Abdominal Wall Expanding System. Intraoperative Abdominal Wall Expansion as a Technique to Repair Giant Incisional Hernia and Laparostoma. New and Long-Term Results From a Three-Center Feasibility Study.

Background: The abdominal wall expanding system (AWEX) was first applied in 2012 and published in 2017. This novel technique was developed to reconstruct complex incisional hernias and residual skin-grafted laparostoma after treatment of an open abdomen, when primary midline closure was impossible. The main aim was the anatomical reconstruction of the abdominal wall and the avoidance of dissecting techniques (component separation).

Randomized clinical trial on the use of a colon-occlusion device to assist rectal washout.

Background: Transrectal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery is currently limited by the inherent risk of surgical site infection due to peritoneal contamination after rectotomy. Coloshield has been developed as a temporary colon occlusion device to facilitate rectal washout. However, effectiveness and safety has not been evaluated in humans.

Abdominal Wall Expanding System Obviates the Need for Lateral Release in Giant Incisional Hernia and Laparostoma.

Background: In large incisional hernias and after laparostoma midline closure may be impossible. A novel abdominal wall expander system (AWEX) is proposed and evaluated.

Methods: In patients with large incisional hernias and laparostoma where primary midline closure was impossible, AWEX was used.

Laparoscopic transgastric circumferential stapler-assisted vs. endoscopic esophageal mucosectomy in a porcine model.

 Extensive endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for Barrett's esophagus (BE) may lead to stenosis. Laparoscopic, transgastric, stapler-assisted mucosectomy (SAM) with the retrieval of a circumferential specimen is proposed.  SAM was evaluated in two phases.

Single-Incision and Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery in Switzerland.

Background: Single-incision laparoscopy (SIL) and natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) aim at reducing surgical access trauma. To monitor the introduction of emerging technologies, the Swiss Association for Laparo- and Thoracoscopic Surgeons launched a database in 2010. The current status of SIL and NOTES in Switzerland is reported, and the techniques are compared.

Efficacy and Safety of Combined Ultrasonic and Bipolar Energy Source in Laparoscopic Surgery.

Aim: Energy devices represent an alternative to clips and staplers for vessel sealing. Outcome data of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery with use of a novel combined ultrasonic and bipolar energy device (TB, Thunderbeat™) was gathered.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery using TB were prospectively included between November 2011 and January 2016.

Anorectal Function and Quality of Life after Transrectal Rigid-Hybrid Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Sigmoidectomy.

Background: In transrectal rigid-hybrid natural orifice translumenal endoscopic sigmoidectomy (trNS), extraction-site laparotomy is avoided, which reduces postoperative pain and improves recovery time. However, current research evaluating anorectal function after trNS is limited. This study aims to evaluate clinical continence, anorectal manometry, and quality of life in patients undergoing trNS for diverticular disease.

[Scarless surgery: a vision becoming reality?].

As minimal invasive abdominal surgery became established in the last decades, further minimization of the surgical access is in the focus now. Although laparoscopic instruments and camera systems become diminished in size there is still a need for a minilaparotomy for extraction and anastomosis of organs. NOTES (Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery) aims to avoid this minilaparotomy.

Laparoscopic Mesh-augmented Hiatoplasty With Cardiophrenicopexy Versus Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Double-center Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Laparoscopic mesh-augmented hiatoplasty with cardiophrenicopexy (LMAH-C) might represent an alternative treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and may provide durable reflux control without fundoplication. The expected benefit is the prevention of fundoplication-related side effects. Aim of the present trial was to compare LMAH-C with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) in patients with GERD.

Transrectal Rigid-Hybrid Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Sigmoidectomy for Diverticular Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Our goal was to evaluate the feasibility of transrectal rigid hybrid natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) sigmoidectomy (trNS) in a series of consecutive prospective patients with diverticular disease. The NOTES for left colectomy offers patients reduced pain and easier recovery. Limited data are available for trNS, which is considered safe for various indications.

Repair of Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernias—Is a Fundoplication Needed? A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Background: The need for a fundoplication during repair of paraesophageal hiatal hernias (PEH) remains unclear. Prevention of gastroesophageal reflux represents a trade-off against the risk of fundoplication-related side effects. The aim of this trial was to compare laparoscopic mesh-augmented hiatoplasty with simple cardiophrenicopexy (LMAH-C) with laparoscopic mesh-augmented hiatoplasty with fundoplication (LMAH-F) in patients with PEH.

Total inverse transgastric resection with transoral specimen removal.

Background: Laparoscopic local excision is accepted for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and benign lesions of the stomach. Yet, tumors at the gastroesophageal junction, on the posterior wall, or in the distal antrum are difficult to approach. Such tumors often must be exposed via gastrotomy or using a rendezvous maneuver.

The transvaginal hybrid NOTES versus conventionally assisted laparoscopic sigmoid resection for diverticular disease (TRANSVERSAL) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is the consequence of further development of minimally invasive surgery to reduce abdominal incisions and surgical trauma. The potential benefits are expected to be less postoperative pain, faster convalescence, and reduced risk for incisional hernias and wound infections compared to conventional methods. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of transvaginal NOTES, and transvaginal access is currently the most frequent clinically applied route for NOTES procedures.

Pylephlebitis of a variant mesenteric vein complicating sigmoid diverticulitis.

Pylephlebitis--suppurative thrombophlebitis of the portal and/or mesenteric veins--is a rare complication of abdominal infections, especially diverticulitis. It can lead to severe complications such as hepatic abscess, sepsis, peritonitis, bowel ischemia, etc., which increase the mortality rate.

Perception of preference and risk-taking in laparoscopy, transgastric, and rigid-hybrid transvaginal NOTES for cholecystectomy.

Questions Under Study: Few data are available regarding patients' perceptions of new cholecystectomy (CC) techniques, in the context of the patients' risk behaviours. We investigated patients' preferences for transgastric pure natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES; transgastric NCC) and rigid-hybrid transvaginal NOTES CC (tvNCC) compared with the standard laparoscopic CC (SL-CC), and patients' risk behaviours.

Methods: A total of 140 inpatients scheduled for elective laparoscopic CC were enrolled in this prospective single-centre study, from January 2009 to January 2010.

Routine cholangiography during rigid-hybrid transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Transvaginal rigid-hybrid transluminal endoscopic cholecystectomy (tvCCE) has become a routine procedure in some laparoscopic departments in recent years. Although intraoperative cholangiography is an important adjunct to cholecystectomy, its feasibility and safety in tvCCE have not been demonstrated to date.

Methods: Patients undergoing tvCCE between April and October 2012 were included in this study.

Endolumenal colon occlusion device for transanal and transrectal surgery--a porcine feasibility study.

Purpose: Although several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of transrectal natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), its clinical application has been hindered by concerns regarding potential infectious complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a newly developed device for endolumenal colon occlusion (ColoShield) in an acute porcine model.

Methods: The principle of the ColoShield device is based on two balloons, with negative pressure in between.

Evaluation of sexual function in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal NOTES: a prospective cohort study of 106 patients.

Purpose: The primary objective of this prospective cohort study was to investigate sexual function, quality of life and patient satisfaction in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES).

Patients And Methods: This prospective single-centre cohort study included sexually active female patients after transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy or anterior resection. Sexual life impairment and quality of life were assessed by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) prior and 1 year after surgery.

Athrombogenic coating of long-term venous catheter for cancer patients: a prospective, randomised, double-blind trial.

Cancer patients with long-term venous catheter are at risk for thromboembolic complications at the catheter tip and in the adjacent venous vessels. We assessed whether local thrombogenicity could be prevented with an experimental coated (with athrombogenic layer) catheter device (CD) compared to an uncoated CD. Patients requiring a long-term venous catheter were randomly allocated to receive either a standard uncoated or experimental coated (with athrombogenic Camouflage® layer) CD.

Transvaginal rigid-hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery technique for anterior resection treatment of diverticulitis: a feasibility study.

Background: In laparoscopic anterior resection, minilaparotomy still is required. Recently, transvaginal hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) techniques for cholecystectomy have been described. Reports on operations that require removal of larger specimens, as in anterior resection, are scarce and limited primarily to small case series and case reports.

Evaluation of endoscopy in localizing transgastric access for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in humans.

Background: To date, transgastric access in humans for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has been poorly evaluated.

Objective: To compare endoscopic visualization of the transgastric access point with the laparoscopically defined ideal entrance to the peritoneal cavity.

Design: Prospective pilot study in humans.

Laparoscopic mesh-augmented hiatoplasty as a treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernias-preliminary clinical and functional results of a prospective case series.

Background: Because fundoplication-related side effects are frequent, we evaluated laparoscopic mesh-augemented hiatoplasty (LMAH) as a potential treatment option for gastroesophageal reflux disease and/or symptomatic hiatal herania. LMAH aims to prevent reflux solely by mesh-reinforced narrowing of the hiatus and lengthening of the intra-abdominal esophagus.

Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients with LMAH were evaluated prospectively using a modified Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire, pH measurement, manometry, and endoscopy.

Efficacy of laparoscopic mesh-augmented hiatoplasty in GERD and symptomatic hiatal hernia. Study using combined impedance-pH monitoring.

Background: Laparoscopic fundoplication is the standard antireflux procedure. However, side effects such as gas bloating indicate that the procedure is not unproblematic. Laparoscopic mesh-augmented hiatoplasty (LMAH) might be an alternative operation aimed at restoring the intra-abdominal part of the esophagus and reducing the size of the diaphragmatic hiatus.