157. Meniscusläsion und Meniscuschirurgie bei chronisch vorderer Kreuzbandinsuffizienz

Zusammenfassung Am Bergmannsheil Bochum mussten 32 Patienten mit einer muskulär kompensierten chronischen vorderen Kreuzbandinsuffizienz wegen eines Meniscusschadens operiert werden. Insgesamt 37 Meniscusverletzungen verteilten sich auf 20 Korbhenkelrisse, 15 Verletzungen im Bereich des Hinterhomes, je eine Vorderhorn- und eine Transversalruptur. Die 32 Patienten konnten 1–6 Jahre nach erfolgter Meniscuschirurgie nachuntersucht werden. In 12 Fällen fand sich ein gutes Ergebnis. 8 Patienten mit Meniscektomie wiesen ein befriedigendes und 12 ein schlechtes Resultat auf. Die schlechten Ergebnisse fanden sich ausschliesslich bei Läsionen des Meniscushinterhornes und hilateralen Meniscusläsionen (10).     

303. Orientierungshilfen in der diagnostischen und operativen Schulterarthroskopie

Zusammenfassung Plazierung des Arthroskopes, Einstellung der Optik, Zugänge für das Instrumentarium und Interpretation der intraarticulären Befunde sind unabdingbare Voraussetzungen für eine systematische und reproduzierbare Arthroskopie der Schulter. Ein Haltegerät ermöglicht die Positionierung der Schulter in verschiedenen Abduktions- und Anteversionsstellungen. Für die umfassende Exploration und endoskopische Operation am Schultergelenk müssen hinterer, vorderer und oberer Zugang zur Schulter beherrscht werden. Mittels Wechselstab-Technik und weiteren Hilfsinstrumenten ist die Einstellung des Arthroskopes nahezu problemlos möglich. Blutungskomplikationen können durch höheren Durchfluss, Gasinsufflation, elektrochirurgisch oder pharmakologisch beherrscht werden.     

Phacoemulsification devices: a consumer's update

This report extends a previous paper on the various characteristics of the most popular phacoemulsification devices. An evaluation of 11 devices by ten different manufacturers was attempted. Only five manufacturers of six devices agreed to critical evaluation or reevaluation. As in the previous report, the devices were compared for level of patient safety, dependability, efficiency, ease of usage, and operating cost for the first 1,000 cases. At the completion of this study, we ranked the nine devices evaluated over the past 17 months as follows: (1) United Surgical (Optikon) Systems Plus, (2) Optical Micro Systems (OMS), (3) United Surgical (Optikon) Phacotron, (4) CooperVision 10,000, (5) Site XTR, (6) CooperVision KCP, (7) CooperVision 9001, (8) Phakosystems CES 4000 and (9) United Sonics. To enhance the usefulness of this consumer's guide, we asked 40 experienced cataract surgeons what they wanted in the "ideal" phacoemulsification device. The opinions of 27 who responded are included.     

Risk factors for Epstein–Barr virus reactivation after renal transplantation: Results of a large,multi-centre study

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) reactivation is a very common and potentially lethal complication of renal transplantation. However, its risk factors and effects on transplant outcome are not well known. Here, we have analysed a large, multi-centre cohort (N = 512) in which 18.4% of the patients experienced EBV reactivation during the first post-transplant year. The patients were characterized pre-transplant and two weeks post-transplant by a multi-level biomarker panel. EBV reactivation was episodic for most patients, only 12 patients showed prolonged viraemia for over four months. Pre-transplant EBV shedding and male sex were associated with significantly increased incidence of post-transplant EBV reactivation. Importantly, we also identified a significant association of post-transplant EBV with acute rejection and with decreased haemoglobin levels. No further severe complications associated with EBV, either episodic or chronic, could be detected. Our data suggest that despite relatively frequent EBV reactivation, it had no association with serious complications during the first post-transplantation year. EBV shedding prior to transplantation could be employed as biomarkers for personalized immunosuppressive therapy. In summary, our results support the employed immunosuppressive regimes as relatively safe with regard to EBV. However, long-term studies are paramount to support these conclusions.     

Concentrating stroke care provision in the Czech Republic: The establishment of Stroke Centres in 2011 has led to improved outcomes

This article describes policy processes that have led to the re-organisation of stroke care in the Czech Republic since 2011, which has been part of a broader process of care concentration in several medical fields. Currently, stroke care is provided by 13 Comprehensive and 32 Primary Stroke Centres. The paper explains factors that supported the reform implementation, reviews implications, and discusses future challenges.Mandatory reporting of quality indicators, the introduction of a benchmarking system, integration with pre-hospital emergency care, and the introduction of countrywide patient triage have supported more timely treatment for stroke patients and better quality of care. Data from the Stroke Care Quality Indicators of the Czech Stroke Society show positive trends in many areas: the number of patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis quadrupled in eight years, with 26.4 % of all acute stroke patients receiving thrombolysis in 2018. Czech Republic now ranks third in Europe in the number of thrombolysis per population and second in the number of mechanical thrombectomies per population. The Czech experience provides an example of positive outcomes of concentrated stroke care, while highlighting the importance of proper implementation processes. In particular, it is essential to involve stakeholders and to provide reputational incentives through continuous benchmarking.     

The course of extravascular lung water in severely injured patients in intensive care with and without thoracic trauma

In patients with multiple injuries, the development of permeability edema can be assumed. However, no uniform shape of this fluid accumulation can be found even in the presence of severe injuries. Based on the first clinical observations, our aim was to search for correlations between the development of extravascular lung water (EVLW) and the individual injury pattern in severely traumatized ICU patients. PATIENTS and METHODS. Our investigations were performed in 48 artificially ventilated ICU patients. According to the prevailing injury pattern patients were divided into three groups: group A: 18 patients (mean age: 32 years, mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) = 29) with isolated thoracic trauma; group B: 10 patients (mean age: 27 years, mean ISS = 42) with severe multiple trauma but without any thoracic injury; group C: 20 patients (mean age: 33 years, mean ISS = 43) with severe multiple trauma and concomitant thoracic trauma. In all patients (group A, B, C), EVLW was determined by means of a double indicator method on a daily basis from the patient's admission to the ICU (day of trauma) until day 10. Additionally, the hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac index) were determined at the same time. RESULTS. As shown in Fig 1, EVLW was slightly elevated on day 1. However, on day 2 EVLW decreased within normal values and remained in that range until the end of the observation period. On day 3 a slight and fleeting increase of EVLW, but within normal range, can be seen. In group B (Fig.2), EVLW can be observed within normal range within a period of 4 days. Starting from day 5 until day 7 a marked increase (p greater than 0.01) in EVLW can be seen. From that maximum point EVLW development reverses slightly until day 10--however, without returning to the normal range. In group C, a marked biphasic pattern can be seen due to EVLW maximum values on post-traumatic days 3 and 7. However, in this group the EVLW was in the pathological range during the whole observation period. No statistically significant differences could be seen, when looking at hemodynamic variables. CONCLUSION. Isolated thoracic trauma will not lead to a marked pathological elevation of EVLW within the lungs. Moreover, EVLW decreases rapidly within a short time period. Based on our results, it seems that severe extrathoracic injuries will intensify microvascular injury in the initial period, as shown in our patients in group C. Increase of EVLW at a later time (day 7), as observed in groups B and C, is possibly the expression of a mediator and activator-induced "septiformal" injury of the microvascular endothelium. This may be caused by the underlying massive peripheral soft-tissue trauma. Specific elevations of EVLW subsequent to the individual injury pattern can indicate that that process has begun and is responsible for the origin of the microvascular injuries.     

Topical diclofenac sodium, dexamethasone and placebo compared in a model of immunogenic uveitis in rabbits

Unacceptable side effects involved in topical steroid usage for uveitis have prompted the search for alternative antiinflammatory drugs for the treatment of ocular inflammation. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors have been widely used for systemic inflammatory conditions over the last two decades and are therefore natural candidates to be studied for uveitis therapy. Previous studies of cyclooxygenase inhibitors in uveitis models yielded inconclusive and sometimes contradicting results. The authors compared the clinical effect of topical dexamethasone, diclofenac and placebo in an immunogenic uveitis model produced in ovalbumin immunized NZW rabbits challenged with ovalbumin in the vitreous. Nine clinical parameters of inflammation were compared employing a double blind placebo controlled protocol. Three groups of 16 eyes each, were assigned for each preparation and were followed for nine days with biomicroscopic examinations. Diclofenac was superior or equal to dexamethasone for iris hyperemia (p=0.059) and conjunctival injection (p=0.02), equal for corneal haziness and AC fibrin, yet inferior for corneal endothelial debris, iris fibrin and AC cells and flare (p<0.05). Placebo was inferior (p<0.05) to the other groups for the above mentioned parameters excluding fibrin precipitation on the iris that was greater in diclofenac treated eyes. While some clinical criteria of inflammation responded better to steroids than to diclofenac, the results of this study show that others responded better or equal to diclofenac. The authors hypothesize that although diclofenac reduces prostaglandin levels it may induce high levels of leukotrienes that maintain cellular exudation.     

Why training is the key to successful guideline implementation

The market for pharmacoeconomic analysis is rapidly expanding. Demand for experienced investigators seems to have outpaced the capacity of both the academic community and industry to train qualified practitioners. The result is that many professionals charged with producing and using cost-effectiveness and other drug-related economic evaluation studies may lack the basic skills required to carry out their duties. This, in turn, raises concerns regarding the credibility and integrity of the field as a whole. In our opinion, the adoption of self-imposed practice guidelines is a necessary first step in confronting these issues. However, the power of guidelines to promote responsible practice will be limited by the technical preparation of the analysts charged with adhering to them. A long term solution requires a collaborative commitment, on the part of both the academic community and the private sector, to targeted graduate training in pharmacoeconomic methods, and to the provision of ample opportunities for continuing professional education.