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Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become a very frequent procedure in bariatric surgery. Despite its simplicity, it can have serious complications. Among these, gastric leak is one of the most feared complications. Numerous intraoperative maneuvers have been suggested in an attempt to decrease the incidence of leak. In our center, we decided to study one of the intraoperative measures proposed, which consists in positioning the suture machine to 1.5 cm from His corner., Methods: This retrospective study reported 101 cases of LSG performed in our center from 2012 to 2017. The patients were divided into two groups, with comparable anthropometric parameters and comparable inclusion criteria. In the two groups the operative technique used was the same, except for a maneuver: in the second group, attention was paid to keep a distance from the angle of at least 1.5 cm., Results: On a total of 101 procedures performed, the overall complication rate was 4,95%. In group 1 the rate of gastric staple line leak was 6.78%. In group 2 the rate was 2.38%., Conclusions: The analyzed surgical technique seems to decrease the risk of leak without significantly impacting weight loss, and we have noticed in our clinical experience a decrease in the incidence of fistula from the time this measure was adopted. Also the statistical analysis encourage the continuation of experimentation.

Background: Melatonin induces sleep and modulates immune system. Aim of the paper is to show a possible relation between impaired rhythm of melatonin secretion and the onset of postoperative septic complications and insomnia in old patients undergoing surgery., Methods: Fifty old patients, aged from 60 to 94 years, have been studied; 39.5% of the patients had neoplastic disease. Melatonin serum levels have been evaluated by ELISA technique at 12 p.m., 3 a.m. 8 a.m. immediately before operation. Postoperative clinical findings of insomnia and septic complications have been recorded., Results: The melatonin serum mean values of all the patients were 16.3 pg/ml at 12 p.m., 22.4 pg/ml at 3 a.m. and 7.1 pg/ml at 8 a.m. Neoplastic patients showed the higher values of melatonin (26.696 pg/ml, 33.143 pg/ml, 9.185 pg/ml), long-lived patients (> 90 years) the lower. The melatonin secretion curve of the old patients with postoperative insomnia (19.961 pg/ml, 20.297 pg/ml, 9.378 pg/ml) or postoperative septic complications (20.695 pg/ml, 16.183 pg/ml, 6.036 pg/ml) was significantly different compared with that of other patients. The peak was advanced, lower and decreased slowly in the midnight., Conclusions: The study seems to show a possible correlation between impaired rhythm of melatonin secretion and postoperative insomnia and postoperative sepsis in old patients undergoing surgery.

Background: It is well known that surgery induces an acute inflammatory response associated with significant increase of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C reactive protein (CRP). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a so called "mini-invasive" surgical intervention and on the basis of this consideration it has been investigated if and how serological markers of inflammation are modified in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to patients undergoing open cholecystectomy., Methods: The acute phase of inflammation (IL-6, CRP and body temperature) was evaluated in 53 patients one day before surgery and p.o. after 1, 3 and 6 days; 26 patients underwent "open" cholecystectomy and 27 LC., Results: One day after surgery patients with open cholecystectomy showed significant increase (p < 0.05) of IL-6, CRP and body temperature, while these parameters were almost unchanged in patients with LC. In patients with "open" cholecystectomy, 2 p.o. complications (pneumonia) were observed., Conclusions: In conclusion, LC, although it requires longer operative time, strongly reduces p.o. pain, hospitalization, promotes earlier recovery and return to normal activity, avoiding the acute phase of p.o. inflammation with better p.o. morbidity compared to open surgery.