LAPAROSCOPIC INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR: THE LONG-TERM ASSESSMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

Background: Laparoscopic approaches to inguinal hernia repair include transabdominal extraperitoneal and transabdominal preperitoneal, both of which are widely performed and employ mesh. Indicators of success for these surgical procedures include incidence of complications, time to return to daily activities, incidence of postoperative chronic pain, and the long-term postoperative patient satisfaction.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare long-term postoperative incidence of chronic pain and overall quality of life among patients undergoing transabdominal extraperitoneal or transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

Which Knots Are Recommended in Laparoscopic Surgery and How to Avoid Insecure Knots.

Study Objective: To investigate why security of identical knot sequences is variable and how to avoid occasionally insecure knots.

Design: A factorial design was used to assess factors affecting the security of half knot (H) and half-hitch (S) knot combinations. The effect of tying forces and the risk factors to transform H knots into S knots were investigated.

ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY (ERCP): ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF THE PROCEDURE IN THE PATIENT WITH ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS.

Background: Obesity can be treated with bariatric surgery; but, excessive weight loss may lead to diseases of the bile duct such as cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for these conditions, and may be hampered by the anatomical changes after surgery.

Aim: Report the efficacy and the safety of videolaparoscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography technique in patients after bariatric surgery with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

What is the Best Surgeon's Knot? Evaluation of the Security of the Different Laparoscopic Knot Combinations.

Study Objective: To investigate the security of various knot combinations in laparoscopic surgery.

Design: Prospective nonrandomized trial (Canadian Task Force classification II).

Setting: Storz Training Centre, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

PRE AND POSTOPERATIVE PH MONITORING AND WEIGHT LOSS ANALYSIS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING GASTRIC PLICATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH FUNDOPLICATION.

Background: Obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease with pathological pH monitoring result may benefit from surgical treatment which is based on the fundoplication technique in association with laparoscopic gastric plication. The Nissen surgery is the gold standard for surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, whereas laparoscopic gastric plication is a restrictive surgery that consists of the invagination of the greater curvature, resulting in weight loss.

Aim: To compare pre and postoperative pHmetry results and to evaluate weight loss in patients submitted to gastroplasty with fundoplication.

ANALYSIS OF DOUBLE BALLOON ENTEROSCOPY: INDICATIONS, FINDINGS, THERAPEUTIC AND COMPLICATIONS.

Background: The double balloon enteroscopy is an important method for the endoscopic approach of the small bowel that provides diagnosis and therapy of this segment's disorders, with low complication rate.

Aim: Analysis of patients undergoing double balloon enteroscopy. The specific objectives were to establish the indications for this method, evaluate the findings by the double balloon enteroscopy, analyze the therapeutic options and the complications of the procedure.