Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of obesity surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes in three European countries(II).

Background: This study aimed to establish a payer-perspective cost-effectiveness and budget impact model of adjustable gastric banding (AGB) and gastric bypass (GBP) vs. conventional treatment (CT) in patients with a body mass index (BMI) > or = 35 kg x m(-2) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Austria, Italy, and Spain.

Methods: A health economics model described in a previous publication was applied to resource utilization and cost data in AGB, GBP, and CT from Austria, Italy, and Spain in 2009.

Use of acid suppressive medications after laparoscopic antireflux surgery: prevalence and clinical indications.

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) provides effective control of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in more than 90% of patients. Despite this high success rate, some patients continue to consume acid suppressive medications after surgical intervention. In this study we evaluate the prevalence, clinical indications, and cause of use of acid reducing drugs in patients after LARS.

"Floppy" Nissen vs. Toupet laparoscopic fundoplication: quality of life assessment in a 5-year follow-up (part 2).

Background And Study Aims: Quality of life as an outcome variable has become an important measure in clinical research. This study is the second part of a prospective assessment of the quality of life outcome, in a 5-year follow-up of patients who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication or Toupet fundoplication. Data from a 1-year follow-up have been previously published (part I).

Comparison of methods for determining cricopharyngeal intrabolus pressure in normal patients as possible indicator for cricopharyngeal myotomy.

Objective: We sought to compare methods for determining intrabolus cricopharyngeal pressure as a possible indicator for cricopharyngeal myotomy.

Study Design: We determined multiple intrabolus pressures in the cricopharyngeal region of 20 normal volunteers, of whom 12 were 20 to 35 years old and 8 were older than 75 years. Data were collected using a commercially available manofluorography system and a 6-sensor unidirectional solid-state 2- x 4-mm catheter.

Outcome of laparoscopic antireflux surgery in patients with nonerosive reflux disease.

As many as 50% of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have no endoscopic evidence of esophagitis (EGD negative). Laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) provides effective symptomatic and endoscopic healing in patients with erosive GERD (EGD positive). The surgical outcome of patients undergoing LARS for EGD-negative GERD has not received wide attention.