)
Resection of intestine without preserved continuity
19 (21.3%)
10 (20.0%)
Pancreatic necrosectomy
3 (3.4%)
–
Multivisceral resections
4 (4.5%)
10 (20.0%)
Vascular surgery
2 (2.2%)
4 (8.0%)
Other
14 (15.7%)
10 (20.0%)
Emergency primary procedure (%)
41 (46.1%)
26 (52.0%)
0.596
Prior laparotomies, no. (IQR)
3 (1–4)
2 (1–3)
0.030
Duration of primary operation in minutes (IQR)
195 (135–318)
240 (163–300)
0.416
Incision at primary procedure (%)
Median laparotomy
64 (75.3%)
49 (98.0%)
0.007
Transverse Laparotomy
11 (12.9%)
1 (2.0%)
Combined
9 (10.6%)
–
Laparoscopy
1 (1.2%)
–
ASA American Society of Anaesthesiology, IQR interquartile range
Short-term outcome
Detailed operative characteristics and postoperative results are shown in Table 2. There was no difference of the intestinal fistula rate and in-hospital mortality between VAWCM and VAC-IPOM. The median number of re-operations after initiation of OA was 5 (IQR 2–13) for VAWCM and 3 (IQR 2–5) for VAC-IPOM (Fig. 1). The incidence of re-operations during hospitalisation per 10-person days after initiation of OA was 1.28 for VAWCM and 0.62 for VAC-IPOM. Therefore, the adjusted incidence risk ratio for re-operation was 0.48 for VAC-IPOM [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39–0.58, p < 0.001] (Table 3). Duration of ICU stay was significantly longer for VAWCM compared to VAC-IPOM [adjusted hazard ratio 0.53 (CI 95%, 0.36–0.79), p = 0.002] (Fig. 2a). Complete fascial closure was achieved in 66 (74.2%) patients for VAWCM versus 13 (26.0%) patients for VAC-IPOM [risk difference − 48.2 (CI 95%, − 63.3 to − 33.0), p < 0.001]. Duration of hospital stay was significantly longer for VAWCM compared to VAC-IPOM [adjusted hazard ratio 0.61 (CI 95%, 0.40–0.94), p = 0.024] (Fig. 2b).
Table 2
Operative and postoperative results
VAWCM (n = 89)
VAC-IPOM (n = 50)
Effect measure (95% CI)
p
Occurrence of OA after primary surgery in days (IQR)
11 (4–16)
11 (7–17)
0.53 (0.43 to 0.63)
0.605
Leakage of gastric anastomosis (%)
5 (5.6%)
1 (2.0%)
− 3.6 (− 9.8 to 2.5)
0.419
Leakage of small intestinal anastomosis (%)
12 (13.5%)
9 (18.0%)
4.5 (− 8.3 to 17.3)
0.471
Leakage of colonic anastomosis (%)
3 (3.4%)
5 (10.0%)
6.6 (− 2.5 to 15.7)
0.136
Leakage of pancreatic anastomosis (%)
1 (1.1%)
1 (2.0%)
0.9 (− 3.6 to 5.3)
1.000
Leakage of small intestine and colon (%)
–
1 (2.0%)
2.0 (− 1.9 to 5.9)
0.360
VAC therapy (%)
87 (97.8%)
45 (90.0%)
− 7.8 (− 16.6 to 1.1)
0.098
Duration of redo-surgery in minutes (IQR)
70 (43–110)
111 (80–181)
0.72 (0.61 to 0.80)
< 0.001
Incidence of intestinal fistula until 100 days after OA (%)
16 (18.0%)
11 (22.0%)
4.0 (− 10.0 to 18.0)
0.656
Occurrence of intestinal fistula before OA (%)
7 (7.9%)
4 (8.0%)
0.1 (− 9.2 to 9.5)
1.000
Intestinal fistula during OA treatment (%)
9 (10.1%)
7 (14.0%)
3.9 (− 7.6 to 15.4)
0.582
Type of intestinal fistula (%)
Small intestine
13 (14.6%)
9 (18.0%)
3.4 (− 9.5 to 16.3)
0.633
Enteroatmospheric
3 (3.4%)
2 (4.0%)
0.6 (− 6.0 to 7.2)
1.000
In-hospital mortality (%)
20 (22.5%)
9 (18.0%)
− 4.5 (− 18.2 to 9.3)
0.665
Reason for mortality (%)
Cardiopulmonary insufficiency
2 (2.2%)
–
− 2.2 (− 5.3 to 0.8)
1.000
Sepsis/multi-organ failure
12 (13.5%)
6 (12.0%)
− 1.5 (− 13.0 to 10.0)
1.000
Underlying disease
3 (3.4%)
2 (4.0%)
0.6 (− 6.0 to 7.2)
0.633
OtherA
3a (3.4%)
1b (2.0%)
− 1.4 (− 6.7 to 4.0)
1.000
Patients requiring intensive care (%)
85 (95.5%)
47 (94.0%)
− 1.5 (−9.4 to 6.4)
0.702
Days at intensive care unit (IQR)
20 (6–36)
11 (6–16)
0.37 (0.27 to 0.46)
0.002
Termination of OA treatment after initiation in days (IQR)
28 (9–63)
3 (0–7)
0.13 (0.06 to 0.19)
< 0.001
Fascia closed (%)
66 (74.2%)
13 (26.0%)
− 48.2 (− 63.3 to − 33.0)
< 0.001
SSI at discharge (%)
16 (18.0%)
27 (54.0%)
36.0 (20.1 to 52.0)
< 0.001
Duration of hospital stay in days (IQR)
66 (33–109)
49 (34–72)
0.40 (0.3 to 0.49)
0.007
IQR interquartile range, OA open abdomen, SSI surgical site infection
AOther included: a death due to brain oedema (n = 1), pulmonary embolism (n = 1), perforation of aorta (n = 1) and bdeath due to liver failure (n = 1)
×
Table 3
Unadjusted and adjusted effect of mesh-augmentation on important outcome variables
Unadjusted
p
Adjusted
p
Odds ratio (95% CI)
Odds ratio (95% CI)
In-hospital mortality
VAC-IPOM
0.76 (0.32–1.82)
0.534
0.45 (0.13–1.61)
0.221
ASA score > 3
2.56 (1.02–6.42)
0.045
3.92 (1.08–14.23)
0.038
Emergency primary procedure
2.04 (0.88–4.71)
0.097
3.60 (1.13–11.44)
0.030
Immunosuppressive drugs
4.72 (1.54–14.46)
0.006
5.14 (1.43–18.44)
0.012
Unadjusted
p
Adjusted
p
Odds ratio (95% CI)
Odds ratio (95% CI)
Intestinal fistula at 100 days
VAC-IPOM
1.29 (0.54–3.04)
0.566
2.06 (0.78–5.42)
0.143
ASA score > 3
0.26 (0.05–1.02)
0.052
0.19 (0.04–0.97)
0.045
Emergency primary procedure
0.38 (0.15–0.94)
0.035
0.47 (0.18–1.20)
0.114
Unadjusted
p
Adjusted
p
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Hernia-free survival
VAC-IPOM
0.30 (0.09–1.02)
0.055
0.36 (0.10–1.27)
0.114
Immunosuppressive drugs
3.02 (0.87–10.5)
0.083
2.74 (0.78–9.64)
0.116
Age
0.97 (0.94–1.00)
0.078
0.97 (0.94–1.01)
0.126
Unadjusted
p
Adjusted
p
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Duration of stay on Intensive care unit
VAC-IPOM
0.52 (0.36–0.77)
< 0.001
0.53 (0.36–0.79)
0.002
Emergency primary procedure
1.26 (0.89–1.78)
0.193
1.29 (0.88–1.89)
0.198
Immunosuppressive drugs
1.67 (0.97–2.90)
0.066
1.38 (0.79–2.43)
0.257
Age
1.01 (1.00–1.03)
0.034
1.01 (1.00–1.03)
0.109
Malignancy
0.67 (0.47–0.95)
0.026
0.77 (0.53–1.13)
0.189
Unadjusted
p
Adjusted
p
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Duration of hospital stay
VAC-IPOM
0.57 (0.38–0.87)
0.008
0.61 (0.40–0.94)
0.024
Age
1.02 (1.00–1.03)
0.029
1.01 (1.00–1.03)
0.115
Malignancy
0.74 (0.49–1.01)
0.138
0.86 (0.58–1.30)
0.484
Unadjusted
p
Adjusted
p
Incidence risk ratio (95% CI)
Incidence risk ratio (95% CI)
Re-operations during OA treatment
VAC-IPOM
0.49 (0.41–0.58)
< 0.001
0.48 (0.39–0.58)
< 0.001
ASA Score > 3
0.70 (0.57–0.85)
< 0.001
1.04 (0.82–1.32)
0.755
Emergency primary procedure
0.89 (0.78–1.02)
0.090
0.89 (0.76–1.04)
0.134
Age
0.99 (0.99–0.99)
< 0.001
1.00 (0.99–1.00)
0.345
Malignancy
0.69 (0.60–0.79)
< 0.001
0.75 (0.64–0.89)
< 0.001
BMI
1.00 (1.00–1.01)
0.117
1.01 (1.00–1.01)
0.016
Male gender
0.81 (0.71–0.92)
0.001
0.90 (0.78–1.04)
0.151
Odds ratios, hazard ratios and incidence risk ratios are shown VAC-IPOM versus VAWCM. Variables with a p value below 0.2 on univariable analysis are displayed
Bold values are considered significant (p < 0.05)
95% CI 95% confidence interval; ASA American Society of Anaesthesiology
×
Long-term outcome
Median follow-up was 681 days (311–1091) for VAWCM and 426 (178–1058) for VAC-IPOM (p = 0.201). SSI at last follow-up was found in 3 patients for VAWCM [after a median of 648 days (151–1207)] and 12 patients for VAC-IPOM [after a median of 269 days (55–454), p = 0.001]. Hernia-free survival showed a significant curve separation when comparing VAC-IPOM with VAWCM (p = 0.041) (Fig. 3).
Anzeige
×
Mesh-related complications
SSI at last follow-up did not differ when comparing polypropylene-based meshes with polyester-based meshes [n = 9 (28.1%) vs n = 3 (33.3%), p = 1.000]. A higher but not significant incidence of SSI was found when fascial closure was not achieved [n = 11 (34.4%)] compared to fascial closure [n = 1 (12.5%), p = 0.240]. Partial mesh explantation due to persistent SSI was necessary in 4 (9.8%) patients. There was no difference in partial mesh explantation when comparing polypropylene-based meshes with polyester-based meshes (n = 3 polypropylene versus n = 1 polyester mesh, p = 1.000). We did not find a difference in incidence of intestinal fistula until 100 days after OA (n = 10 polypropylene versus n = 1 polyester mesh, p = 0.416).
Discussion
The current study shows that VAC-IPOM in patients with OA treatment decrease re-operations, duration of hospital and ICU stay, and the incidence of incisional hernia, when compared with VAWCM, which represents the current standard of care.
OA treatment with temporary abdominal closure should address three main clinical problems: (1) survival of the patient; (2) prevention of short-term complications of the abdominal wall; (3) reduction of long-term complications.
Anzeige
To improve survival and to prevent multi-organ injury in OA, the initial management of abdominal sepsis includes removal of inflammatory ascites [14, 15]. This is mainly achieved by vacuum therapy, which is offered by both, VAC-IPOM and VAWCM and thereby potentially explains the comparable in-hospital mortality.
To reduce short-term complications, the integrity of the abdominal wall should be restored as soon as hemodynamic stabilization and removal of septic foci have been achieved. Repetitive abdominal dressings in this setting as required by VAWCM are potentially unnecessary or even harmful leading to a marked increase in duration of stay on ICU.
The fascial closure rate of the current series with VAWCM was similar to a previously published meta-analysis, i.e., 73.1% [3]. However, the fasciae of 25.8% of patients using the VAWCM technique were not closed and a planned ventral hernia was the consequence, which could be prevented by the VAC-IPOM technique. In the VAC-IPOM group, fascial closure was not required in the majority of patients because this technique was sufficient to stabilize the abdominal wall and prevented excessive fascial traction. Therefore, high tension to achieve fascial closure can be avoided.
Intestinal fistula is a putative complication in patients with OA and might potentially further complicate the clinical course [16]. The current series supports a growing body of literature showing that the incidence of enterocutaneous fistula in the contaminated abdomen is not different when compared to a cohort without synthetic, intraperitoneal mesh implantation [8, 9, 17‐19]. Visceral protection with dual-layered meshes seems to be a key element in prevention of mesh-related intestinal fistula in these patients [20]. Because of this additional barrier function, the VAC-IPOM technique also allows bedside subcutaneous VAC treatment, avoiding unnecessary re-operations.
Anzeige
The frequency of SSI in this population is high and may be complicated by chronic mesh infection [21]. Even though mesh removal is a putative complication for chronic SSI (especially in patients with peritonitis), mesh explantation is rarely necessary [22].
At long-term follow-up, incisional hernia is the most important complication in patients after OA [23, 24]. Even in a series of patients with a very high fascial closure rate of 88%, the rate of incisional hernias remained high with an incidence of at least 28.6% [25]. These high incidences of incisional hernia and the fact that the collagen structure is comprised in these patients (Fig. SDC 2) indicates the importance of a reinforcement of the abdominal wall. Biologic meshes are an option for the treatment of abdominal wall defects in contaminated fields [26]. However, a recent meta-analysis revealed that biologic meshes were associated with more surgical site complications and hernia recurrence compared to synthetic meshes [27]. Therefore, usage of biologic meshes for such situations should be critically reevaluated [28].
Limitations of this study include its retrospective design and the fact that two different centres were compared with differences in health care. The fact that both hospitals treat a similar number of patients using a comparable surgical spectrum, confounding biases should be reduced. Essentially, prior to data collection, outcome parameters were pre-defined to overcome different definitions. Additionally, the most relevant outcome parameters (Mortality, intestinal fistula, fascial closure, hernia) did not differ compared to other published series [3]. Of note, the current series almost exclusively consists of non-trauma patients.
Conclusion
In the current study, VAC-IPOM in patients with OA decreased re-operations, duration of hospital and ICU stay, and the incidence of incisional hernia compared to VAWCM. Based on these results, abdominal closure using synthetic mesh-augmentation represents a therapeutic option in patients undergoing OA treatment.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of interest
MOJ, CHS, TH, JZ, TP, DC, PS and BG declare no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
Cantonal ethics committee of Bern, Switzerland and the institutional review board of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria have approved this study.
Human and animal rights
The study including participant has been performed in accordance with the ethical standard of the Declaration of Helsinki and ist later amendments.
Informed consent
For this retrospective review, informed consent was not required from both ethical review boards.
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
Mit der Zeitschrift Die Chirurgie erhalten Sie zusätzlich Online-Zugriff auf weitere 43 chirurgische Fachzeitschriften, CME-Fortbildungen, Webinare, Vorbereitungskursen zur Facharztprüfung und die digitale Enzyklopädie e.Medpedia.
Bis 30. April 2024 bestellen und im ersten Jahr nur 199 € zahlen!
Nach der Katheterablation von Vorhofflimmern kommt es bei etwa einem Drittel der Patienten zu Rezidiven, meist binnen eines Jahres. Wie sich spätere Rückfälle auf die Erfolgschancen einer erneuten Ablation auswirken, haben Schweizer Kardiologen erforscht.
Schmerzen im Unterbauch, aber sonst nicht viel, was auf eine Appendizitis hindeutete: Ein junger Mann hatte Glück, dass trotzdem eine Laparoskopie mit Appendektomie durchgeführt und der Wurmfortsatz histologisch untersucht wurde.
Derzeit wird empfohlen, eine Therapie mit GLP-1-Rezeptoragonisten präoperativ zu unterbrechen. Eine neue Studie nährt jedoch Zweifel an der Notwendigkeit der Maßnahme.
Die Ureterstriktur ist eine relativ seltene Komplikation, trotzdem bedarf sie einer differenzierten Versorgung. In komplexen Fällen wird dies durch die roboterassistierte OP-Technik gewährleistet. Erste Resultate ermutigen.
Update Chirurgie
Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletterund bleiben Sie gut informiert.
Das Karpaltunnelsyndrom ist die häufigste Kompressionsneuropathie peripherer Nerven. Obwohl die Anamnese mit dem nächtlichen Einschlafen der Hand (Brachialgia parästhetica nocturna) sehr typisch ist, ist eine klinisch-neurologische Untersuchung und Elektroneurografie in manchen Fällen auch eine Neurosonografie erforderlich. Im Anfangsstadium sind konservative Maßnahmen (Handgelenksschiene, Ergotherapie) empfehlenswert. Bei nicht Ansprechen der konservativen Therapie oder Auftreten von neurologischen Ausfällen ist eine Dekompression des N. medianus am Karpaltunnel indiziert.
Das Webinar beschäftigt sich mit Fragen und Antworten zu Diagnostik und Klassifikation sowie Möglichkeiten des Ausschlusses von Zusatzverletzungen. Die Referenten erläutern, welche Frakturen konservativ behandelt werden können und wie. Das Webinar beantwortet die Frage nach aktuellen operativen Therapiekonzepten: Welcher Zugang, welches Osteosynthesematerial? Auf was muss bei der Nachbehandlung der distalen Radiusfraktur geachtet werden?
Inhalte des Webinars zur S1-Leitlinie „Empfehlungen zur Therapie der akuten Appendizitis bei Erwachsenen“ sind die Darstellung des Projektes und des Erstellungswegs zur S1-Leitlinie, die Erläuterung der klinischen Relevanz der Klassifikation EAES 2015, die wissenschaftliche Begründung der wichtigsten Empfehlungen und die Darstellung stadiengerechter Therapieoptionen.