[Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy: initial results of a series of 200 cases].

Introduction: Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CL) has not been generalised due to the fear of complications by the surgeon and preference of patients for hospitalisation. This situation could be changed by setting up strict selection criteria and providing hospital home care. The aims of this study are to find out what percentage of our population fulfil these criteria, confirm their validity and find out if the surgical process should be improved before being introduced.

Two Doses of oxaliplatin with capecitabine (XELOX) in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Phase II/III studies have shown XELOX to be as effective as FOLFOX in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). The study was designed to evaluate the activity and tolerability of XELOX in CRC. In August 2002, we began a prospective study of XELOX as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic CRC.

Intra-abdominal pressure as a marker of severity in acute pancreatitis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is one of the main causes of intra-abdominal hypertension, which may lead to multiple physiologic alterations. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between acute pancreatitis and intra-abdominal hypertension, and to evaluate the utility of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) as a marker of severity in acute pancreatitis.

Methods: From July 2002 to July 2004, 45 patients admitted for acute pancreatitis were included in this prospective, observational study.