Dietmar Öfner

Medizinische Universität Innsbruck · Universitätsklinik für Visceral- Transplantations- und Thoraxchirurgie

The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term outcome of rectal cancer patients who submitted to preoperative chemoradiation with consecutive intensive follow-up and aggressive surgical treatment of recurrent disease. Patients with locally advanced (cT3-4 Nx M0-1) mid/low rectal cancer were treated at a tertiary university hospital with preope...

The bcl-2 gene encodes for a mitochondrial membrane proto-oncoprotein, the expression of which is known to suppress programmed cell death (apoptosis). In the present study the prognostic value of bcl-2 proto-oncoprotein was immunohistochemically investigated in a series of 104 colorectal carcinomas. The bcl-2 staining patterns were semiquantitative...

Contrast enhanced dynamic studies of malignant tumors performed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are increasingly applied to characterize tumor microcirculation for the prediction of therapy outcome. The aim of our study was to correlate perfusion index (PI) values determined in primary rectal carcinoma before chemoradiati...

DNA methylation is a common molecular alteration in colorectal cancer cells. We report an assessment of faecal DNA from patients with colorectal cancer and controls to determine the feasibility, sensitivity, and specificity of this approach. By use of MethyLight analysis of faecal DNA from three independent sets of patients, we identified SFRP2 met...

Aims-To investigate the correlation between the expression of the p53 and mdm-2 oncoproteins and to assess their prognostic value in colorectal cancer.Methods-Using a polyclonal (CM1) and a monoclonal antibody directed against p53 and mdm-2, respectively, these oncoproteins were stained immunohistochemically in 109 colorectal adenocarcinomas.Result...

Background: Biliary complications (BCs) negatively impact the outcome after liver transplantation. We herein tested whether hyperspectral imaging (HSI) generated data from bile ducts (BD) on reperfusion and machine learning techniques for data readout may serve as a novel approach for predicting BC. Methods: Tissue-specific data from 136 HSI liv...

Background Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality after liver surgery. Standardized assessment of preoperative liver function is crucial to identify patients at risk. These European consensus guidelines provide guidance for preoperative patient assessment. Methods A modified Delphi approach was us...

Background Twenty percent of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLMs) are initially resectable with a 5-year survival rate of 25%–40%. Perioperative folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) increases progression-free survival (PFS). In advanced disease, the addition of targeting therapies results in an overall survival (OS) advantage. Th...

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy is still hampered by significant morbidity. So far, there is no universally accepted technique aimed at minimizing postoperative complications. Herein, we compare three different reconstruction techniques. Methods: This is a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database including 283 patients operat...

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has emerged as an innovative organ preservation technique. Developing an understanding for the donor organ immune cell composition and its dynamic changes during NMP is essential. We aimed for a comprehensive characterization of immune cell (sub)populations, cell trafficking and cytokine release during liver NMP...

Background: Neurocrine neoplasms (NEN) of the small bowel (SBNEN) are a rare entity and mostly asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to explore trends in the clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, surgical approach and oncological outcome in patients with SBNEN at our surgical department. Materials and methods: All patients who underwent su...

Purpose Patients with colon cancer are usually included in an intensive 5-year surveillance protocol after curative resection, independent of the tumor stage, though early stages have a considerably lower risk of recurrence. The aim of this study was to analyze the adherence to an intensive follow-up and the risk of recurrence in patients with colo...

A positive crossmatch (XM+) is considered a contraindication to solid abdominal organ transplantation except liver transplantation (LT). Conflicting reports exist regarding the effects of XM+ on post-transplant outcomes. The goal of this retrospective single-center analysis is to evaluate the influence of XM+ on relevant outcome parameters such as...

BACKGROUND: The CovidSurg-Cancer Consortium aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 in surgical patients and services for solid cancers at the start of the pandemic. The CovidSurg-Gynecologic Oncology Cancer subgroup was particularly concerned about the magnitude of adverse outcomes caused by the disrupted surgical gynecologic cancer care during th...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still hampered by a dismal prognosis. A better understanding of the tumor microenvironment within the pancreas and of the factors affecting its composition is of utmost importance for developing new diagnostic and treatment tools. In this context, the complement system plays a prominent role. Not only has...

Background EuroLung Risk scores were established to predict postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing anatomic lung resections. We aimed to perform an external validation of the EuroLung scores, which were calculated from data of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons database, in our video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery cohor...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Citation: Krendl, F.J.; Messner, F.; Laimer, G.; Djanani, A.; Seeber, A.; Oberhuber, G.; Öfner, D.; Wolf, D.; Schneeberger, S.; Bale, R.; et al. Multidisciplinary Treatment of Liver Metastases from Intracranial SFTs/HPCs: A Report of Three Consecutive Cases. Curr. Oncol. 2022, 29, 8720-8741. https://doi. Abstract: In the 2016 WHO classification of...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Patient: Female, 25-year-old Final Diagnosis: Type 1 diabetes mellitus Symptoms: No symptoms Medication:— Clinical Procedure: Immunosuppression Specialty: Metabolic Disorders and Diabetics Objective Unusual clinical course Background There has been, to our knowledge, no reports on LifeCycle Pharma tacrolimus (LCPT) taken during pregnancy after si...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Background The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index...

Background Reliable biomarkers for organ quality assessment during normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) are desired. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production by oxidative phosphorylation plays a crucial role in the bioenergetic homeostasis of the liver. Thus, detailed analysis of the aerobic mitochondrial performance may serve as predictive tool tow...

Background Bariatric surgery is a treatment option for patients with severe obesity and improves parameters of cardiovascular and/or metabolic disease. Carotid intima media thickness (C-IMT) is a surrogate measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. Previous studies showed short to mid-term arrest and even regression of C‑IMT progression following bari...

Background Despite major advances in the development of targeted therapies, precision (immuno)oncology approaches for patients with colorectal cancer continue to lag behind other solid cancers. Functional precision oncology – a strategy that is based on perturbing primary tumor cells from cancer patients with drugs – could provide an alternate road...

Purpose This study analyzed the prevalence and factors influencing the history of chronic anastomotic leakage following low anterior resection for rectal cancer. Furthermore, the treatment of a persisting presacral sinus and the impact of stoma reversal on outcome were evaluated. Methods The institutional database was scanned for all patients with...

Background Anastomotic leak (AL) after bilioenteric reconstruction (BR) is a feared complication after bile duct resection, especially in combination with liver resection. Literature on surgical outcome is sparse. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for AL after combined liver and bile duct resection with a focus on operati...

Background: Anemia is present in up to two-thirds of patients undergoing colorectal surgery mainly caused by iron deficiency and inflammation. As anemia is associated with increased risk of perioperative death, diagnosis and treatment of preoperative anemia according to etiology have been recommended. Objective: The aim of the present study was...

Background: Prolonged air leak (PAL) represents a common complication after lung resection. This study aims to analyze the risk factors for the development of a PAL, its impact on the postoperative outcome and to estimate additional treatment costs. Methods: A single center database was queried for all patients scheduled for video-assisted thora...

Magnet ingestions present an increasing problem in pediatric surgery. Especially multiple magnets in the digestive tract pose a significant health hazard and cause severe complications. We report a 6-year-old boy presenting with mild abdominal symptoms after ingesting eleven magnetic parts of a construction toy set about three weeks before. The rad...

The preperitoneal spaces relevant for incisional hernia repair and minimally invasive groin hernia repair are described in terms of surgical anatomy. Emphasis is put on the transversalis fascia and the urogenital fascia and its extensions, the vesicoumbilical fascia, and the spermatic sheath of Stoppa procedure. Steps in hernia surgery where these...

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) allows for ex vivo viability and functional assessment prior to liver transplantation (LT). Hyperspectral imaging represents a suitable, non-invasive method to evaluate tissue morphology and organ perfusion during NMP. Liver allografts were subjected to NMP prior to LT. Serial image acquisition of oxygen saturat...

Introduction The large full-thickness abdominal wall defect has to be treated by considering anatomical and functional requirements. The abdominal wall must regain total physiological function, which means that the full thickness abdominal wall defect must be reconstructed anatomically, not only according to the anatomical requirements but also mai...

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) raises concerns as to whether it contributes to an increased mortality. The incidence of CAPA varies widely within hospitals and countries, partly because of difficulties in obtaining a reliable diagnosis. We implemented a routine screening of respiratory specimens in COV...

Kidney transplantation is limited due to the organ scarcity and the large discrepancy between transplantable organs and patients on the waiting list. Ex-situ normothermic kidney preservation has been studied extensively as a tool to enlarge the donor pool and to enable viability assessment. Urine recirculation, for volume control, was applied to pe...

Background To evaluate the efficacy, safety and overall clinical outcome of local treatment for recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection. Methods Between 2007 and 2019 72 consecutive patients underwent hepatic resection for primary intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma. If amenable, recurrent tumors were aggres...

Background This study aimed to determine the impact of pulmonary complications on death after surgery both before and during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Methods This was a patient-level, comparative analysis of two, international prospective cohort studies: one before the pandemic (January–October 201...

Introduction: Early graft dysfunction (EAD) complicates liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this analysis was to discriminate between the weight of each variable as for its predictive value toward patient and graft survival. Methods: We reviewed all LT performed at the Medical University of Innsbruck between 2007 and 2018. EAD was recorded when...

Chronic immunosuppression is associated with an increased risk of malignancy. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and effect of post-transplant malignancies (PTMs) following pancreas transplantation. The 348 first pancreas transplants performed between 1985 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Incidences o...

Background: Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods: This internati...

The liver, in combination with a functional biliary system, is responsible for maintaining a great number of vital body functions. However, acute and chronic liver diseases may lead to irreversible liver damage and, ultimately, liver failure. At the moment, the best curative option for patients suffering from end-stage liver disease is liver transp...

Background: Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora has emerged as an oncogenic contributor in different malignancies. Recent findings suggest a crucial tumor-promoting role of micro- and mycobiome alterations also in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: To summarize the current knowledge about this topic, a systematic...