Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy at community hospitals in Honolulu, Hawai'i: a case series.

This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a community hospital setting. Minimally invasive surgical approaches for cholecystectomy achieve equivalent outcomes to the open surgical approach with less post-operative pain, improved cosmesis, shorter hospital stays, and decreased complications. Surgeons are attempting to reduce incisional trauma further by decreasing the number of incisions.

Prescription drug cost reduction in Native Hawaiians after laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass.

Objective: Native Hawaiians (NH) represent a unique population where socioeconomic factors have contributed to higher incidence rates of obesity and related comorbidities than in the general population resulting in substantial prescription medication costs. Studies demonstrate that laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass (LRYGB) surgery results in significant weight loss, improvement of comorbidities, and decreased costs for prescription medications in Caucasians. This study aimed to analyze the effects of LRYGB surgery on Native Hawaiians and their prescription drug costs.

Novel technique for preoperative localization of colorectal tumors for laparoscopic resection.

Minimally invasive surgery for resection of colon tumors is being utilized with increasing frequency making accurate preoperative tumor localization essential to proper surgical planning and patient positioning. Traditional endoscopic localization techniques such as lesion distancing from the anal verge are adequate in the majority of patients. Patients with a significantly tortuous and redundant colon, however, are at increased risk for ambiguous and incorrect lesion localization.

Robotic-assisted Roux-en-Y gastric bypass performed in a community hospital setting: the future of bariatric surgery?

Introduction: Since receiving Food and Drug Administration approval in 2000, surgery utilizing a robot has been successfully performed in numerous procedures including gastric bypass. However, despite the proven safety profile, reported lower complication rates, and technical benefits of robotic surgery, only a few centers in the USA have consistently applied this technology to bariatric surgery. In addition, there are limited studies with relatively small sample sizes comparing robotic-assisted Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RRYGB) with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB).

Band erosion: laparoscopic removal of lap-band.

Laparoscopic gastric banding is in the category of purely restrictive gastric procedures. It offers the advantage of being minimally invasive, adjustable, and reversible. The incidence of band erosion with penetration into stomach is well documented in literature.

Intestinal interposition for benign esophageal disease.

Various options exist for intestinal interposition for benign, but debilitating, end-stage esophageal disorders. Principally, the stomach, colon, or jejunum is used for esophageal replacement. Much debate exists regarding the ideal esophageal replacement option.

Long-term follow-up outcome of patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

The long-term outcome of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported. This study was performed to evaluate the long-term survival of patients with unresectable HCC after RFA and to identify possible factors that might affect survival. In this prospective study, 65 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent RFA were followed.

Impact of the number of negative nodes on disease-free survival in colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: Between 1995 and 1999, we observed an increasing number of nodes being recovered from colorectal specimens. Patients with colorectal cancer were studied to determine whether increasing the number of negative nodes recovered would better stage the patient and more accurately predict disease-free survival.

Methods: All patients undergoing colorectal resection with curative intent between 1995 and 1999 at a tertiary referral hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in Hawaii.

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for transplant is a minimally invasive, effective, and safe operation that also provides less post-operative pain and earlier return to pre-donation activity. In review of the first 10 cases, no major complications occurred and mean hospital stay was 3.7 days.