Automated CT Image Processing for the Diagnosis, Prediction, and Differentiation of Phenotypes in Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction After Lung Transplantation.

Background: Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) after lung transplantation is a common complication with a poor prognosis. We assessed the utility of quantitative computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis, prediction, and discrimination of CLAD phenotypes.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed routine inspiratory and expiratory CT scans from 78 patients at different time points after lung transplantation.

Postoperative Fluid Accumulation is Associated With Underestimation of AKI Severity in Lung Transplant Recipients.

Background: Post-lung transplantation (LTx) fluid accumulation can lead to dilution of serum creatinine (SCr). We hypothesized that fluid accumulation might impact the diagnosis, staging, and outcome of posttransplant acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from 131 adult LTx patients at a single German lung center between 2005 and 2018.

Non-invasive surrogate markers of pulmonary hypertension are associated with poor survival in patients with cancer.

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and cardiopulmonary comorbidities may further adversely affect cancer prognosis. We recently described lung cancer-associated pulmonary hypertension (PH) as a new form of PH and comorbidity of lung cancer. While patients with lung cancer with PH had significantly reduced overall survival compared with patients without PH, the prevalence and impact of PH in other cancers remain unclear.

New Perianal Sepsis Risk Score Predicts Outcome of Elderly Patients with Perianal Abscesses.

Antibiotic therapy following surgical perianal abscess drainage is debated, but may be necessary for high-risk patients. Frailty has been shown to increase the risk of unfavorable outcomes in elderly surgical patients. This study aims to identify high-risk patients by retrospectively analyzing a single-center cohort and using a pretherapeutic score to predict the need for postoperative antibiotics and extended nursing care following perianal abscess drainage surgery.

Pediatric trauma and emergency surgery: an international cross-sectional survey among WSES members.

Background: In contrast to adults, the situation for pediatric trauma care from an international point of view and the global management of severely injured children remain rather unclear. The current study investigates structural management of pediatric trauma in centers of different trauma levels as well as experiences with pediatric trauma management around the world.

Methods: A web-survey had been distributed to the global mailing list of the World Society of Emergency Surgery from 10/2021-03/2022, investigating characteristics of respondents and affiliated hospitals, case-load of pediatric trauma patients, capacities and infrastructure for critical care in children, trauma team composition, clinical work-up and individual experiences with pediatric trauma management in response to patients´ age.

Drug resistant bacteria in perianal abscesses are frequent and relevant.

Perianal abscesses are frequent diseases in general surgery. Principles of standard patient care are surgical drainage with exploration and concomitant treatment of fistula. Antiinfective therapy is frequently applied in cases of severe local disease and perianal sepsis.

Establishing robotic bariatric surgery at an academic tertiary hospital: a learning curve analysis for totally robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

The use of robotic systems in bariatric surgery has constantly increased over the last years. However, beside its technical advantages in morbidly obese patients the conclusive role of robotics in bariatric and metabolic surgery is still under controversial debate. This is an analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients undergoing fully robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses (TR-RYGB) during the first year after implementation of a robotic bariatric program at a tertiary university hospital.

Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction Is Associated with Increased Levels of Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Lung Transplant Recipients.

Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD) is a life-threatening complication that limits the long-term survival of lung transplantation patients. Early diagnosis remains the basis of efficient management of CLAD, making the need for distinctive biomarkers critical. This explorative study aimed to investigate the predictive power of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) derived from bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) to detect CLAD.

Neuropsychological Assessment of Cognitive Impairment in Kidney Transplantation (NAsKiT) and its related risk factors: a study protocol.

Background: Association of cognitive impairment with chronic kidney disease has been reported over the last decade. Individuals show better cognitive performance after kidney transplantation than individuals on dialysis but are more likely to be affected by cognitive impairment than age-matched comparison groups. Better knowledge of the prevalence as well as course and profile of cognitive impairment is important for the design of future studies assessing the clinical impact of cognitive impairment and developing management strategies.

Two years later: Is the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic still having an impact on emergency surgery? An international cross-sectional survey among WSES members.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is still ongoing and a major challenge for health care services worldwide. In the first WSES COVID-19 emergency surgery survey, a strong negative impact on emergency surgery (ES) had been described already early in the pandemic situation. However, the knowledge is limited about current effects of the pandemic on patient flow through emergency rooms, daily routine and decision making in ES as well as their changes over time during the last two pandemic years.

Retransplanting a previously transplanted kidney: A safe strategy in times of organ shortage?

Background: The shortage of organs for transplantation remains a global problem. The retransplantation of a previously transplanted kidney might be a possibility to expand the pool of donors. We provide our experience with the successful reuse of transplanted kidneys in the Eurotransplant region.

Early Respiratory Impairment and Pneumonia after Hybrid Laparoscopically Assisted Esophagectomy-A Comparison with the Open Approach.

Patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery are at high risk of developing severe pulmonary complications. Beneficial effects of minimally invasive esophagectomy had been discussed recently, but the incidence of perioperative respiratory impairment remains unclear. This is a retrospective single-center cohort study of patients, who underwent open (OE) or laparoscopically assisted, hybrid minimally invasive abdomino-thoracic esophagectomy (LAE) for cancer regarding respiratory impairment (PaO/FiO ratio (P/FR) < 300 mmHg) and pneumonia.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in two patients following recent lung transplantation.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global health problem with pandemic character. Lung transplant recipients may be particularly at risk due to the high degree of immunosuppression and the lung being the organ primarily affected by COVID-19. We describe a 16-year-old male and a 64-year-old female recently lung transplanted patients with COVID-19 during inpatient rehabilitation.

Indefinite cytomegalovirus prophylaxis with valganciclovir after lung transplantation.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections and reactivations are common after lung transplantation and are associated with the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Against this background, temporary HCMV prophylaxis is an established standard regimen after lung transplantation in most centers. However, the optimal duration of prophylaxis is unclear.

C-Reactive Protein Stimulates Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors to Control ATP-Mediated Monocytic Inflammasome Activation.

Blood levels of the acute phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) are frequently measured as a clinical marker for inflammation, but the biological functions of CRP are still controversial. CRP is a phosphocholine (PC)-binding pentraxin, mainly produced in the liver in response to elevated levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and of the IL-1β-dependent cytokine IL-6. While both cytokines play important roles in host defense, excessive systemic IL-1β levels can cause life-threatening diseases such as trauma-associated systemic inflammation.

Use of very old donors for lung transplantation: a dual-centre retrospective analysis.

Objectives: To reduce the shortage of organs for transplantation by expanding organ selection criteria as a means to increase the pool of potential lung donors. In this study, we sought to investigate the impact of using lungs from very old donors aged >70 years on outcomes after lung transplantation.

Methods: Between January 2010 and November 2016, 96 patients with end-stage lung disease underwent lung transplantation in our centres.