[Structured Implementation and Modular In-house Training as Key Success Factors in Robotically Assisted Surgery - Evaluation Using the Example of Colorectal Surgery]. / Strukturierte Implementierung und modulares inhouse Training als zentrale Erfolgsfaktoren in der robotisch assistierten Chirurgie ­ Evaluation am Beispiel der kolorektalen Chirurgie.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the applicability of structured implementation of robotic assisted surgery (RAS) and to evaluate a modular training procedure during the implementation phase in in-house mentoring. METHOD: Execution of a self-defined PDCA (PDCA: Plan-Do-Check-Act) implementation cycle accompanied by prospective data collection of patient characteristics, operation times, complications, conversion rates and postoperative length of stay of a modularly defined training operation (robotic assisted rectosigmoid resection - RARSR). RESULTS: Evaluation of 100 consecutive cases distributed among 3 trainees and an in-house mentor as internal control group. Presentation of qualitatively safe and successful implementation with a short learning curve of the training operation with balanced patient characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Structured implementation enables the safe introduction of RAS in visceral surgery. In this context, modular training operations can facilitate the adoption of RAS by users under everyday conditions. For the first time, we demonstrate this within an in-house mentoring approach.

Is TNF-alpha a prognostic factor in patients with sepsis?

OBJECTIVE: To determine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in a prospective study in 58 hospitalized patients in a department of internal medicine (63 episodes, 29 in immunocompromised patients) during a 7-month period. METHODS: Patients fulfilling the following criteria were included: clinical evidence of acute infection, temperature >38.2 degrees C, tachycardia >90 beats/min, tachypnea >20 breaths/min. Samples were taken from day 1 up to day 13 after an infection was diagnosed, and TNF-alpha was determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: In 29 episodes (46.0%) the infection was microbiologically documented. The median of the TNF-alpha levels in the Gram-negative episodes was significantly higher than that in the Gram-positive episodes (p=0.002). Thirteen of 63 episodes (20.6%) had a fatal outcome. With respect to all measured values, the non-survivors had a significantly higher median of TNF-alpha levels than the survivors (p=0.0001). There was, however, great interpatient and intrapatient variability in TNF-alpha levels; thus, no unequivocal correlation between TNF-alpha and outcome could be documented. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the influence of the infecting organism on TNF-alpha kinetics is less pronounced than that of the underlying disease.