Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany)最新文献

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined by a disorder of the microcirculation due to a persistent pathological pressure increase within a muscle compartment. The ischemia of the tissue leads to an initially reversible functional impairment and finally irreversible damage of the musculature, nerves and other structures. Based on the understanding of the pathophysiology, the current diagnostic concepts and treatment using the so-called dermatofasciotomy of the affected muscle compartments can be derived. In addition to the suspicion of a possible ACS based on the medical history of the patient, the findings of the clinical examination are decisive. This review article gives a summary of all the essential aspects of the diagnostics. In clinically uncertain cases and for monitoring, an objectification of the findings using instrument-based techniques is increasingly required. Nowadays, invasive needle pressure measurement is available; however, due to limited reliability, specificity and sensitivity, these measurements only represent an aid to decision guidance supporting or advising against the indications for dermatofasciotomy. The increasing demands on making a certain diagnosis and justification of a surgical intervention from a legal point of view, substantiate the numerous scientific efforts to develop noninvasive instrument-based diagnostics. These methods are based either on detection of increasing intracompartmental pressure or decreasing perfusion pressure and microcirculation. The various measurement principles are summarized in a lucid form.

Background: The new competency-based further training regulations (nWBO) for surgical training have been adopted by all German state medical associations.

Methods: From May to June 2023 the Young Surgeons' Working Group (CAJC) conducted an anonymous online survey among the 5896 members of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV).

Objective: The survey aimed to assess expectations regarding the nWBO and to develop strategies for enhancing surgical training.

Results: With 488 participants (response rate 8.3%) the study is representative. The respondents consisted of 107 continuing education assistants (WBA 21.9%), 69 specialist physicians, and 188 senior physicians (specialist physicians 14.1% and senior physicians 38.5%), as well as 107 chief physicians (21.9%). The majority worked in regular care providers (44%), followed by maximum care providers (26.8%) and university clinics (20.1%). Only 22% considered the required operative spectrum of the new medical specialist training regulations (nWBO) to be realistic. Half of the respondents believed that full training in their clinic according to the new catalog will no longer be possible and 54.6% considered achieving the target numbers in 6 years to be impossible or state that they can no longer train the same number of continuing education assistants (WBAs) in the same time frame. Endoscopy (17.1-18.8%), fundoplication (15.4-17.7%) and head and neck procedures (12.1-17.1%) were consistently mentioned as bottlenecks across all levels of care. Rotations for balance were reported to be already established or not necessary in 64.7%. In 48% it was stated that the department had established the partial steps concept. The importance of a structured training concept was considered important by 85% of WBAs, compared to 53.3% of chief physicians (CÄ). If a structured training concept was present in the department, the achievability of the target numbers was significantly assessed more positively in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, male gender and the status of "habilitated/professor" were independent factors for a more positive assessment of the nWBO. Objective certification of training was considered important by 51.5%.

Conclusion: Concerns surround the nWBO and the sentiment is pessimistic. Additional requirements and hospital reforms could exacerbate the situation. Collaboration and rotations are crucial but still insufficiently implemented. Quality-oriented certification could enhance the quality of training.

Background: Even now the further training in surgery faces considerable challenges. The planned hospital structural reform will result in new bureaucratic and organizational hurdles, which could lead to a considerable loss of quality in advanced surgical training across all disciplines.

Objective: The aim of this position paper is to describe the current and future challenges for advanced surgical training and to identify possible approaches and opportunities for the further development against the background of the planned hospital structural reform.

Material and methods: For the development of this position paper a committee of representatives of the Young Forums of the German surgical societies identified and critically discussed current problems and challenges of the present residency training system and formulated a list of demands for a sustainable residency training concept.

Results: The planned shift to outpatient treatment and centralization were identified as central challenges for surgical residency training. Surgical training must be considered consistently and from the outset in all political reform efforts. In addition to a transparent and cost-appropriate financing of residency training, we call for the involvement of all German surgical societies in the reform process. Furthermore, the social framework conditions for junior surgeons should be considered.

Conclusion: The structural change in the hospital landscape in Germany, which is being forced by politicians, harbors the risk of a further loss of quality and experience in surgical treatment and training. At the same time, the planned hospital reform offers a unique opportunity to address existing problems and challenges in surgical training and to consider them as a starting point for structural changes which are fit for the future.

Background: Lymphedema is primarily treated conservatively using complex physical decongestion treatment (CDT). Lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA), vascularized lymph node transplantation (VLNT) and liposuction are available as surgical treatment methods; however, reimbursement in the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system is sometimes inadequate or only possible following an individual application. The costs of these relatively new surgical procedures have not yet been set in relation to those of CDT.

Method: The costs of conservative treatment were determined in accordance with the guidelines. The costs for LVA, VLNT and liposuction of the upper and lower extremities were estimated on the basis of the DRG reimbursement per case and the expected reduction in conservative measures according to current knowledge. The annual treatment costs were then compared.

Results: The annual treatment costs of LVA and VLNT are already lower than conservative treatment alone in the second postoperative year. Liposuction reaches this point in the 6th (upper extremity) or 47th postoperative year (lower extremity).

Conclusion: The evidence for the positive effects of lymphatic surgery is still limited; however, it is recognizable that the curative surgical approach can significantly reduce the treatment costs and improve the quality of life of lymphedema patients; however, there is a lack of adequate reflection of the surgical effort in the reimbursement.

At the central workplace of the surgeon the digitalization of the operating room has particular consequences for the surgical work. Starting with intraoperative cross-sectional imaging and sonography, through functional imaging, minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery up to digital surgical and anesthesiological documentation, the vast majority of operating rooms are now at least partially digitalized. The increasing digitalization of the whole process chain enables not only for the collection but also the analysis of big data. Current research focuses on artificial intelligence for the analysis of intraoperative data as the prerequisite for assistance systems that support surgical decision making or warn of risks; however, these technologies raise new ethical questions for the surgical community that affect the core of surgical work.

Background: eHealth applications can support early mobilization and physical activity (PA) after surgery. This systematic review provides an overview of eHealth services to enhance or record PA after visceral surgery interventions.

Methods: Two electronic databases (MEDLINE PubMed and Web of Science) were systematically searched (November 2023). Articles were considered eligible if they were controlled trials and described digital devices used to promote PA after visceral surgery. The Cochrane risk of bias (RoB-2) tool was used to determine the methodological quality of studies.

Results: A total of nine randomized controlled studies (RCT) were included in this systematic review. The studies differed with respect to the interventions, surgical indications and evaluation variables. The risk of bias of the individual studies was moderate. The six studies using activity trackers (AT) predominantly showed insignificant improvements in the postoperative step count. The more complex fitness applications could partially reveal significant advantages compared to the control groups and the home-based online training also showed a significant increase in functional capacity.

Conclusion: Activity tracking alone has so far failed to show clinically relevant effects. In contrast, the more complex eHealth applications revealed advantages compared to usual postoperative care. More high-quality studies are needed for evidence-based recommendations for eHealth services in conjunction with visceral surgery.

Background: The standard vascular surgical procedure (SV) for the treatment of distal aortic arch pathologies involves a hybrid approach using a left carotid-subclavian bypass and thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Considering the introduction of a thoracic side branch prosthesis (TBE), the aim of this study was to analyze the cost-revenue aspects of both procedures.

Material and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on cases treated by SV from 2017 to 2022. To draw conclusions regarding the use of TBE, the main diagnoses and procedures of SV were recoded based on current classifications (ICD/OPS 2023) for revenue calculations and regrouped according to aG-DRG 2023. An OPS modification and regrouping were performed for modeling TBE revenues.

Results: A total of 13 cases were identified (mean age 62.5 ± 13.8 years; 10 males). After regrouping, the following DRGs were obtained: F42Z in N = 5, F51A in N = 4, F08B in N = 2, and F07A and F36B each in N = 1. The total revenue after regrouping was € 666,514.13, including an additional payment (ZE) of € 132,729.14. With the modeled application of TBE, a total revenue of € 659,212.19 was achieved. Compared to SV, this represents a revenue decrease of € 16,886.71 (changed DRG), but with an increase in ZE revenue by € 65,559.78 (different ZE). The use of TBE resulted in a saving of 74 occupancy days, including 13.5 days in intensive care.

Conclusion: A cost coverage seems probable with a change in the procedure, despite the yet to be determined pricing of TBE. This is highly dependent on the coding quality and the future development of ZE, given the annually changing DRG relative weights. Precise and transparent performance and cost documentation are essential for determining the pricing.