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Regular updates on our latest clinical studies.
Onze teams van Onderzoek en Ontwikkeling zijn wereldwijd werkzaam, en creëren synergieën met onze deskundigheid en verwante vakdisciplines. Wij wisselen internationaal veel van gedachten met onafhankelijke, gespecialiseerde instituten, belangrijke opinieleiders en kennisverspreiders om zo samenwerkings- en kennismanagement op het hoogste niveau te kunnen garanderen. In het kader daarvan voeren wij grote studies uit die voortdurend op congressen in de vorm van posters of lezingen van onze partners, op symposia en in workshops worden gepresenteerd, en ook in befaamde wetenschappelijke tijdschriften worden gepubliceerd. De voor het grootste deel door onafhankelijke deskundigen beoordeelde, op bewijs gebaseerde vakpublicaties stellen wij u graag in deze databank ter beschikking:
Die endoskopische Vakuumtherapie (EVT) ist ein fester Bestandteil der Therapie postoperativer Anastomoseninsuffizienzen im Gastrointestinaltrakt. In jüngster Zeit wird die EVT auch bei anderen Indikationen wie Perforationen, endoskopisch zugänglichen Abszessen oder enterokutanen Fisteln mit Erfolg angewendet. Dieser Beitrag erläutert schrittweise den Gebrauch der EVT und zeigt die Möglichkeiten, aber auch Risiken und Grenzen der Therapie auf.
Dressings continue to be a key part of successful wound care, however, choosing the right product for the right patient at the right time can be challenging for the clinician (Hedger, 2014). Modern foam dressings have been widely available since the mid-1970s with the aim to manage light-to-heavy exuding wounds (Hedger et al, 2014). Historically, bordered foam dressings have utilised acrylic-based adhesives; however, these have been associated with increased risk of skin sensitisation and medical adhesive-related skin injuries (MARSI; Meuleneire and Rucknagel, 2013; Hedger et al, 2014; Mestach et al, 2018; Downie and Collier, 2021). A clinical evaluation was undertaken to detail the characteristics and performance of Suprasorb® P sensitive silicone foam dressing (L&R Healthcare). The evaluation comprised a minimum of four dressing changes over at least 2 weeks. Fifty patients (51 wounds) were included in the evaluation. At the final evaluation, 57% (n=29) of the wounds were recorded as improved, 37% (n=19) were recorded as static and 6% (n=3) were recorded as having deteriorated. Of the 27% (n=14) evaluations where patients reported self caring, 71% scored Suprasorb P sensitive as above average for ease of use, suggesting the dressing may be suitable for patients who were self-caring and can apply their own dressing. Suprasorb P sensitive performed well in all the parameters evaluated and may be considered where effective exudate handling, improved patient comfort and ease of handling is required.
A 57-year-old patient underwent emergency laparotomy for an acute abdomen with free intra-abdominal air caused by a perforated distal gastric ulcer. Surgical closure was performed by suture. Histological adenocarcinoma was found Therefore, revision laparotomy with distal gastric resection and Roux-en-y reconstruction was done 3 days later. At 6 days postoperatively, a discharge of biliary secretions via target drainage for duodenal stump insufficiency was seen. Surgical closure was tried in another revision laparotomy. But again biliary secretion occurred proving the persistent duodenal leakage.
Passive drainage via the operative drain was sufficient to avoid development of an acute abdomen, therefore the duodenal secretions were drained passively. Secretion of 100–200 ml daily persisted for 21 days with formation of a duodenal cutaneous fistula channel ([Fig. 1]).
Then, treatment was switched to active drainage management with endoscopic negative pressure using an open-pore film drain. The drain was made by wrapping a strip of thin, double-layered, open-pore film (Suprasorb CNP Drainage Film; Lohmann & Rauscher, Rengsdorf, Germany) around the distal drainage end and fixing it with a suture [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] ([Fig. 2]). This created a small-bore open-pore drainage tube to which negative pressure could be applied. The open-pore film drain used had a diameter of only 5 mm. The length of the drainage element was 10 cm. The drain was simply manually inserted in the cutaneous opening into the pre-existing 12-cm-long fistula channel. Suction of –125 mmHg was applied (ACTIV.A.C; KCI, San Antonio, Texas, USA). The secretion stopped immediately. After 4 days, endoscopic negative pressure treatment was terminated. The open-pore film drain was removed by pulling out the tube ([Fig. 3]). Endoscopic inspection of the fistula channel showed the typical suction effects ([Fig. 4]), with the regular pore structure of the open-pore membrane ([Video 1]). The fistula was closed. The open-pore film drain is a simple device that can be used to achieve duodenal cutaneous fistula closure very easily by negative pressure in appropriate cases.
Objectives
Boerhaave's syndrome is a life-threatening disease with high mortality and morbidity. Endoscopic negative pressure therapy (ENPT) can be used to treat oesophageal perforations.
Case presentation
We report on a case of oesophageal rupture with peritonitis in a 35-year-old male patient. The start of treatment was 11 h after the perforation event. The treatment of the perforation defect was performed exclusively by intraluminal ENPT, the treatment of peritonitis was performed by laparotomy with abdominal lavage. For ENPT we used two different types of open-pore drains. The first treatment cycle of four days was performed with an open-pored polyurethane foam drainage (OPD), which was placed intraluminal to cover the perforation defect and to empty the stomach permanently. The second treatment cycle of nine days was performed with a thin nasogastric tube like double-lumen open-pored film drainage (OFD). For suction OPD and OFD were connected with an electronic vacuum pump (-125 mmHg). OFD enables active gastric emptying with simultaneous intestinal feeding via an integrated feeding tube. Intraluminal ENPT with a total treatment duration of 13 days was able to achieve the complete healing of the defect. Surgical treatment of the perforation defect was not necessary. The patient was discharged 20 days after initial treatment with a non-irritating abdominal wound and a closed perforation.
Conclusions
In suitable cases, endoscopic negative pressure therapy is a minimally invasive, organ-preserving procedure for the treatment of spontaneous oesophageal rupture.
The treatment of acute and chronic infected wounds with residing biofilm still poses a major challenge in medical care. Interactions of antimicrobial dressings with bacterial load, biofilm matrix and the overall protein-rich wound microenvironment remain insufficiently studied. This analysis aimed to extend the investigation on the efficacy of a variety of antimicrobial dressings using an in vitro biofilm model (lhBIOM) mimicking the specific biofilm-environment in human wounds. Four wound dressings containing polyhexanide (PHMB), octendine di-hydrochloride (OCT), cadexomer-iodine (C-IOD) or ionic silver (AG) were compared regarding their antimicrobial efficacy. Quantitative analysis was performed using a quantitative suspension method, separately assessing remaining microbial counts within the solid biofilm as well as the dressing eluate (representing the absorbed wound exudate). Dressing performance was tested against P. aeruginosa biofilms over the course of 6 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to obtain qualitative visualization on changes in biofilm structure. C-IOD demonstrated superior bacterial reduction. In comparison it was the only dressing achieving a significant reduction of more than 7 log10 steps within 3 days. Neither the OCT- nor the AG-containing dressing exerted a distinct and sustained antimicrobial effect. PHMB achieved a non-significant microbicidal effect (1.71 ± 0.31 log10 steps) at day 1. Over the remaining course (6 days) it demonstrated a significant microbistatic effect compared to OCT, AG and the control. Quantitative results in the dressing eluate correlate with those of the solid biofilm model. Overall, AG- and OCT-containing dressings did not achieve the expected anti-biofilm efficacy, while C-IOD performed best. Chemical interaction with the biofilms extrapolymeric substance (EPS), visualized in the SEM, and dressing configuration (agent concentration and release pattern) are suspected to be responsible. The unexpected low and diverse results of the tested antimicrobial dressings indicate a necessity to rethink non-debridement anti-biofilm therapy. Focussing on the combination of biofilm-disruptive (for EPS structure) and antimicrobial (for residing microorganisms) features, as with C-IOD, using dehydration and iodine, appears reasonably complementary and an optimal solution, as suggested by the here presented in vitro data.
Aims Anastomotic insufficiencies(AI) and perforations of the upper gastrointestinal tract(uGIT) result in high morbidity and mortality. Besides surgical revision and endoscopic stent placement the endoluminal vacuum therapy(EVT) has been established as an additional strategy. So far, the Eso-Sponge is the only licensed EVT system with limitations in very small defects. Therefore, a fistula sponge(FS) was established in our center for the treatment of small defects of the uGIT as a new therapeutic approach. To evaluate success rates, indications and complications of both EVT options in a retrospective, single-center trial.
Methods Between 01/2018 and 12/2020 all patients undergoing either a FS-EVT or conventional EVT(cEVT) with Eso-Sponge (Braun Melsungen, Germany) due to AI or perforation of the uGIT were recorded. Following criteria were evaluated: indication, diameter of leakage, therapy success and complications. FSs were prepared using a nasogastric tube (6-16Ch diameter) and a porous drainage film (Suprasorb CNP, Lohmann&Rauscher, Germany)(length 1 – 6 cm) sutured to the distal tip.
Results N = 72 patients were included in this analysis (FS-EVT N = 20; cEVT N = 52). FS-EVT was performed in 60 % suffering from AI (cEVT = 68 %) and 40 % from perforation (cEVT = 32 %;p>0.05). After 6.2±3.3d of treatment FSs were exchanged every three days in average, comparable data were obtained for cEVT. The mean diameter of the defect was 9 mm in the FS-EVT group compared to 24 mm in cEVT(p 0.001), the depth of the leakage showed no significant difference (46 mm for both groups). Therapeutic success (development of granulation tissue, resolution of the leak) was achieved in 90 % (FS-EVT) and 91 % (cEVT) respectively (p > 0.05).
Conclusions EVT comprises an extraordinary treatment option of transmural defects of the uGIT. In clinical practice fistulas <10 mm with large abscess formations exhibit a special challenge, since intraluminal cEVT normally fails. In these cases the concept of extraluminal FS placement is safe and effective.
Aim: Foam dressings are thought to aid in the establishment of a beneficial moist wound environment as they exhibit excellent fluid management capacity by absorbing as well as donating fluid. Therefore, a scratch wound healing model using human fibroblasts and keratinocytes was developed depending on the donation of fluid by the applied dressings. The effect on cell proliferation and migration of NFD* and cotton gauze was investigated.
Methods: Human dermal fibroblasts (DF) and human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT) were seeded into 6-well-plates and cultivated for 48h before scratching. NFD and gauze were cut aseptically (d=3.5cm), soaked in medium and applied directly on the cell scratches without further medium addition. Cells were stained with hematoxylin/eosin after 1, 6, 24, and 48h. Scratches were photographed using a digital microscope and evaluated using the Image J program.
Results: It was found that NFD supported the scratch healing in vitro by promoting fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation and migration through establishing a moist wound environment. Results were almost comparable to the medium control. In contrast, scratches covered with gauze remained open, probably due to the loss of moisture by drying of the wound dressing.
Conclusions: It could be shown that NFD is able to promote wound healing by effectively creating humid conditions favouring wound closure while gauze was not able to maintain the moist environment resulting in non-healing cell scratch wounds in vitro.
*NFD - Suprasorb® P sensitive (Lohmann&Rauscher)