Active clearance of chest tubes after cardiac surgery: a propensity score matched analysis

Original article
Ntinopoulos V, Haeussler A, Papadopoulos N, Odavic D, Fodor P, Brugnetti D, Rings L, Dushaj S, Dzemali O
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20394

Chest tubes inserted to drain shed mediastinal blood after cardiac surgery often become clogged, limiting their capacity to evacuate blood, and leading to blood retention and retained blood syndrome. The aim of this study was the assessment of the efficacy of an active tube clearance system in the reduction of retained blood syndrome after cardiac surgery.

Postoperative outcome of tracheal resection in benign and malignant tracheal stenosis

Original article
Ferreirinha J, Caviezel C, Weder W, Opitz I, Inci I
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20383

Tracheal or cricotracheal resection is the standard of care for definitive treatment of tracheal stenosis. However, the incidence is low, the management is complex, and only a few centres have reported their experience.

A retrospective epidemiological study of paediatric femoral fractures

Original article
Valaikaite R, Tabard-Fougère A, Steiger C, Samara E, Dayer R, Ceroni D
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20360

Femoral fracture is a significant major trauma in children and adolescents, sometimes resulting in serious complications. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of femoral fractures and to define associated injuries and mortality incidence in a pediatric population below 16 years old.

Surgical management of vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and its challenges: a case report

Original article
da Rocha de Sousa F, Colucci N, Dupuis A, Toso C, Buchs NC, Abbassi Z
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20379

As far as is known, this is the first case describing a symptomatic ischemic colonic stenosis refractory to medical treatment in a vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient.

Serum lactate at 24 hours is associated with outcome in children requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for pulmonary causes – a retrospective, observational study

Original article
Amodeo A, Erdil T, Vanetta C, Steigmiller K, Schmiady M, Schweiger M, Pretre R, Dave H
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20358

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an essential life-saving tool. Being resource-intensive, judicious use and optimising the outcomes of this precious resource is important. This retrospective, explanatory, observational study aimed to quantify associations between factors and outcome after pulmonary ECMO in children.

Long-term evaluation of the distal transverse plantar approach for Morton’s neuroma excision

Original article
Ngo THNN, Traverso A, Chopra S, Hassani H, Crevoisier X
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20347

The transverse plantar approach results in good objective outcome scores, including scar healing, in the long term. It offers optimal visualisation of the nerve, does not require deep dissection and allows the exposure of two adjacent web spaces of the foot through a single incision.

Outcomes after spinal stenosis surgery by type of surgery in adults aged 60 years and older

Original article
Degen T, Fischer K, Theiler R, Schären S, Meyer OW, Wanner G, Chocano-Bedoya P, Simmen HP, Schmid UD, Steurer J, Stähelin HB, Mantegazza N, Bischoff-Ferrari HA
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20325

Attitudes and acceptance of patients undergoing visceral surgery towards an open access electronic medical record – a Swiss-German single-centre study

Original article
Bindschädler P, Frei L, Raptis DA, Tschuor C, Breitenstein S
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20328

The question of whether patients should have electronic access to their data has become one of the key topics under discussion.

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma: SASL expert opinion statement

Review article: Medical guidelines
Goossens N, Toso C, Heim MH
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20296

This expert opinion statement by the Swiss Association for the Study of the Liver reviews the current state of HCC management and provides recommendations adapted to the health care environment in Switzerland.

A contemporary perspective on the diagnosis and treatment of diffuse gliomas in adults

Review article: Biomedical intelligence
Roth P, Hottinger AF, Hundsberger T, Läubli H, Schucht P, Reinert M, Mamot C, Roelcke U, Pesce G, Hofer S, Weller M
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20256

The present manuscript results from two ad hoc meetings of Swiss neuro-oncologists that aimed to define current standards of clinical practice as well as challenges in the diagnosis and management of gliomas in adulthood, including specific considerations for Switzerland.