Single-incision laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in 101 consecutive patients: choledochotomy, transcystic, and transfistulous approaches.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery for choledocholithiasis is still evolving. Only a few reports of single-incision laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) have been published.

Methods: One hundred and one consecutive patients underwent single-incision LCBDE (SILCBDE) by one surgeon with straight instruments during a 42-month period.

Laparoscopic tension-free abdominal wall repair: impact of mesh size and of different fixation devices in a consecutive series of 120 patients.

Purpose: To assess the impact of mesh size and fixation devices on short-term outcomes in a consecutive series of tension-free laparoscopic abdominal wall repairs.

Methods: Data for 120 consecutive, unselected patients undergoing tension-free laparoscopic incisional (n=63) or umbilical (n=57) hernia repair were prospectively collected. A multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate variables influencing outcomes.

Endoscopy-Assisted Total Mastectomy Followed by Immediate Pedicled Transverse Rectus Abdominis Musculocutaneous (TRAM) Flap Reconstruction: Preliminary Results of 48 Patients.

Background: Endoscopy-assisted breast surgery performed through minimal axillary and/or periareolar incisions is a viable option for patients with breast cancer. In this study, we report the preliminary results of patients with breast cancer who underwent endoscopy-assisted total mastectomy (EATM) followed immediately by pedicled transverse abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction.

Methods: Patients in this study comprised women with breast cancer who received EATM and pedicled TRAM flap reconstruction.

Management of staple line leaks after sleeve gastrectomy in a consecutive series of 378 patients.

Introduction: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is gaining acceptance as a stand-alone bariatric procedure with proven efficacy on weight loss and obesity-related comorbidities. A specific and potentially severe complication of LSG is the staple line leak (SLL). Our aim was to report the SLL rate and its management in a prospective cohort of 378 LSGs.

CDH1 polymorphisms and haplotypes in sporadic diffuse and intestinal gastric cancer: a case-control study based on direct sequencing analysis.

Background: Findings related to the influence of the -160C → A promoter polymorphism and haplotypes of the E-cadherin (CDH1) gene have not been consistent in previous studies regarding the risk for sporadic gastric cancer. Investigators in most previous studies detected those genotypes using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Therefore, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of the CDH1 - 160C → A promoter polymorphism and haplotypes for cancer risk related to sporadic diffuse and intestinal gastric cancer by direct sequencing analysis.

Stereoscopic visualization of laparoscope image using depth information from 3D model.

Laparoscopic surgery is indispensable from the current surgical procedures. It uses an endoscope system of camera and light source, and surgical instruments which pass through the small incisions on the abdomen of the patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Conventional laparoscope (endoscope) systems produce 2D colored video images which do not provide surgeons an actual depth perception of the scene.

Revisional surgery after failed adjustable gastric banding: institutional experience with 90 consecutive cases.

Background: Revisional surgery may be required in a high percentage of patients (up to 30 %) after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). We report our institutional experience with revisional surgery.

Methods: From January 1996 to November 2011, 90 patients underwent revisional surgery after failed LAGB.

Automatic distortion correction of endoscopic images captured with wide-angle zoom lens.

Operation in minimally invasive surgery is more difficult since the surgeons perform operations without haptic feedback or depth perception. Moreover, the field of view perceived by the surgeons through endoscopy is usually quite limited. The goal of this paper is to allow surgeons to see wide-angle images from endoscopy without the drawback of lens distortion.

Three-dimensional metabolic and radiologic gathered evaluation using VR-RENDER fusion: a novel tool to enhance accuracy in the localization of parathyroid adenomas.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a novel imaging modality, three-dimensional (3D) metabolic and radiologic gathered evaluation (MeRGE), for localizing parathyroid adenomas (PAs).

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent both thin-slice cervical computed tomography (CT) and (99m)Tc-sestamibi (MIBI) scanning were included. 3D-CT reconstruction was obtained using VR-RENDER, which was used to perform 3D virtual neck exploration (3D-VNE).

Conversion from cephalic vein to external jugular vein: success rate increased on totally implantable access ports with cut-down method.

Background: Totally implantable access ports (Port-A) can be inserted using 2 techniques: cut-down and percutaneous. The cut-down method is safer than the percutaneous method. However, the cut-down method has a higher failure rate.

Evolution of glycolipid profile after sleeve gastrectomy vs. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: results of a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Background: This study aims to report glycolipid changes after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in the setting of a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Methods: One hundred patients were randomly assigned to RYGB (n = 45) and SG (n = 55). Fasting glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c%), triglycerides, and serum cholesterol (total, HDL, and LDL) were evaluated at inclusion and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.

Laparoscopy-assisted billroth I gastrectomy for ectopic pancreas in the prepyloric region.

Ectopic pancreatic tissue is an uncommon developmental anomaly. The condition mostly occurs in the gastrointestinal tract and is usually asymptomatic. It rarely causes symptoms of inflammation, bleeding and perforation, and has potential for malignant change.

Deformable three-dimensional model architecture for interactive augmented reality in minimally invasive surgery.

Background: Surgical procedures have undergone considerable advancement during the last few decades. More recently, the availability of some imaging methods intraoperatively has added a new dimension to minimally invasive techniques. Augmented reality in surgery has been a topic of intense interest and research.

Mentored trainees obtain comparable operative results to experts in complex laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of an expert monitoring on the quality and results of laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann's procedure (LRHP) performed by trainee surgeons by comparing their results to the expert's outcomes.

Methods: Forty-two LRHP were performed between 2000 and 2008 following a step-by-step, standardised, full laparoscopic procedure. Patients operated upon by a senior surgeon were compared to patients operated upon by trainee surgeons while being mentored by the senior surgeon.

Competitive edge of laparoscopic appendectomy versus open appendectomy: a subgroup comparison analysis.

Background: With the advances in laparoscopic instruments and surgical techniques, the use of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has been increasing rapidly in recent years. In this retrospective analysis, we aimed to determine the competitive edge of LA versus open appendectomy (OA) in different settings of disease complexity, gender, and age difference.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis at Changhua and Chang-Bing Show-Chwan Memorial Hospitals from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009 was conducted.

Life-threatening hemobilia caused by hepatic pseudoaneurysm after T-tube choledochostomy: report of a case.

Background: Hemobilia is a rare but lethal biliary tract complication. There are several causes of hemobilia which might be classified as traumatic or nontraumatic. Hemobilia caused by pseudoaneurysm might result from hepatobiliary surgery or percutaneous interventional hepatobiliary procedures.

Fully laparoscopic colorectal anastomosis involving percutaneous endoluminal colonic anvil control (PECAC).

Introduction: A novel technique for secure placement of the anvil for mechanical stapled anastomosis in the proximal colon without exteriorization of the bowel is described.

Methods: After standard laparoscopic segmental colonic mobilization, a needle-cannula from a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy kit is passed under direct endoscopic vision transparietally into the colon at the site intended for anvil placement. A wire passed through the cannula into the colon is then withdrawn endoscopically per ano.

Transection of the esophagus is optional in the Modified Sugiura procedure.

Background/aims: Esophageal transection in the Modified Sugiura procedure is advocated by some authors, but considered unnecessary by others. We compared the effectiveness of the Modified Sugiura procedure to our simplified Sugiura procedure that omits esophageal transection for the emergency treatment of bleeding esophagogastric varices.

Methodology: From January 1999 to September 2004 we treated 51 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and bleeding esophagogastric varices.

Total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation for secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: To treat secondary hyperparathyroidism with subtotal parathyroidectomy or total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation might cause the disease to recur because of growth of the parathyroid remnant or the autografts. The aim of the present study was to determinate an alternative surgical treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: Of 94 uremic patients, 44 (median age: 50.

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma: Report of a case and review of the literature.

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenomas (RMCs) are very rare and their biological behavior and histogenesis remain speculative. An accurate preoperative diagnosis of these tumors is difficult because no effective diagnostic measures have been established. We describe a 29-year-old woman with abdominal pain and a palpable mass.

The treatment of isolated left-sided hepatolithiasis.

Background/aims: It has been over 20 years since percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotomy (PTCSL) or left lateral segmentectomy with postoperative cholangioscopy (POC) was applied in treating isolated left-sided hepatolithiasis (ILH). However, their efficacy in treating ILH is not elucidated clearly in the literature.

Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted in 59 patients with ILH undergoing either PTCSL or left lateral segmentectomy with POC during the past 22 years.