Conversion of Lap-Band to gastric bypass for dilated gastric pouch.

An 18-year-old female who had undergone a laparoscopic adjustable gastic banding developed several episodes of gastric pouch dilatation (GPD), treated conservatively. The last GPD (31 months after Lap-Band placement) involved the lesser curvature of the stomach and was refractory to medical treatment. Conversion to an open gastric bypass was performed. Gastric bypass is an option in the case of Lap-Band failure.

Hernia of foramen of Morgagni in adult: case report of laparoscopic repair.

The videolaparoscopic repair of a diaphragmatic hernia of Morgagni by external knot tying technique is described. A 69-year-old woman with subocclusive symptoms by intrathoracic migration of abdominal viscera had an immediate and complete postoperative recovery. The hernial sac was not excised. A four-year follow-up shows no hernia recurrence. This case indicated that the laparoscopic approach can be considered a suitable and safe procedure for treatment of Morgagni's hernia.

Treatment of morbid obesity and gastroesophageal reflux with hiatal hernia by Lap-Band.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal reflux is common in obese patients. Hiatal hernia is considered a potential contraindication to placement of a Lap-Band. METHODS: Esophageal investigation in patients who were candidates for a Lap-Band included clinical evaluation of symptoms (scoring system), endoscopic and radiologic evaluation, 24-h pH test, and stationary manometry. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) with or without hiatal hernia underwent the Lap-Band procedure. RESULTS: GER was diagnosed in 12/40 morbidly obese patients, 11 of whom received a standard Lap-Band (3 patients were radiologically diagnosed with transient hiatal hernia). One patient with a large hiatal hernia underwent closure of the diaphragmatic esophageal hiatus, and the Lap-Band was positioned similarly to an Angelchik prosthesis. All but 1 patient who was lost at follow-up were symptom-free (range 1-24 months). CONCLUSION: GER with or without hiatal hernia is not a contraindication for obese patients undergoing a Lap-Band procedure. It accomplishes by a single operation satisfactory treatment of these two disturbing diseases.

Follow-up of Lap-Band complications.

BACKGROUND: Proximal gastric pouch dilation (PGPD) and band dislocation (BD) are the most frequent complications of laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB). METHODS: Conservative treatment of PGPD and BD was attempted in all patients by deflation of the band. In the case of failure, laparoscopic exploration was performed. RESULTS: From January 1996 to July 1998, 8 of 40 patients who underwent LASGB experienced PGPD (n = 7) or BD (n = 1). Debanding was performed in 3 patients with PGPD, while in 4 the pouch dilation was successfully treated with deflation of the band. Two patients (PGPD and BD) were treated with band repositioning. Weight loss was not influenced in patients treated conservatively, compared with patients who did not experience complications. CONCLUSIONS: PGPD and BD are not always responsible for band failure in LASGB. Conservative treatment can be successful, and repositioning of the band is feasible in selected cases.

[Rare complications of biliary sepsis]. / Complicanze rare delle sepsi biliari.

The surgical approach to the acute biliary pathologies also today is often controversial. The choice of the right time to operate an acute patient is based either on personal clinical experiences, either under the statement that waiting for the resolution of the acute process could be preferable in the aim of reduce the surgical risk. This is the almost general tendency. Recently, some interesting articles issued by Swedish and German schools conducted as controlled trials on a great base of cases, try to emphasize the advantages of an early surgical therapy, particularly in the elderly patients. In these ones, in fact, the concomitance of cardiovascular, metabolic and immunodepressive pathologies makes more serious the complications too. In this article, the Authors refer on three clinical cases, all of which were quite different, and in which it was possible to identify a former septic hepato-biliary pathology. All the patients, upon hospital admission showed an acute pattern. In two cases it was an hepatic abscess, accompanied in one case by a "satellite" pulmonary abscess on the right lung. These two were treated conservatively, although by a TC-guided drainage of the liver abscesses. The third case, a localized choleperitoneum (biloma saccatus), underwent an operation. The accurate investigation on the clinical records of Authors' Department since 1980 to 1995 and in particular on the three referred cases seems to confirm that the importance of some complications after acute biliary pathology and their great morbidity must stimulate the surgeons to investigate always on the real causes of all clinical patterns, even if uncommon.

Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding: preliminary results of the University of Naples experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure indicated for the treatment of patients with morbid obesity. METHODS: From January 1996, eight patients successfully underwent the video-laparoscopic procedure. RESULTS: Preoperative body mass index was 44.4 +/- 4.7 (range 37.9-53.3). Mean operative time was 255 +/- 73 minutes (range 150-360). Mean hospital stay was 3 +/- 1 days. Intraoperative complications were absent. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results have been satisfactory, and encourage us to continue with LASGB.

[Current indications for video-laparoscopic surgery of adrenal gland neoplasms]. / Indicazioni attuali at trattamento video-laparoscopico delle neoplasie surrenaliche.

Recent advances in pathophysiology of the adrenal glands suggest new indications for adrenalectomy. In open surgery large incisions are needed to remove a small gland; on the contrary, laparoscopic procedures offer new possibilities. The present study is a review of the literature on indications, contraindications and surgical technique of laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Evaluations of these initial experiences are favourable, however, due to the small number of patients operated and to the short follow up, a definitive opinion on the role of laparoscopic surgery for adrenalectomy has to be formulated.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES), and common bile duct stones (CBDS) extraction for management of patients with cholecystocholedocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND: A combined method of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) with common bile duct stone (CBDS) extraction and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) under general anesthesia for a single-session treatment of patients with colecysto-choledocholithiasis is described. METHODS: From June 1994 to January 1995, 15 consecutive cases considered for elective LC with preoperative diagnosis of CBDS underwent this procedure. Following orotracheal intubation, the patient is turned on the left lateral decubitus for ES and CBDS extraction. Nasobiliary drainage is positioned for per-laparoscopic cholangiogram. Routine LC is finally performed. RESULTS: These two interventions were successfully accomplished in all patients. Mean duration of the operative time for the combined procedure was 97.7 +/- 30.4 min, range 60-140 min. In four (26.6%) cases an accessory trocar with retracting instrument was used to obviate the bowel distension. CONCLUSIONS: No complications of ES or LC were observed. Mean hospital stay was 3 days (range 2-5 days). Routine follow-up (mean 3 +/- 2 months, range 1-12 months) did not reveal biliary-related problems in any of the observed patients.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in obese patients compared with nonobese patients.

Obese patients treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy currently appear to be the largest risk subgroup amenable to consistent scientific evaluation. Here we report our experience and compare the results in obese patients with those obtained in nonobese patients undergoing the laparoscopic procedure. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in obese patients was technically more difficult with significantly longer operating time (p < 0.01), but intraoperative and postoperative technical complications were not significant in the groups analyzed. Obese patients present significant anesthesiological complications (p < or = 0.001). The results of this experience and the literature review indicate that the therapeutic advantages proved in nonobese patients can be extended to the obese population.

Technique of total hepatectomy in the rat.

We report a novel one-stage technique of total hepatectomy in the rat, in which the liver is replaced by an autologous prosthesis. This prosthesis is obtained from a donor rat, and consists of the subhepatic vena cava and the left renal vein harvested en block. This graft is sutured with the subdiaphragmatic cava and linked with cuffs to the subhepatic vena cava and the portal vein in the donor rat. This procedure is associated with a very low operative mortality. Rats with glucose and plasma-expander infusions survived for a mean time of 23 +/- 9 hr. This technique of total hepatectomy can be considered a valid and reproducible model of true anhepaty for metabolic and survival studies with liver support systems.

Immunostimulation in sepsis.

With the purpose of a practical synthesis the Authors consider their personal experience and an overview of the international literature on the topic, making a point of the actual knowledge on stimulation to treat the sepsis. Therefore their study take in account the characteristics of the human immune system and the peculiarities of the immunostimulating drugs today at hand, going down to practical employment of the last therapeutical applications.