The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 as determined by routine preoperative testing.

Background: The coronavirus disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has swiftly spread throughout the globe, greatly influencing all aspects of life. As in previous pandemics, concerns for limited resources and a sustainable medical workforce have been on the forefront of infrastructure modifications. Consequently, surgical specialties have needed to consider each surgical case for necessity and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Intraoperative identification of adrenal-renal fusion.

Adrenal - renal fusion is a rare entity defined as incomplete encapsulation of the adrenal gland and kidney with histologically adjacent functional tissue. This report describes the first published intraoperative identification of this anomaly during laparoscopic adrenalectomy. The patient was a 59-year-old man with chronic hypertension refractory to multiple antihypertensives found to be caused by a right-sided aldosterone-producing adrenal adenoma in the setting of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: hyperamylasemia is associated with small bowel obstruction.

Background: Small bowel obstruction after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) can be difficult to diagnose, but usually requires surgical treatment; clinical presentation may be nonspecific. Delay in diagnosis can result in catastrophic outcomes. Patients who present with small bowel obstruction after gastric bypass occasionally have pancreatic enzyme elevation and have been misdiagnosed as having acute pancreatitis.

Endoscopic interventions for weight loss surgery.

In this paper we review the state-of-the-art in endoscopic interventions for obesity treatment and make best practice recommendations for weight loss surgery (WLS). We performed a systematic search of English-language literature published between April 2004 and June 2008 in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library on WLS and endoscopic interventions, endoscopically placed devices, minimally invasive surgery, image-guided surgery, endoluminal surgery, endoscopic instrumentation, interventional gastroenterology, transluminal surgery, and natural orifice transluminal surgery. We also searched the literature on endoscopic interventions and WLS and patient safety.

Primary laparoscopic gastric bypass can be performed safely in patients with BMI >or= 60.

Background: Several studies suggest patients with a body mass index (BMI; calculated as kg/m(2)) >or= 60 have a greater operative risk and so advocate a staged approach to bariatric procedures. This requires two separate operations and all associated risks. At our institution, we do not perform staged bariatric operations for these patients; we execute a single-stage laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LGBP).

Comparison of permanent and nonpermanent staple line buttressing materials for linear gastric staple lines during laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Background: Several publications have suggested that staple line buttressing might decrease staple line bleeding, increase burst pressure, and decrease the likelihood of acute failure resulting in leak. Currently, permanent and nonpermanent options are available. However, concern has been raised about the permanent buttress material and its potential for delayed strip expulsion.

Nutrition and gastrointestinal complications of bariatric surgery.

At present, bariatric surgery is the only treatment that can achieve meaningful and sustainable weight loss for the millions of morbidly obese individuals. The current popular operative procedures (the Roux-en-y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, and the biliopancreatic diversion with or without duodenal switch) are all relatively safe and effective. However, all of these procedures, to variable degrees, alter the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: results and learning curve of a high-volume academic program.

Hypothesis: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a complex procedure performed on a high-risk patient population. Good results can be attained with experience and volume.

Design: Retrospective study.

Reinforcing gastric staple-lines with bovine pericardial strips may decrease the likelihood of gastric leak after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Background: Staple-line leakage is a potentially devastating complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP). Bovine pericardial strips (BPS) have been used to reinforce staple-lines in pulmonary resections and have been shown to decrease air-leaks. This study examined the use of BPS to decrease gastric staple-line leaks.