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Background and Objectives: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has been shown to offer superior outcomes when compared to open splenectomy (OS). Despite the potential advantages associated with the minimally invasive technique, laparoscopy appears to be underused. We sought to evaluate the nationwide trends in LS., Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried for both OS and LS procedures performed from 2005 through 2010. Partial splenectomies and those performed for traumatic injury, vascular anomaly, or as part of a pancreatectomy were excluded. The included cases were examined for age of the patient and comorbid conditions. We then evaluated the postoperative complications, overall morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay., Results: A total of 37,006 splenectomies were identified. Of those, OS accounted for 30,108 (81.4%) cases, LS for 4,938 (13.3%), and conversion to open surgery (CS) for 1,960 (5.3%). The overall rate of morbidity was significantly less in the LS group than in the OS group (7.4% vs 10.4%; P < .0001). The LS group had less mortality (1.3% vs 2.5%, P < .05) and a shorter length of stay (5.6 ± 8 days vs 7.5 ± 9 days)., Conclusions: Despite the benefits conferred by LS, it appears to be underused in the United States. There has been an improvement in the rate of splenectomies completed laparoscopically when compared to NIS data from the past (8.8% vs 13%; P < .05). The conversion rate is appreciably higher for LS than for other laparoscopic procedures, suggesting that splenectomies require advanced laparoscopic skills and that consideration should be given to referring patients in need of the procedure to appropriately experienced surgeons.

Background: Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery has been shown to be a well-tolerated alternative for the placement of an adjustable gastric band. To date, only small series have suggested that this approach may provide potential clinical benefits over standard multiport laparoscopy. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients undergoing LESS adjustable gastric banding (LESS-AGB) and a cohort of patients undergoing standard multiport laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB)., Methods: A total of 206 patients underwent placement of an adjustable gastric band. Of these, 106 patients underwent LESS-AGB and were compared with a demographically similar cohort of 100 patients who underwent standard LAGB. Data collected included operative time, parenteral and oral narcotic consumption, duration of patient controlled analgesia (PCA) device, subjective pain scores using the 0-10 numeric pain intensity scale, and length of stay. Unpaired t test was used for analysis., Results: Compared with multiport LAGB patients, LESS-AGB patients reported significantly less pain at the first postoperative hour (P = .012), twelfth postoperative hour (P = .017), and twenty-fourth postoperative hour (P = .012), and consumed fewer oral analgesic tablets (P = .012). Operative times were significantly longer in the LESS-AGB group (P = .029). No significant differences were seen in duration of PCA, parenteral narcotic consumption, or length of stay. One LESS-AGB case required conversion to multiport laparoscopy. Complication rates were similar between the 2 groups., Conclusion: LESS-AGB is associated with less pain and less oral analgesic consumption than multiport LAGB. Given these clinical advantages and superior cosmetic results, laparoendoscopic single-site surgery may be an attractive alternative approach for patients considering LAGB., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Although the mortality from bariatric surgery is low, perioperative determinants of morbidity and mortality in the bariatric surgery population to date have not been fully defined. This study aimed to evaluate the factors capable of predicting perioperative mortality based on preoperative characteristics with a national patient sample., Methods: From the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database, all the primary bariatric procedures performed between 2007 and 2009 were identified. Using univariate analysis, factors associated with increased perioperative (30-day) mortality were identified. Logistic regression was used to select correlates of 30-day mortality, which were subsequently integrated into a simplified clinical scoring system based on the number of comorbid risk factors., Results: The study identified 44,408 patients (79 % women, 21 % men) with a mean age of 45 ± 11 years. The cumulative 30-day perioperative mortality rate was 0.14 %. The majority of the procedures performed included laparoscopic gastric bypass (54 %) followed by laparoscopic gastric banding (33 %) and open gastric bypass (7 %). Independent predictors associated with significantly increased mortality included age >45 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 2.45], male gender (AOR = 1.77), a body mass index (BMI) of 50 kg/m(2) or higher (AOR, 2.48), open bariatric procedures (AOR, 2.34), diabetes (AOR, 2.88), functional status of total dependency before surgery (AOR, 27.6), prior coronary intervention (AOR, 2.66), dyspnea at preoperative evaluation (AOR, 4.64), more than 10 % unintentional weight loss in 6 months (AOR, 13.5), and bleeding disorder (AOR, 2.63). Ethnicity, hypertension, alcohol abuse, liver disease, and smoking had no significant association with mortality in this study. Risk stratification based on the number of preoperative comorbid factors showed an exponential increase in mortality as follows: 0-1 comorbidities (0.03 %), 2-3 comorbidities (0.16 %), and 4 comorbidities or more (7.4 %)., Conclusion: This model provides a straightforward, precise, and easily applicable tool for identifying bariatric patients at low, intermediate, and high risk for in-hospital mortality. Notably, baseline functional status before surgery is the single most powerful predictor of perioperative survival and should be incorporated into risk stratification models.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is commonly performed using multiple ports. The quest to minimize surgical trauma has led to the development of single port laparoscopy, which has been shown to be a safe, less-invasive method of performing a variety of abdominal surgeries. We describe the feasibility and safety of single port sleeve gastrectomy (SPSG) for morbid obesity at an academic affiliate of a university hospital., Methods: A total of 25 patients undergoing elective SPSG were compared with a demographically similar contemporaneous cohort of 9 patients who underwent standard multiple port laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The data collected included the operative time, narcotic consumption, duration of patient controlled analgesia use, subjective pain scores, and length of stay., Results: The patients undergoing SPSG experienced significantly less pain at 1 hour postoperatively (P = .039). No statistically significant difference was found in pain between the 2 groups at 12 and 24 hours (P = .519 and P = .403, respectively). The quantity of narcotic use (P = .538), duration of patient controlled analgesia use (P = .820), and length of stay (P = .571) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The operative time for SPSG was 118 minutes versus 101 minutes for multiple port surgery (P = .160)., Conclusions: SPSG is safe and feasible for selected patients. The patients undergoing SPSG reported significantly less pain at the first postoperative hour. No significant differences between the 2 groups were seen in any of the other postoperative parameters., (Copyright © 2012 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The hallmark of lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the resultant oxidant stress has been implicated in apoptotic cell death as well as subsequent development of inflammation. Dietary flaxseed (FS) is a rich source of naturally occurring antioxidants and has been shown to reduce lung IRI in mice. However, the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of FS in IRI remain to be determined., Methods: We used a mouse model of IRI with 60 min of ischemia followed by 180 min of reperfusion and evaluated the anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects of 10% FS dietary supplementation., Results: Mice fed 10% FS undergoing lung IRI had significantly lower levels of caspases and decreased apoptotic activity compared with mice fed 0% FS. Lung homogenates and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis demonstrated significantly reduced inflammatory infiltrate in mice fed with 10% FS diet. Additionally, 10% FS treated mice showed significantly increased expression of antioxidant enzymes and decreased markers of lung injury., Conclusions: We conclude that dietary FS is protective against lung IRI in a clinically relevant murine model, and this protective effect may in part be mediated by the inhibition of apoptosis and inflammation., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The introduction of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery has led to the development of new techniques to accomplish minimally invasive procedures using flexible endoscopic instruments. This study evaluated a technique used in endoscopic mucosal resection and applied it to dissection of the gallbladder from the liver bed., Methods: Eight patients underwent an elective transumbilical single-incision cholecystectomy using a flexible endoscope at the authors' institution from August 2007 to February 2008. An endoscopic injection needle was used to inject 20 ml of saline strategically into the gallbladder fossa. After infiltration, dissection of the gallbladder and hilum was performed with endoscopic instruments, whereas the cystic duct and artery were clipped using laparoscopic instruments., Results: None of the eight patients had inadvertent perforation of the gallbladder during dissection. The technique of infiltrating the potential space between the gallbladder and the liver bed leads to a significantly improved visualization of the plane between them., Conclusion: The injection of saline to develop surgical planes is an effective tool in performing a cholecystectomy using flexible endoscopic instrumentation. The enhancement of this potential space improved visualization in all patients. This technique has great potential value for dissections and requires further evaluation of its effectiveness in other applications.

Background: A hypothetical advantage of the da Vinci console is its ability to integrate multiple visual data sources. Current platforms for augmented reality surgery fuse pre-operative radiographic studies but are limited with their ability to update with intra-operative imaging. The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of real-time radiographic image overlay with current technology., Methods: S-video composite output from a fluoroscopic C-arm was superimposed onto the video output of the da Vinci device. Image superimposition disparity measurements were evaluated in a bench model. The feasibility of robotic dissection assisted by real-time cholangiogram and intravenous pyelogram was evaluated., Results: Image alignment resulted in a radiographic blind spot and image disparity with severely limited application in an in vivo model., Conclusions: External collisions of the robotic device and visual disparity in multiple planes negate the current implementation of fluoroscopic overlay and will require more elegant methods of computer-assisted registration.

Background: A subset of patients who undergo video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhydrosis develop post-procedure compensatory sweating that is perceived as more debilitating than their initial complaints. We propose a novel treatment to reverse sympathectomy by implantation of an intercostal nerve graft using the da Vinci robot., Methods: A robotic swine model was established using single-lung ventilation and four ports. The pleura was incised and a representative segment of sympathetic chain was transected. A nearby intercostal nerve was harvested and sutured to the sympathetic chain using four interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures on the epineurium., Results: The intercostal nerve was an excellent size match and post-procedure necropsy yielded successful anastomoses without apparent complications., Conclusions: Robotic intercostal nerve grafting for reversal of thoracic sympathectomy is technically feasible. The robotic device allows the principles of neural microsurgery to be maintained and provides a minimally invasive option for reconstruction of the sympathetic chain.