A mycotic aneurysm of the ascending aorta and aortic arch induced by Salmonella Enteritidis.

In very rare cases, salmonella infection may be associated with extra-intestinal manifestations. Of these, a mycotic aneurysm represents a life-threatening complication that is characterised by a high mortality rate. Prompt treatment with a combination of antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention is urgently required. We report on the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with salmonella bacteraemia and the rare complication of an infected aneurysm of the ascending aorta and aortic arch.

[Electron-beam computed tomography in heart surgery]. / Elektronenstrahl-Computertomographie in der Herzchirurgie.

PURPOSE: Electron beam CT (EBCT) has been devised to improve the imaging of the heart and the great vessels. Therefore, this method is expected to facilitate the imaging workup of patients referred for cardiothoracic surgery. We set out to review the most important surgical issues that can be addressed with this method. METHODS: From June, 1997 until July, 1998, more than 300 patients were referred from cardiothoracic surgery. In a retrospective analysis, diagnostic results were reviewed and compared with surgical findings and the clinical course. RESULTS: Aortocoronary bypass graft occlusions were detected with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95%. Calcifications of the aorta, pericardium and intracardiac tumors were surgically confirmed in all instances. There was a significant association of the degree of coronary artery calcification and the progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in 50 heart transplant recipients. In EBCT of the aorta, a high degree of diagnostic confidence was found for aortic dissection, aortic wall hematoma or aortic perforation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that EBCT represents an important diagnostic tool both for surgical planning and postoperative surveillance in cardiothoracic surgery.

[2-Cuff technic for experimental liver transplantation in pigs]. / 2-Cufftechnik für die experimentelle Lebertransplantation am Schwein.

A transplantation model for the experimental liver transplantation is introduced that forms the damage of the liver during the transplantation constantly and therewith reproducibly. The cuff technique was adapted for liver transplantation in pig. The infrahepatic vena cava and the portal vein were anastomosed by cuff technique, the suprahepatic vena cava by continuous suture technique. The demonstrated experiments include 34 cuff transplantations. The complication rate amounted to 14.7%. This technique is proved in our animal experimental practice.

[Effect of serum factors on antibiograms]. / Untersuchung des Einflusses von Serumfaktoren auf das Antibiogramm.

The influence of serum factors on the antibiogram was investigated in 21 patients. The plate culture and the culture in tubes were used in combination. A different interaction of the 4 examined antimicrobiotics (gentamycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and nitrofurantoin) with the serum factors was shown which were modified by the duration of the infection (pyelonephritis).