Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany)最新文献

Thyroid nodules are very frequent in the iodine deficiency regions of central Europe and some of the affected patients are referred for definitive treatment, such as surgery and radioiodine treatment. In recent years nonsurgical and non-radioiodine techniques have been introduced to treat thyroid gland pathologies. These techniques include the probe-based techniques of radiofrequency, microwave and laser application. The only noninvasive technique is high-intensity focused ultrasound. All mentioned techniques have the goal to reduce the volume of the thyroid nodule by application of energy/heat. The knowledge of all techniques and their advantages and risks is necessary to help physicians and patients in making decisions for the appropriate method of treatment of thyroid nodules.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is worldwide currently considered the gold standard technique for patients suffering from benign lesions. There has been an increasing number of robotic-assisted adrenalectomies in the last decade due to the systematic further development of minimally invasive surgery resulting in the implementation of robot-assisted surgery. Interestingly, the available studies show some perioperative advantages for robotic surgery but overall the current evidence is weak and there are economic aspects that are not negligible. Therefore, further high-quality studies about robotic-assisted adrenalectomy are mandatory to strengthen the current evidence.

In recent years the number of patients treated in intensive care units by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to severe respiratory failure or cardiogenic shock has steadily increased [1]. Consequently, the number of invasive procedures and operations in these patients has also increased. A fundamental understanding of these systems and the clinical indications is therefore helpful for the practicing (non-cardiac) surgeon. This review article focuses on peripheral ECMO procedures: venovenous (V-V) ECMO for patients with respiratory failure and venoarterial (V-A) ECMO for circulatory support in cardiogenic shock.

Bite injuries cause contaminated wounds with a high risk of infection. It is a progressive process. The prognosis depends less on the extent of the surface area but more on the depth of penetration. Due to the close spatial relationships the structures in the hand are particularly at risk from bite injuries. This study evaluated the dynamics of the disease progression based on the extent of injury and the timing of treatment initiation. A total of 332 bite injuries were treated and retrospectively analyzed. The severity of injuries was classified into five grades based on the affected compartments. The evaluation of the treatment was conducted according to the timing in four groups. The infection rates increased with the severity of the injury and the elapsed time. On the day of the accident 11% of patients showed signs of infection, rising to 72% the following day under conservative treatment, and 93% if no treatment was initiated by then. Patients treated conservatively elsewhere also showed similar levels. The average number of interventions also increased with the interval between the bite and the start of treatment. Not all bites are equal. The extent matters. Cutaneous injuries show signs of infection in 23% of cases but can mostly be treated conservatively. All deeper injuries require surgical treatment with debridement, immobilization and antibiotics. After immediate surgical treatment revision was necessary in 4% of cases.

In the Anglo-American world the field of surgeon well-being is already very prominent, while in Germany it is still underrepresented. In this article, we aim to analyze the challenges and factors that affect the well-being of surgeons, including stress, burnout, workload, job satisfaction, autonomy, leadership, teamwork and work-life integration. Additionally, we discuss the connection between surgeon well-being and the shortage of new talent in surgery, which is currently being exacerbated by increasing treatment and physician demands, the age development of specialists and an overall high turnover. Finally, we propose several solutions that can be implemented at individual, institutional and systemic levels to promote and maintain the well-being of surgeons. These include improving working conditions, providing resources and support, promoting resilience and mindfulness and recognizing and appreciating achievements.

Background: Since 2023 the law in Germany has required that working times are recorded in the field of surgery.

Objectives: The consequences of recording of the working hours in surgery are the main topic of this study. The search for ways of harmonization in the team to counteract a limited availability of personnel requires knowledge of the position of surgeons on the issue in question.

Material and methods: The study design is based on the situational approach of organizational research and encompasses 20 qualitative interviews and 186 datasets of an online questionnaire with 24 questions. For the evaluation group comparisons were carried out using the ANOVA analysis. The target groups were surgeons working in German hospitals. The study has an explorative character due to the targeted selection of samples.

Results: The results of the online survey showed a strong support for working time recording among surgeons with a general agreement of 82% and a consensus at all levels from residents to medical directors. Less than 50% of the assistants and medical specialists saw an improvement via an in-house dialogue, in comparison to senior physicians and medical directors. The right to compensatory time off by other employees represents a greater burden for senior physicians and chief physicians.

Discussion: The decisive result shows that there is a preference for transponder-based systems, especially among surgeons with long working hours. The problems of transparency and the right to compensatory time off, often associated with a lack of personnel, demonstrate the necessity for an improved communication and strategic personnel planning in hospitals. Surgeons have differentiated views on the transparent exchange on the topic of the working hours performed.