The diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound vs. contrast-enhanced computed tomography in local staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a bi-national multicenter study.

Background: Identification of pancreatic cancer (PC) local invasion is crucial to optimize patients' selection for surgery.

Aims: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in local staging of PC.

Methods: We performed a multicenter study including all patients with PC who underwent surgery.

Perigastric Abscess Resection During Roux-en-Y Bypass Surgery After Gastric Banding.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has a low rate of perioperative morbidity and mortality, while long-term complications are not rare. band erosion may be insidious and the patient may be asymptomatic. We present an unusual case of a 51-year-old patient who developed an intra-abdominal abscess after LAGB and required a resectional Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure.

Novel Transgastric Endoluminal Segmental Esophagectomy and Primary Anastomosis Technique: A Hybrid Transgastric Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy for the Treatment of High Grade Dysplasia and Early Esophageal Cancer in a Porcine Model.

Multiple modalities are currently employed in the treatment of high grade dysplasia and early esophageal carcinoma. While they are the subject of ongoing investigation, surgery remains the definitive modality for oncological resection. Esophagectomy, however, is traditionally a challenging surgical procedure and carries a significant incidence of morbidity and mortality.

The role of bariatric surgery in normalization of the coagulation profiles.

Background: Bariatric surgery achieves appropriate excess weight loss, controlling related co-morbidities, including coagulation abnormalities.

Objective: We investigated the change in the coagulation profile after postoperative weight stabilization, correlating between EWL ratio and change in the coagulation profile.

Setting: This study took place in our teaching institution (university setting).

Unlimited-Length Proctocolectomy Utilizing Sequential Intussusception and Pull-Through: Novel Clean Endolumenal NOTE-Assisted Technique With Transanal Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction Without Rectal Stump Opening in a Porcine Model.

Transanal, hybrid natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and NOTES-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction techniques hold promise as leaders in the field of natural orifice surgery. We report the feasibility of a novel NOTES assisted technique for unlimited length, clean, endolumenal proctocolectomy in a porcine model. This technique is a modification of a transanal intussusception and pull-through procedure recently published by our group.

Cellularized biosynthetic microhydrogel polymers for intravascular liver tissue regeneration therapy.

Introduction: The liver is the natural microenvironment for hepatocytes transplantation but unfortunately engraftment efficiency is low. Cell-laden microhydrogels made of fibrinogen attached to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-diacrylate side chains, were used as a cell carrier, for intravascular transplantation. This approach may reduce shear stress and immediate immunological pressure after intravascular transplantation and provide biomatrix for environmental support.

Treatment of large incisional abdominal wall hernias, using a modified preperitoneal prosthetic mesh repair.

Very large and complex incisional hernias, especially those with loss of abdominal wall, can be a very interesting and perplexing problem, which present a particular challenge to the surgeon. The reported technique was developed and refined by one of our surgeons, between 1998 and 1999 for the repair of incisional hernias in a selected group of patients with large defects, often with a major loss of abdominal wall, overweight and previous attempts for incisional hernia repair. The technique involves a modified preperitoneal approach and was used on 43 eligible patients between 1999 and 2002.

Internal anal sphincter function following lateral internal sphincterotomy for anal fissure: a long-term manometric study.

Background: Anal fissure is a common and painful disorder. Its relation to hypertonic anal sphincter is controversial. The most common surgical treatment of chronic anal fissure is lateral internal sphincterotomy.