Body composition changes in adolescents after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a commonly used bariatric procedure in severely obese adolescents. Weight loss after SG is associated with marked changes in body composition, but factors associated with such changes have not yet been described in adolescents.

Objective: To identify factors associated with changes in body weight and composition in adolescents 1 year after SG.

[Open versus laparoscopic appendectomy in children in a regional hospital in Israel].

Unlabelled: Although laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has already been found to be associated with greater diagnostic accuracy, less post-operative pain and shorter hospital stay as compared to open appendectomy (OA), questions remain regarding the advantages of this approach and it is still not widely practiced in children, especially in regional hospitals.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate Ha'emek Medical Center's initial experience with pediatric OA and LA between July 2002 and October 2003.

Methods: This study is a retrospective outcome analysis of pediatric OA and LA.

Splenic artery embolization for post-traumatic splenic artery pseudoaneurysm in children.

Although rare, traumatic splenic artery pseudoaneurysm (SAP) can be life threatening. The diagnostic approaches as well as the methods of treatment of SAP are yet to be determined. We present the case of a 10-year-old boy treated conservatively for a grade III blunt splenic injury (BSI).

Delayed versus immediate surgery in acute appendicitis: do we need to operate during the night?

Background/purpose: Over the last 4 years, the authors changed their management of acute nonperforated appendicitis from emergent surgery within the first 2 to 6 hours of admission to initiation of antibiotic therapy with operation within 24 hours of admission in those seen in the late evening or early morning. They examined, therefore, whether a delay in operation for acute appendicitis would affect outcome measures of patient morbidity and resource use.

Methods: The medical records of 126 patients with acute appendicitis occurring between 1998 and 2001 were retrospectively reviewed.

Gastric transposition for esophageal replacement in children: experience with 41 consecutive cases with special emphasis on esophageal atresia.

Objective: To evaluate the authors' experience with gastric transposition as a method of esophageal replacement in children with congenital or acquired abnormalities of the esophagus.

Summary Background Data: Esophageal replacement in children is almost always done for benign disease and thus requires a conduit that will last more than 70 years. The organ most commonly used in the past has been colon; however, most series have been fraught with major complications and conduit loss.