Laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by surgical trainees.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess morbidity, mortality, and outcome in select patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by consultants or by Specialist Registrars (SpRs) and Senior House Officers (SHO), in the General Hospital of Ioannina 'G. Hatzikosta' in northwestern Greece.

Methods: Between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2005, 1370 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed, 445 (33%) by SpRs and SHO and 925 (67%) by consultants.

Leg oedema and exertional dyspnea due to aortocaval fistula complicating an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Aortocaval fistula (ACF) represents a rare complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) that may lead to hyperdynamic heart failure. We briefly describe a 58-year-old man with an old myocardial infarction, who developed leg oedema and worsening exertional dyspnea due to ACF complicating an AAA. This uncommon case highlights that an appropriate investigation for AAA and ACF should be performed in high-risk patients presenting with a history of worsening leg oedema and dyspnea in the absence of an obvious precipitating factor.

Ultrasonically activated shears in extended lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer.

Gastrectomy, followed by extended lymphadenectomy, is the treatment of choice in some stages of advanced gastric cancer. Lymphorrhea, as a result of the many divided lymphatic vessels, increases the morbidity. Ultrasonically activated coagulated shears (UACS) may divide all small vessels followed by immediate sealing of the coapted vessel walls.

Intracystic pressure and viability in hydatid disease of the liver.

Background: Knowledge on the viability of hydatid cysts of the liver during operation is important to the surgeon may dictate the peri-operative therapeutic manoeuvre undertaken.

Patients And Methods: A prospective study was performed on 23 patients with 28 hydatid cysts of the liver to assess whether intracystic pressure (ICP) could predict viability of protoscoleces. All patients received albendazole (10 mg/kg body weight/day) for 5 days pre-operatively.

The role of oxygen-derived free radicals in peritoneal adhesion formation induced by ileal ischaemia/reperfusion.

The effectiveness of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and allopurinol in prevention of peritoneal adhesion formation induced by complete vascular obstruction and reperfusion of an ileal segment was investigated in rats. The ischaemic period was 30 min. Group A (n = 20) were controls, group B (n = 15) received SOD 15,000 U/kg i.