Stress and heart rate variability in surgeons during a 24-hour shift.

Objective: To determine the specific effects of working long hours in surgery and potential cardiac stress in the individual surgeon by measuring heart rate variability (HRV).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective study measured HRV before, during, and after a 24-hour shift in a standardized resting period of 10 minutes. Measurements were repeated over 10 shifts for each participant.

Submandibular ectopic thyroid gland.

Ectopic thyroid glands are generally a rare entity appearing mostly in the cervical midline (90% of the cases) and even more rarely in other anatomical sites (10%). We present the case of an ectopic submandibular thyroid gland. An 81-year-old woman was referred to our department with a history of right-sided submandibular swelling.

Intracolonic penetration of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding tube.

The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) has become a common, usually successful treatment for morbid obesity. Complications occur in 10-20%, most commonly band slippage and port system problems, especially infection of the port area. A rare complication is penetration of the band into the stomach.