Mental readiness for maritime international operation: procedures developed by Norwegian navy.

Seafarer's mental health is vital for a well-functioning organisation. Neglecting mental health status on board could be extremely costly for both the crew affected as well as the company. The present article outlines an extensive programme implemented in the Royal Norwegian Navy for personnel deployed in international operations.

Laparoscopic resection of exocrine carcinoma in central and distal pancreas results in a high rate of radical resections and long postoperative survival.

Background: The role of laparoscopic resection in patients with pancreatic cancer remains to be clarified, because previous reports have not clearly defined oncologic outcomes. The objective of the present study was to investigate this question with the rate of R0 resection and long-term survival as endpoints.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included prospectively collected data from 40 patients operated laparoscopically with curative intent for exocrine pancreatic malignancies identified among 250 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic pancreatic operations since 1997.

Comparative evaluation of laparoscopic liver resection for posterosuperior and anterolateral segments.

Background: Totally laparoscopic liver resection of lesions located in the posterosuperior segments is reported to be technically challenging. This study aimed to define whether these technical difficulties affect the surgical outcome.

Methods: A total of 220 patients underwent laparoscopic liver resection during 244 procedures from August 1998 to December 2010.

Effect of TachoSil patch in prevention of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a severe complication after pancreatic resections. The aim was to assess if application of TachoSil® patch could reduce incidence of postoperative fistulas after laparoscopic distal pancreatic resections.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data after enucleations and distal pancreatic resections.

Impact of body mass index on outcomes of laparoscopic adrenal surgery.

Objective: The aim of this article is to define the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Method: A total of 172 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group I, normal weight; group II, overweight; and group III, obesity.

Laparoscopic resection of colorectal liver metastases: surgical and long-term oncologic outcome.

Objective: To analyze the immediate and long-term outcome after laparoscopic resection of colorectal liver metastases and difference between observed and predicted [Fong's and Basingstoke Predictive Index (BPI) scores] survivals.

Background: : Laparoscopic liver resection has been reported safe and feasible and improves postoperative course. The oncologic outcomes after resection of colorectal metastases are poorly reported.

[Laparoscopic resection of primary and metastatic malignant tumors of the adrenals].

An analysis was made of experience with treatment of 24 patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenocortical carcinomas (in 7 patients) and metastases in adrenals (in 17 cases). Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was shown to be a safe and effective method of treatment of primary and metastatic tumors of the adrenals. The method can replace open operative intervention in the majority of patients with metastases to adrenals and primary cancer of the adrenals.

[Laparoscopic resection of malignant liver tumors: immediate and long-term results].

The study was concerned with laparoscopic liver resection for cancer (140) (1998-2009). Faulty intraoperative performance and postoperative complications were evaluated according to Clavien and Satava. 188 resections were performed in the course of 154 operations.

Single-centre experience of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery.

Background: Laparoscopic resection is regarded as safe and feasible in selected patients with benign pancreatic tumours. Few data exist on laparoscopic surgery for malignant lesions and larger neoplasms in unselected patients.

Methods: The study included all patients admitted to Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, from March 1997 to March 2009 for surgery of lesions in the body and tail of the pancreas, and selected patients with lesions in the pancreatic head, who underwent surgery by a laparoscopic approach with curative intent.

Laparoscopic liver resection for malignant and benign lesions: ten-year Norwegian single-center experience.

Background: The introduction of laparoscopic liver resection has been challenging because new and safe surgical techniques have had to be developed, and skepticism remains about the use of laparoscopy for malignant neoplasms. We present herein a large-volume single-center experience with laparoscopic liver resection.

Design: Retrospective study.

Should we use laparoscopic adrenalectomy for metastases? Scandinavian multicenter study.

Introduction: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for metastases is considered controversial. Multicenter retrospective study was performed to gain new knowledge in this issue.

Materials And Methods: From January 1997 till November 2008, 41 adrenalectomies were performed during follow-up of the patients operated for malignant tumors.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: Norwegian single-center experience of 242 procedures.

Background: The last 15 years have been characterized by a rapid expansion of minimally invasive surgery as treatment for adrenal diseases. During these years, both indications and surgical techniques have shown improvements. This study analyzed an 11-year single-center experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Laparoscopic resection of an intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma in ectopic pancreatic tissue.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN) is a comparatively recently recognized pancreatic neoplasm with considerable malignant potential. Surgical removal is the only therapy known to provide a cure, but the extent of surgery required is still a matter of discussion. Ectopic pancreatic tissue can occur in a variety of other locations within the gastrointestinal tract and is also known to harbor pathologic conditions that affect normally located pancreatic tissue.

[Acute abdominal pain as cause of hospitalisation].

Background: Our aim was to investigate the extent, management and use of resources in patients admitted for acute abdominal pain.

Material And Methods: A prospective analysis of patients admitted as emergencies with acute abdominal pain of less than seven days duration was performed during two 3-month periods in 2000 and 2001.

Results: 483 patients, 262 women and 221 men with median age 50 years were registered.

Laparoscopic liver resection: experience of 53 procedures at a single center.

Background/purpose: The short-term outcome following laparoscopic liver resection at a single center is presented.

Methods: Fifty-three procedures were carried out in 47 patients, between August 1998 and April 2004 (6 patients were resected on two occasions). A previous laparotomy and/or hepatectomy had been done in 83% and 26% of the procedures, respectively.

Is the learning curve for laparoscopic fundoplication determined by the teacher or the pupil?

Background: For all surgical procedures, a surgeons' learning curve can be anticipated during which complication rates are increased. The aims of this study were to evaluate individual learning curves for a group of surgeons performing laparoscopic fundoplication and to evaluate if the Procedicus MIST-simulator (Mentice Inc., Göteborg, Sweden) accurately predicts surgical performance.

Intradermal ras peptide vaccination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor as adjuvant: Clinical and immunological responses in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

K-RAS mutations are frequently found in adenocarcinomas of the pancreas, and induction of immunity against mutant ras can therefore be of possible clinical benefit in patients with pancreatic cancer. We present data from a clinical phase I/II trial involving patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas vaccinated by i.d.

Anisakiasis presenting as an obstructive duodenal tumor. A Scandinavian case.

A case of chronic anisakiasis presenting as an occluding duodenal tumor is described. Significant falls in Anisakis simplex-specific serum IgE and total IgE occurred after resection of the lesion. Histopathologic examination showed a chronic eosinophilic granulomatous infiltrate and a tubular sclerotic structure in the antral submucosa consistent with, but not diagnostic for, an A.

Asymptomatic common bile duct stones.

Patients with asymptomatic bile duct stones exhibit typical signs, such as elevated liver function tests, dilated bile ducts on ultrasound, a history of jaundice, or pancreatitis. The incidence of asymptomatic bile duct stones is about 10%, but up to 2% of patients show no signs of the disease. Bile duct stones can be diagnosed by using clinical judgement, scoring systems, or discriminant function tests.

Gut perforation caused by biliary endoprosthesis.

Two cases are reported of perforation of the gut caused by biliary endoprosthesies in the three-year period 1993-1995. The first patient was an 81-year-old man who had perforation of the terminal ileum caused by a straight 10 French/7 cm stent which had been dislodged from the bile duct; he underwent laparotomy but did not recover. The second patient was an 86-year-old man who had perforation of the sigmoid colon caused by a straight 7 French/5 cm stent left in the duodenum during a stent exchange procedure; he was successfully treated laparoscopically.

[Laparoscopic splenectomy].

From 1995 to 1998, 14 patients have been treated with laparoscopic splenectomy. Seven patients had immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), six hereditary spherocytosis and one chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia with trombocytopenia. 12 of the patients had normal or nearly normal sized spleen.

Laparoscopic and open operation in patients with perforated peptic ulcer.

Objectives: To compare the results of laparoscopic and open operations in patients with perforated peptic ulcer.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Central hospital, Norway.