Hybrid angioplasty-catheter placement procedure performed in a hemodialysis patient with central venous obstruction disease. Presentation of a case.

Obstruction or occlusion of the central veins (Central venous disease, CVD) represents a major complication in hemodialysis patients (HD) limiting central venous access available for a central venous catheter placement. Endovascular treatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is the first therapeutic option to restore patency and gain access. This case presents our initial experience of a HD patient with CVD treated with a combination therapy of a balloon PTA to the left brachiocephalic trunk, through the right hepatic vein and standard catheter placement technique to the previously occluded junction of the left internal jugular vein to the left subclavian vein.

The Elipse Balloon, a swallowable gastric balloon for weight loss not requiring sedation, anesthesia or endoscopy: a pilot study with 12-month outcomes.

Background: The Elipse Balloon is a swallowable gastric balloon for weight loss that can be deployed without the use of endoscopy or anesthesia. This study aims to report on 12-month safety and efficacy outcomes.

Setting: Private hospital, Athens, Greece.

Elipse, the first procedureless gastric balloon for weight loss: a prospective, observational, open-label, multicenter study.

 Conventional gastric balloons for weight loss require endoscopy for placement and removal. The Elipse device is swallowed, resides in the stomach for 4 months, and is then expelled. The objectives of this study were to assess the safety of Elipse and to measure its effects on weight loss, metabolic parameters, and quality of life.

Prospective 30-Day Outcome Evaluation of a Fast-Track Protocol for 23-Hour Ambulatory Primary and Revisional Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in 820 Consecutive Unselected Patients.

Background: Results from validated national databases suggest that a 1-day length of stay (LOS) is not only unattainable in more than 20% of primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) operations, but it is also associated with an increased 30-day mortality risk. There are no published data regarding the feasibility and safety of 1-day LOS after revisional LRYGB.

Study Design: We reviewed 1 surgeon's experience after implementation of a 1-day fast-track protocol (FTP) in 784 primary and 36 revisional consecutive LRYGB patients.