Are laparoscopic gastric bypass after gastroplasty and primary laparoscopic gastric bypass similar in terms of results?

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study compares the results of primary gastric bypass (PGB) versus secondary gastric bypass (SGB) performed after gastroplasty. METHODS: Between January 2004 and August 2008, 576 consecutive patients benefited from laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB) in our hospital. Four hundred seventy patients (81.6%) were available for full evaluation. Primary outcome measures were operative time, conversion to open surgery and mortality, hospital stay, early and late complications, reoperations, efficacy, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-two patients benefited from a PGB and 108 from SGB. Median preoperative BMI was 42 kg/m2 (34.8-63.5; PGB) and 39 kg/m2 (20.9-64.5; SGB; p = 0.002). Median operative time was 109 min (40-436; PGB) and 194 min (80-430; SGB; p < 0.001). There was no conversion to open surgery or mortality in either group. Median hospital stay was 4 days (3-95; PGB) and 5 days (2-114; SGB; p < 0.001). Early complications were recorded in 37 patients (10.2%) after PGB and in 24 patients (22.2%) after SGB (p < 0.001). Reoperation was necessary in 12 patients (3.3%) after PGB and in 9 patients (8.3%) after SGB (p = 0.03). Median follow-up was 35 months (12-66; PGB), and 34 months (12-66; SGB; NS). Late complications were achieved in 46 patients (12.7%) after PGB and in 33 patients (30.6%) after SGB (p < 0.001). Reoperation was necessary in 17 patients (4.7%) after PGB and in 11 patients (10.2%) after SGB (p = 0.03). Mean % EWL was 74.2% after PGB and 69.9% after SGB (NS). After PGB, 89% of the patients was satisfied, 4% neutral, and 6% unsatisfied; after SGB, 79% was satisfied, 10% neutral, and 11% unsatisfied (p = 001). CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss after PGB and SGB is not statistically significantly different. Otherwise, operative time, hospital stay, complications, and revision rate are statistically significantly higher after SGB (p < 0.001).

Role of laparoscopy in the management of visceral injuries following abdominal stab wounds.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy offers several advantages in the treatment of abdominal stab wounds. In this paper, we report our experience during 2004, where hemodynamically stable patients with stab wounds were managed laparoscopically. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January and December 2004, 8 hemodynamically stable patients (7 men, 1 woman) underwent laparoscopy for anterior abdominal stab wounds. Median age was 28.5 years (range, 17-55). All patients underwent an abdominal computed tomography (CT) prior to the laparoscopy. RESULTS: Exploration of the wound under aseptic conditions, carried out as a part of the physical examination, confirmed peritoneal penetration in 7 of the 8 cases. Abdominal CT revealed positive findings in 7 (87.5%) cases. Laparoscopy was performed after a median time of 60 minutes (range 30-90). Laparoscopic exploration evidenced peritoneal penetration in 100% of the cases and visceral lesions in 87.5% of the cases. All visceral injuries were managed laparoscopically. Median operative time was 135 minutes (range, 45-200). Operative mortality was 0% and early morbidity was 12.5%. Median hospital stay was 5 days (range, 1-11). After a median follow-up of 12 months (range, 1-28), 1 patient complained of persistent chest pain and a ventral hernia at the site of the abdominal stab wound was diagnosed in another patient. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy should be included in management algorithms in patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds who are hemodynamically stable. In addition to its diagnostic ability, this study demonstrates that laparoscopy can be an effective management modality with minimal morbidity and no mortality.

Accuracy of MDCT in predicting site of gastrointestinal tract perforation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of MDCT for preoperative determination of the site of surgically proven gastrointestinal tract perforations and to determine the most predictive findings in this diagnosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 85 consecutive patients with extraluminal air on MDCT who had surgically proven gastrointestinal tract perforations. All patients underwent surgery within 12 hours after MDCT was performed. Two experienced radiologists, blinded to the surgical diagnosis, reached a consensus prediction of the site of the perforation using the following eight MDCT findings: concentration of extraluminal air bubbles adjacent to the bowel wall, free air in supramesocolic or inframesocolic compartments, extraluminal air in both abdomen and pelvis, focal defect in the bowel wall, segmental bowel-wall thickening, perivisceral fat stranding, abscess, and extraluminal fluid. MDCT imaging results were compared with surgical and pathologic findings. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the significance of the different radiologic criteria. RESULTS: Analysis of MDCT images was predictive of the site of gastrointestinal tract perforation in 73 (86%) of 85 patients. Logistic regression showed that concentration of extraluminal air bubbles (p < 0.001), segmental bowel wall thickening (p < 0.001), and focal defect of the bowel wall (p = 0.007) were strong predictors of the site of bowel perforation. CONCLUSION: MDCT is highly accurate for predicting the site of gastrointestinal tract perforations. Three of eight CT findings significantly correlate with surgical diagnosis.

An adjustable silicone gastric band for laparoscopic treatment of morbid obesity--technique and results.

The laparoscopic application of an adjustable silicone gastric band (Lap-Band System, Bioenterics, Carpinteria, CA) (Fig. 1), based on a similar device introduced by Kuzmak in 1986, is gaining widespread acceptance as a gastric restrictive procedure in treatment of morbid obesity. The advantage of an operation that does not open the gastrointestinal tract and can be performed laparoscopically is obvious. This procedure, using the laparoscopic approach , has been performed in our institutions since 1992. The goals of this article are to describe both our standardized surgical technique that minimized the morbidity rate and its results.