["Atypical" anemia in a geriatric patient]. / "Unklare" Anämie bei einer hochbetagten Patientin.

A gastroenterologic examination was performed on an 83-year-old woman due to unexplained anemia; however, no bleeding site could be identified. Because of the advanced age of the patient, no further diagnostic efforts were made and iron-deficiency anemia was suspected. After 3 weeks, an emergency laparotomy was performed for acute diffuse peritonitis, which was diagnosed as perforation of the jejunum by a wooden foreign body. After extraction of the foreign body and closure of the perforation in the small intestine, healing proceeded without complications.

Ruptured pulmonary artery aneurysm mimicking pulmonary embolism.

Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery are very rare pathological vascular conditions. Peripheral pulmonary aneurysms have been reported only in a few cases. The causes of these aneurysms include extensive degenerative changes, traumas, infection and congenital malformations. Because of the imminent danger of rupture, surgical treatment should always be preferred. The following case report demonstrates one of a multitude of possible misdiagnoses for rupture of a pulmonary aneurysm.

[Vacuum assisted closure in the treatment of pleural empyema -- first experiences with intra-thoracal application]. / Vakuumtherapie beim Pleuraempyem -- Erste Erfahrungen mit der Anwendung im Pleuraspalt.

Meanwhile vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.) therapy belongs to the standard procedures in cardiovascular surgery. Its intra-thoracal application is mentioned in one unique case-report in literature. We like to show our first experiences with this technique demonstrating three cases with pleural infection. One patient with bronchial stump insufficiency, one with pleural empyema and one with penetrating abscess of the chest was treated with V.A.C.-therapy. We applied a combination of microporous silicon fleece and polyurethane foam in direct neighbourhood to ventilated lung areas inside the thoracic cavity. One patient died of metastasis of his cancer disease, while wound situation and bronchial stump insufficiency could be treated well. Two patients could be treated successfully and be discharged out of the hospital. No complications due to V.A.C.-therapy could be seen, such as fistulas of the lung or bleeding of the mediastinal organs. Intra-thoracal V.A-C.-therapy can be performed as a good therapeutic option in the treatment of septic diseases inside the chest.

Morphology of enkephalin-immunoreactive myenteric neurons in the human gut.

The aim of this study was the morphological and further chemical characterisation of neurons immunoreactive for leu-enkephalin (leuENK). Ten wholemounts of small and large intestinal segments from nine patients were immunohistochemically triple-stained for leuENK/neurofilament 200 (NF)/substance P (SP). Based on their simultaneous NF-reactivity and 3D reconstruction of single NF-reactive cells, 97.5% of leuENK-positive neurons displayed the appearance of stubby neurons: small somata; short, stubby dendrites and one axon. Of these leuENK-reactive stubby neurons, 91.3% did not display co-reactivity for SP whereas 8.7% were SP-co-reactive. As to their axonal projection pattern, 50.4% of the recorded leuENK stubby neurons had axons running orally whereas in 29.4% they ran anally; the directions of the remaining 20.2% could not be determined. No axons were seen to enter into secondary strands of the myenteric plexus. Somal area measurements revealed clearly smaller somata of leuENK-reactive stubby neurons (between 259+/-47 microm(2) and 487+/-113 microm(2)) than those of putative sensory type II neurons (between 700+/-217 microm(2) and 1,164+/-396 microm(2)). The ratio dendritic field area per somal area of leuENK-reactive stubby neurons was between 2.0 and 2.8 reflecting their short dendrites. Additionally, we estimated the proportion of leuENK-positive neurons in comparison to the putative whole myenteric neuron population in four leuENK/anti-Hu doublestained wholemounts. This proportion ranged between 5.9% and 8.3%. We suggest leuENK-reactive stubby neurons to be muscle motor neurons and/or ascending interneurons. Furthermore, we explain why we do not use the term "Dogiel type I neurons" for this population.

[V.a.C.-therapy in abdominal surgery - experiences, limits and indications]. / Vakuumtherapie in der Bauchchirurgie - Uber Grenzerfahrungen und Indikationsstellung.

UNLABELLED: Compared to other surgical disciplines the significance of V.A.C.-therapy is rarely noticed in abdominal surgery. This may be due to uncertainty in defining clear indications or lack of technical know-how. METHODS: We report on five selected septic cases in abdominal surgery without clearly defined indications for V.A.C.-therapy (ischiorectal abscess, perforation in Crohn's disease, pelvic abscess due to perforation caused by rectal carcinoma, abdominal compartment syndrome, anastomotic leak after rectal resection). RESULTS: Regarding the individual aspects of indication, V.A.C.-therapy could be used successfully in the demonstrated cases. Under the palliative aspect, V.A.C.-therapy on a malignant wound bed allowed an early treatment with chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: According to the literature dealing with V.A.C.-therapy, enterocutaneous fistulas, exposed viscera, enteral surfaces as well as malignancy in the wound bed are considered to be contraindications for the method. Reffering to our observations, these diagnoses should not be strictly regarded as contraindications. Elaboration of clear guidelines that point out clearly defined indications for V.A.C.-therapy should be the goal for the future.

[Prognostic risk factors in children and adolescents with craniocerebral injuries with multiple trauma]. / Prognostische Risikofaktoren bei schädelhirnverletzten polytraumatisierten Kindern und Jugendlichen.

220 of 268 polytraumatized patients (82.1%) presented an additional head injury, which increased the mortality significantly. By the Hannover Polytrauma Score we could demonstrate that the severity of the polytrauma and the prognosis depended on the extent of the brain injury. Important risk factors were skull fractures and shock on arrival. 66.7% of the patients with a severe brain trauma and a skull fracture died; without this fracture, only 36.8% died. 76.1% of the children with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 80 mm Hg survived, but only 31.2% with a SBF < or = 80 mm Hg did not die. For all polytraumatized children we recommend a computer tomography of the head. In spite of a negative initial CT a follow up CCT should be performed.