Prospective multicenter registration study of colorectal cancer: significant variations in radicality and oncosurgical quality-Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research Protocol SAKK 40/00.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate in a multicenter cohort study the radicality of colorectal cancer resections, to assess the oncosurgical quality of colorectal specimens, and to compare the performance between centers.

Methods: One German and nine Swiss hospitals agreed to prospectively register all patients with primary colorectal cancer resected between September 2001 and June 2005. The median number of eligible patients with one primary tumor included per center was 95 (range 12-204).

Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair: long-term outcome with the focus on the influence of mesh reinforcement.

Background: The recurrence rate after laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernias with paraesophageal involvement (LRHP) is reported to be high. Mesh reinforcement has been proposed with the objective of solving this problem. This study aimed to compare the outcome of LRHP before and after the introduction of mesh reinforcement.

Five-year results of laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication as the primary surgical repair in GERD patients: is it durable?

Introduction: Most surgeons operate on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients using the concept of "tailored approach," which depends on esophageal motility. We have abandoned this concept and performed laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication in all patients suffering from GERD, independent of their esophageal motility.

Methods: In a prospective trial we have assessed and evaluated our 5-year results of the first 100 consecutive patients treated with laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy as trendsetter in minimal-invasive surgery].

Only 10 years after the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1986 this method has become the "gold-standard" in the treatment of uncomplicated and complicated gallbladder disease. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was so successfull, that it became the trendsetter in minimal-invasive surgery leading to revolutionary changes in all fields of surgery. Although nowadays self-evident, minimal-invasive surgery passed through a protracted and hindrance history of development.

A 6-year experience with the Swedish adjustable gastric band Prospective long-term audit of laparoscopic gastric banding.

Background: In morbid obesity conservative therapy often fails to reduce overweight permanently. As a consequence, several bariatric surgical procedures have been developed to achieve permanent excess weight loss. Among these, the laparoscopic restrictive procedures seem to be the least invasive.