Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: A hiatal hernia is present in up to 50% of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. It has been claimed that laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) can both improve and induce reflux symptoms. The effect of a simultaneous crural repair and gastric banding has not yet been reported. METHODS: Since 1999, all patients undergoing LAGB have a simultaneous crural repair if a hiatal hernia is present. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and dysphagia were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using the modified DeMeester symptom-scoring system and the use of anti-reflux medication. RESULTS: 62 patients with a hiatal hernia have undergone simultaneous LAGB and crural repair, with a median follow up of 14 (3-38) months. There was no mortality, and complications occurred in 3 patients, namely pulmonary embolus, slippage requiring repositioning of the band and persistent dysphagia requiring band removal. 24 months following LAGB and crural repair, median BMI had fallen from 43 to 31 kg/m2 and median excess weight loss was 53%. Modified DeMeester symptom-score fell from a preoperative median of 3 (0-5) to a postoperative median of 0 (0-2) (P < 0.01, Mann Whitney U), and the number of patients on anti-reflux medication decreased from 44 to 6 (P < 0.01, Chi-squared). CONCLUSION: Crural repair in addition to LAGB does not increase the risk of slippage or dysphagia, significantly improves reflux symptoms and decreases the need for anti-reflux medication

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is an effective and safe surgical treatment for morbid obesity. Initial experience with the Lap-Band system (Inamed Health, Santa Barbara, California) in the United States and Australia has demonstrated that surgical technique can affect outcomes in terms of weight loss, quality of life, and complication rates. Placement of the gastric band by means of the perigastric technique is associated with high rates of gastric prolapse, food intolerance, and weight loss failure that frequently lead to band explantation. In the pars flaccida technique, band placement higher on the stomach results in the formation of a smaller pouch and lower rates of gastric prolapse, which may contribute to greater weight loss and improved quality of life. This article describes the technical aspects of the pars flaccida approach in the laparoscopic placement of adjustable gastric bands

BACKGROUND: Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) is an effective operation for morbid obesity. Fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies are known complications of this procedure, with incidence rates reported as high as 6%. Case Report: A-36-year old morbidly obese female with BMI 60.6 kg/m(2) underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, followed 2 years later by BPD in an attempt to control her weight. Following BPD, she failed to attend outpatient appointments and was poorly compliant with daily multivitamins and monitoring of serum vitamin and mineral levels. She developed symptomatic vitamin A deficiency, with vitamin A levels <0.1 micromol/L, and night blindness, as well as deficiencies of vitamins D, E and K, zinc and selenium. Her vitamin deficiencies were corrected with appropriate supplements and her night blindness resolved. DISCUSSION: This case raises the issues of preoperative screening of patients and compliance, as well as life-long postoperative monitoring of serum vitamin and mineral levels. With better compliance with outpatient appointments, prescribed multivitamins and oral vitamin A tablets, as well as regular monitoring of serum vitamin and mineral levels, vitamin deficiencies and their consequences, such as night blindness, may be avoided

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of spleen weight on operative and clinical outcome in a series of 108 consecutive laparoscopic splenectomies. BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy as an alternative to open splenectomy for splenomegaly is regarded as controversial. METHODS: Patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for a range of hematological disorders between November 1992 and February 2000. Multiple linear and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the effect of massive splenomegaly (>1000 g) on perioperative mortality and morbidity, after adjusting for the joint effects of patient age, weight, pre- and postoperative full blood counts, operating time, estimated blood loss, conversion rate, reoperation rate, and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: Massive splenomegaly was recorded in 27 of 108 (25%) cases. In this group, splenic weight ranged from 1000 to 4750 g (median, 2500 g). Patients with splenic weight >1000 g had a significantly longer median operating time (170 vs. 102 minutes, P < 0.01), conversion rate (5/27 vs. 4/81, P < 0.05), postoperative morbidity (15/27 vs. 4/81, P < 0.01), and median postoperative stay (5 vs. 3 days, P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis found splenic weight to be the most powerful predictor of morbidity (P < 0.01). Patients with splenomegaly (>1000 g) were 14 times likely to have post operative complications. One patient died 3 days after surgery, following a pulmonary embolus (spleen weight 500 g, mortality 1/108, 0.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic splenectomy is feasible in patients with giant spleens. However, it is associated with greater morbidity, and the advantages of minimal access surgery in this subgroup of patients are not so clear

BACKGROUND: Remission of diabetes following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has been postulated to occur partly by bypass of the foregut. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) also reduces food intake but does not bypass the foregut, and its effects on diabetes have yet to be elucidated. METHODS: Patients with diabetes or a history of diabetes and >6 months follow-up after LAGB were studied. Follow-up was conducted separately by a surgeon with regard to weight loss and potential morbidity and by a physician with regard to diabetic control. RESULTS: 14 patients had had gestational diabetes, and diabetes was controlled by diet in 25, oral hypoglycemics in 38 and insulin in 11 patients. Reduction in body mass index (BMI) and percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) were similar in these 4 subgroups, with a median reduction in BMI of 11.7 kg/m(2) and %EWL of 51.1% at 24 months. 26 of 38 patients controlled with oral hypoglycemic medication and 6 of 11 insulin-dependent diabetics had all medication stopped at a median of 6.5 months following LAGB. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified %EWL > or = 30.6% at 6 months as the only significant predictor of remission of diabetes. Conclusion:Two-thirds of the diabetic patients have had remission of diabetes following LAGB. LAGB is an effective treatment for diabetes in obese patients

BACKGROUND: 4% of adolescents in the U.S.A. are obese, 80% of whom will become obese adults. Obesity in adolescence is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in adulthood. Is laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding a safe and effective method of weight loss in morbidly obese adolescents? METHODS: Since 1996, data has been prospectively collected on all patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) by a single surgeon. Patients are reviewed at 6 and 12 weeks following surgery, then at 3 monthly intervals. Weight loss is measured in absolute terms, reduction in body mass index (BMI) and as percentage of excess weight loss. RESULTS: 17 patients with a median age of 17 (12 to 19) years underwent LAGB. Median follow-up was 25 (12 to 46) months. 2 complications occurred, 1 slipped band and 1 leaking port. BMI fell from a preoperative median of 44.7 to 30.2 kg/m2 at 24 months following surgery, corresponding to a median loss of 35.6 kg or 59.3% of excess weight. 13 of 17 patients (76.5%) lost at least 50% of their excess weight, and 9 of 11 patients (81.8%) had a BMI < 35 kg/m2 at 24 months following surgery. CONCLUSION: LAGB is a safe and effective method of weight loss in morbidly obese adolescents, at least in the medium term. Its role in preventing obesity and obesity-related disease in adulthood remains to be determined as part of our long-term study

The early promise of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding was tempered by reports of high rates of gastric herniation or prolapse. These complications are a function of the operative technique used early on. At the time, in the early 1990s, the LAP-BAND device (INAMED Health, Santa Barbara, CA) was placed lower on the stomach, near the first short gastric vessel. The required perigastric dissection was difficult and variable in its extent, depending on the width of the stomach and where the surgeon began the dissection. To combat these problems, a new surgical method for placement of the band has evolved. Called the pars flaccida technique, it emphasizes minimal dissection and placement of the LAP-BAND out of the lesser sac. This leads to a higher position of the band, away from the body of the stomach. The technique serves to make band placement simple, safe, reproducible, and easily teachable, as well as to decrease the rate of gastric herniation or prolapse. Keeping the band out of the lesser sac, away from the peristalsing stomach, minimizing dissection of the attachments to the stomach, paying strict attention to gastric-to-gastric suturing, and leaving all fluid out of the band until at least 6 weeks after surgery appear to be the most important factors in reducing the incidence of this complication

BACKGROUND: The response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to therapy is often disappointing and new modalities of treatment are clearly needed. Active immunotherapy based on the injection of autologous dendritic cells (DC) co-cultured ex vivo with tumor antigens has been used in pilot studies in various malignancies such as melanoma and lymphoma with encouraging results. METHODS: In the present paper, the preparation and exposure of patient DC to autologous HCC antigens and re-injection in an attempt to elicit antitumor immune responses are described. RESULTS: Therapy was given to two patients, one with hepatitis C and one with hepatitis B, who had large, multiple HCC and for whom no other therapy was available. No significant side-effects were observed. The clinical course was unchanged in one patient, who died a few months later. The other patient, whose initial prognosis was considered poor, is still alive and well more than 3 years later with evidence of slowing of tumor growth based on organ imaging. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that HCC may be a malignancy worthy of DC trials and sufficient details in the present paper are given for the protocol to be copied or modified