Do Male Patients Benefit from Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding More than Female Patients? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Clinical trials in the field of bariatrics, and specifically laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), have frequently been gender imbalanced, with males representing only 20% of examinees. Long-term gender-oriented results, and specifically quality of life (QOL) parameters, have not been addressed sufficiently. The aim of our study was to examine the long-term gender association with outcome of LAGB including the impact on QOL.

Body contouring surgery decreases long-term weight regain following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: A matched retrospective cohort study.

Background: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) surgery is the safest yet least effective method for massive weight loss. Thirty to 50 percent of patients undergoing LAGB will regain part of their lost weight.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of body contouring plastic surgery (BCPS) following LAGB on long-term body mass index (BMI) control.

Neutrophil functions in morbidly obese subjects.

The present study aimed to determine different peripheral blood neutrophil functions in 18 morbidly obese subjects with body mass index (BMI) ranging between 35 and 69 kg/m(2) in parallel with age- and gender-matched lean controls. Peripheral blood neutrophil functions of obese subjects and matched lean controls were determined. Neutrophils of obese subjects showed significant elevation of the release of basal superoxides (P < 0.

[Gastric banding for extensive treatment of morbid obesity].

Background: Morbid obesity results in multiple comorbidities and an increased rate of mortality. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB)--a restrictive operation, has been found to be a safe, effective and durable tool in the management of morbid obesity.

Objective: Through clinical observation, the authors evaluate whether the effect of LAGB on the adjustment of the patients to the new mode of food intake and their change in lifestyle while losing weight, is restrictive or beyond.

Technical tips for laparoscopic gastric banding: 6 years' experience in 2800 procedures by a single surgical team.

Objective: We present a modified method for laparoscopic gastric banding (LGB) based on the extensive personal experience of a single team, and propose a list of comprehensive technical tips that should shorten the operation time, reduce the hospital stay, and minimize the complication rate.

Background: Gastric banding is probably the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in Europe and Australia, as well as in Israel. Because of its minimal invasiveness, efficacy, safety, reversibility, and adjustability, it is considered a breakthrough in bariatric surgery.

Twelve years of minimally invasive surgery in children and adolescents: a single center experience.

Background/purpose: Minimally invasive surgery plays an important role in the daily practice of pediatric surgeons. However, there have been few reports of large series of patients. The aim of this paper is to report our experience over the past 12 years with a broad range of pediatric laparoscopic procedures.

The experience with a modified technique for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

In this article, we describe a modified technique for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair that is easy to perform and teach. The three-keyhole process comprises two major steps: laparoscopic appreciation of the outlet dimension of the hernia and pin-tucking an appropriately sized polytetrafluoroethylene patch after the smooth face has been oriented toward the viscera. We report our experience of 231 patients who underwent the procedure electively between January 1997 and December 2001 with satisfactory results.

Influence of the cortical electrical activity level during general anaesthesia on the severity of immediate postoperative pain in the morbidly obese.

Background: The objective of anaesthesia is to provide hypnosis, analgesia and adequate conditions during surgery. It is difficult to establish the appropriate dose of general anaesthetic drugs in the morbidly obese patient. Moreover, there are conflicting data concerning adequate anaesthesia levels and the severity of postoperative pain.

[Necrotizing soft tissue infection].

The dramatic course of necrotizing soft tissue infection represents a medical emergency, since it is limb- and life-threatening. Most necrotizing soft tissue infections are caused by mixed aerobic and anaerobic Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Most case have been reported in immuno-compromised hosts after penetrating trauma or surgery.

[Retroperitoneal perforation after endoscopic sphincterotomy: the dilemma of management].

Retroperitoneal perforation is an occasional complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, which is expected to increase in frequency. The outlook for patients with this complication is good. Conservative, nonsurgical management is suitable for most patients.

Gastroscopically Assisted Balloon Tamponade for Massive Bleeding after Silastic Ring Vertical Gastroplasty.

We report a case of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding after silastic ring vertical gastroplasty. The bleeding originated from the staple-line at the insertion point of the silastic ring. A Sengstaken-Blakemore tube tamponaded the area of bleeding, by a new technique whereby the gastroscope was inserted through the gastrostomy orifice and used to guide the placement of the occluding balloon.

[Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy].

After gaining experience in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy and other laparoscopic procedures, we decided to perform laparoscopic-assisted colectomy. During July 1992 to February 1993 we performed 14 such procedures. Ages ranged from 46-83 years (mean, 68).

[Experience with biofragmentable anastomotic rings].

During 1991-92 we performed 50 bowel anastomoses using the biofragmentable anastomotic ring (BAR). The indications were malignancy (35 cases), Crohn's disease (3), dolichosigma (4), diverticulitis (2), gastric outlet obstruction (2), and 1 each for abdominal trauma, postoperative stricture, and stricture caused by ischemic colitis. The average age was 61; 28 were women and 22 men.

[Experience with laparoscopic appendectomy].

During April to August 1992, laparoscopies were performed in this department in 35 of 100 cases of appendicitis. The average patient age was 29 years; 18 of the 35 (51%) were women; 3 patients were operated on electively, and the rest as emergencies. Appendectomy was performed in 33 (94%), but not in 2 women with sepsis due to tubo-ovarian abscess; In 1 of these 2 we had to convert to laparotomy.

[Long-term weight changes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity].

100 patients were followed for 6-9 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity. They were randomly selected from 600 patients operated on between 1980-85. Their initial weight averaged 118 +/- 16 kg, which was 196 +/- 25% of their ideal body weight.

[Nutritional disturbances after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass].

200 patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass were nutritionally followed for an average of 6.7 years. They were randomly selected out of 450 patients operated on during 1980-1985.

Nutritional status seven years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

Background: Nutritional deficiencies in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operations have been mainly attributed to dietary restriction. However, most of these studies have been performed during the period of greatest caloric restriction.

Methods: Two hundred patients who were morbidly obese were followed for 6 to 8 years (mean, 6.

[Nutritional habits after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity].

The nutrition of 200 patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity was followed for 6.7 years. During the first 2 years their food intake was severely restricted, resulting in an excess weight loss of 69 +/- 14%.

[Parathyroid adenoma in a child].

Parathyroid adenoma presenting as primary hyperparathyroidism is rare in childhood. We report a case in a 9-year-old Bedouin girl. The diagnosis was based on hypercalcemia, which was found accidentally, and elevated serum parathyroid levels.

Liver histology abnormalities in the morbidly obese.

A prospective study was undertaken in order to investigate the association between clinical and biochemical parameters and the histopathological findings in liver biopsies in the morbidly obese. Wedge liver biopsy specimens were taken at the beginning of the surgical procedure from 100 consecutive morbidly obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Histological abnormalities were found in almost all of the examined material (98 of 100), which ranged from mild fatty infiltration through inflammatory change and alcoholic hepatitis-like change to fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Adrenal lipoma: a rare tumour of the adrenal gland.

We report a case of an adrenal lipoma, a very rare lesion first described in 1899 and of which a total of six cases have previously been reported (Lange 1966, Page, De Lellis & Hough 1986). Five of these cases were found incidentally at post mortem. In one case an acute hypertensive episode intra-operatively simulated the signs of phaeochromocytoma and contributed directly to the patient's death (Lange 1966).

A new approach to rectal anastomotic stricture.

A technique is presented that can serve as a solution for localized postoperative rectal stricture. This procedure was used after the failure of manual and instrumental dilatations. It consisted of cutting the prominent plication of the stricture, using the EEA stapler.