[Blast injuries part 2 : Principles of medical treatment]. / Explosionstrauma Teil 2 : Medizinische Behandlungsprinzipien.

Explosions can cause severe injuries, which affect multiple organ systems and leave extensive soft tissue defects. In unstable patients, damage control surgery initially focuses exclusively on controlling bleeding and contamination with the aim of preserving life and limbs. The excision of all necrotic tissue, extensive wound irrigation with antiseptic solutions and a calculated antibiotic prophylaxis, which is subsequently adapted to the microbiological findings, are the basis for sufficient infection control. As the tissue damage caused by the pressure surge can regenerate over time as well as become secondarily necrotic (developing wounds), several revision operations are often necessary to assess the viability of tissue in the sense of serial debridement. In the case of extensive soft tissue injuries temporary vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) techniques can bridge the time to the earliest possible definitive plastic surgical wound closure; however, this must not delay the closure of the defect.

[Explosion trauma part 1 : Physical principles and pathophysiology]. / Explosionstrauma Teil 1 : Physikalische Grundlagen und Pathophysiologie.

After explosions, various injury mechanisms lead to multiple injuries that can affect the entire body. While high pressure peaks and exposure to heat, especially in the vicinity of a detonation, can cause severe injuries and organ damage, fragments also pose a considerable threat to explosion victims even over long distances. The recognition and treatment of life-threatening disorders and the assessment of the severity of the injury are just as challenging for the entire treatment team as long-term operative management, reconstruction strategies and rehabilitation of the complex injuries. Knowledge of the injury mechanics and the pathophysiology of blast injuries should help the interdisciplinary team to master this challenge.

[The Impact of Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Care for Elective Patients (C-elective Study) - Results of a Multicenter Survey]. / Die Auswirkung des Lockdowns während der COVID-19-Pandemie auf die Versorgung von elektiven Patienten (C-elective-Studie).

BACKGROUND: Due to the COVID-19-related lockdown regulations, surgical clinics had to cut down elective procedures. The impact of the cancellation and postponing surgery on patients is unclear. METHODS: All patients from six hospitals with canceled surgery during the first lockdown (03/16-04/24/2020) were asked to answer a questionnaire. RESULTS: In total, 225 patients took part. In 88 (39.1%) patients, the disease-related complaints changed, mainly towards an increase in severity (82.6%). That was especially true for hernia patients (44.4%). In 4% of the cases, there was a complication requiring surgery in the time interval between the original date of the operation and the interview. For about a third, the cancelation of scheduled surgery caused major administrative difficulties. Most of the patients (76.3%) understood the measures taken, though 40.4% of them considered that their indication was very urgent. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The overall complication rate was low, and patients agreed to the measures taken; however, especially hernia patients showed increasing symptoms and some acute incarcerations. It seems reasonable to monitor symptomatic patients closely, in order to prioritise them when surgical capacity is restricted.

Appendicitis during the COVID-19 lockdown: results of a multicenter analysis in Germany.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed medical care worldwide. General surgery has been affected in elective procedures, yet the implications for emergency surgery are unclear. The current study analyzes the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown in spring 2020 on appendicitis treatment in Germany. METHODS: Hospitals that provided emergency surgical care during the COVID-19 lockdown were invited to participate. All patients diagnosed with appendicitis during the lockdown period (10 weeks) and, as a comparison group, patients from the same period in 2019 were analyzed. Clinical and laboratory parameters, intraoperative and pathological findings, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1915 appendectomies from 41 surgical departments in Germany were included. Compared to 2019 the number of appendectomies decreased by 13.5% (1.027 to 888, p=0.003) during the first 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. The delay between the onset of symptoms and medical consultation was substantially longer in the COVID-19 risk group and for the elderly. The rate of complicated appendicitis increased (58.2 to 64.4%), while the absolute number of complicated appendicitis decreased from 597 to 569, (p=0.012). The rate of negative appendectomies decreased significantly (6.7 to 4.6%; p=0.012). Overall postoperative morbidity and mortality, however, did not change. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 lockdown had significant effects on abdominal emergency surgery in Germany. These seem to result from a stricter selection and a longer waiting time between the onset of symptoms and medical consultation for risk patients. However, the standard of emergency surgical care in Germany was maintained.

[Human patient simulators for training in emergency surgery : Needs, status quo and potential]. / Technische Trainingsmodelle für die notfallchirurgische Ausbildung : Bedarf, Status quo und Potenzial.

Surgical providers must maintain currency and competency for low-volume high-risk procedures for optimal outcomes. There are currently a number of methods available to train for these rare but vital skills, ranging from simple to complex and inexpensive to expensive. Traditionally, these skills have been taught using human cadaveric and animal models, which are limited by availability (cadavers) and social acceptability (animals). As such, there is a need to utilize advances in educational and simulation technologies to refine and develop consensus-based, validated, tissue-realistic, anatomically correct and cost-effective training tools to teach these vital skills. Partially perfused human cadavers have recently been shown to be an important adjunct to established trauma training. Human patient simulators (HPS) and the associated technology is rapidly expanding, but currently lack consistent realism to be used for competence training, when compared to traditional models and are currently cost-prohibitive. It will be important for surgical trainers and trainees to remain engaged and facilitate the development of realistic cost-effective training tools.

"Einsatzchirurgie"--experiences of German military surgeons in Afghanistan.

INTRODUCTION: In 2010, the world witnessed 32 wars and other armed conflicts. Epidemiological analyses of mechanisms and patterns of injury of soldiers sent into these conflicts can be utilised to identify the surgical expertise that is required in a combat setting providing important parameters to adjust medical infrastructure and training requirements for future Military Surgeons. EXPERIENCES: Today in 2011, the German Bundeswehr runs a combat support hospital (role 3) in Mazar-e-Sharif in Northern Afghanistan providing a multidisciplinary capability profile. Furthermore, there are two role 2 medical treatment facilities (rescue centres) in Kunduz and Feyzabad for life-saving procedures and damage control operations in order to enable rapid evacuation to a higher level of care. Epidemiological analyses of injury patterns and mechanisms have shown that 2,299 soldiers of the coalition forces have been killed in Afghanistan until January 15, 2011. Of these, 21.4% died in non-hostile action (2010). The leading causes of injury were explosive devices (up to 60%) followed by gunshot wounds. Chest or abdominal injuries (40%) and traumatic brain injuries (35%) were the main causes of death for soldiers killed in action. The analysis of all surgical procedures performed in Northern Afghanistan demonstrates that most of the patients who underwent surgery until 2009 were local civilians. Most of these operations involved osteosynthesis and soft tissue debridement. Due to the recently aggravated tactical situation within the theatre, a significant increase of mass casualty situations and combat-related injuries was noticed. DISCUSSION: The casualties in this military conflict present with injury patterns that are not seen in routine surgical practice at home. In an era of increasing surgical sub-specialisation, the deployed military surgeon needs to acquire and maintain a wide range of skills including a variety of surgical fields. In order to create this kind of military surgeon, the so-called DUO plus model for the training of military surgeons (specialisation general surgery plus a second sub-specialisation either in visceral surgery or orthopaedics/trauma surgery) has been developed in the Joint Medical Service of the German Bundeswehr. Other relevant skills, such as emergency neurotraumatology, battlefield surgery with integrated oral and craniomaxillofacial surgery, and emergency gynaecology are also integrated into this concept and will be addressed in special courses. On successful completion of this training programme, military surgeons will be officially appointed as "Einsatzchirurg" for a duration of 5 years. After this time, it will be obligatory to renew this "combat ready" status. CONCLUSION: The buildings and materials in German military medical treatment facilities provide for excellent working conditions. The training programme for military surgeons in its end-2010 version has been designed specifically with data about injury pattern and non-battle diseases as well as the political situation and professional requirements in the civilian sphere in mind.