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Introduction: Safe, effective weight loss with resolution of comorbidities has been convincingly demonstrated with bariatric surgery in the aged obese. They, however, lose less weight than younger individuals. It is not known if degree of weight loss is influenced by the choice of bariatric procedure. The aim of this study was to compare the degree of weight loss between laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in patients above the age of 50 years at 1 year after surgery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients more than 50 years of age who underwent LSG or LRYGB between February 2012 and July 2013 with at least 1 year of follow-up. Data evaluated at 1 year included age, sex, weight, body mass index (BMI), mean operative time, percentage of weight loss and excess weight loss, resolution/remission of diabetes, morbidity and mortality. Results: Of a total of 86 patients, 54 underwent LSG and 32 underwent LRYGB. The mean percentage of excess weight loss at the end of 1 year was 60.19 ± 17.45 % after LSG and 82.76 ± 34.26 % after LRYGB (P = 0.021). One patient developed a sleeve leak after LSG, and 2 developed iron deficiency anaemia after LRYGB. The remission/improvement in diabetes mellitus and biochemistry was similar. Conclusion: LRYGB may offer better results than LSG in terms of weight loss in patients over 50 years of age.

Vascular injuries following Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) are rare and associated with greater morbidity. This case series describes two middle aged females presented with acute limb ischemia following THA. CT angiograms of both revealed common femoral artery (CFA) injury. One had a delayed presentation of one week and other presented with in a day. Revascularization was done in both by means of Ileo femoral bypass surgery with prosthetic graft and interposition graft with reverse long saphenous vein graft. The delayed presented one ended up in bellow knee amputation and the outcome of other was good. Iatrogenic injury to CFA by pointed Hohman retractors was considered the possible mechanism of injury in both the cases. Preoperative assessment of risk factors, intraoperative awareness, and post operative assessment to look for vascular injury is a must to minimize the arterial injury during THA.

Abstract Introduction: The presence of aortic regurgitation (AR) in the setting of ventricular septal defect (VSD) has always been a management challenge. Methods: This is a retrospective study looking at patients who underwent VSD closure with or without aortic valve intervention between January 1st, 1992 and December 31st, 2014 at the Institute Jantung Negara. This study looked at all cases of VSD and AR, where AR was classified as mild, moderate, and severe, the intervention done in each of this grade, and the durability of that intervention. The interventions were classified as no intervention (NI), aortic valve repair (AVr), and aortic valve replacement (AVR). Results: A total of 261 patients were recruited into this study. Based on the various grades of AR, 105 patients had intervention to their aortic valve during VSD closure. The rest 156 had NI. All patients were followed up for a mean time of 13.9±3.5 years. Overall freedom from reoperation at 15 years was 82.6% for AVr. Various factors were investigated to decide on intervening on the aortic valve during VSD closure. Among those that were statistically significant were the grade of AR, size of VSD, age at intervention, and number of cusp prolapse. Conclusion: We can conclude from our study that all moderate and severe AR with small VSD in older patients with more than one cusp prolapse will need intervention to their aortic valve during the closure of VSD.

Abstract Background Banding of the bilateral branch pulmonary arteries (PA) has evolved as a palliative method to limit the pulmonary blood flow in various complex congenital heart diseases. Although beneficial in small patients and in those with multiple co-morbidities, the duration of pulmonary artery banding along with growth and status of branch pulmonary arteries following de-banding are of concern in these patients. Case presentation We present a case of truncus arteriosus with interrupted aortic arch in whom bilateral PA banding was done in neonatal life. The corrective surgery was delayed by 13 months due to multiple infections and underlying co-morbid conditions. Although the surgery was delayed, the branch pulmonary arteries were of adequate size following the debanding procedure. Conclusion Branch PA augmentation may not always be necessary even in delayed corrective surgery following bilateral PA banding.

The anterior horn of lateral meniscus tear is usually repaired using outside-in technique. Although easy to perform, it was associated with several complications which may alter the outcome of the surgery. Here, we present a case of an adolescent girl presented with incomplete discoid lateral meniscus accompanied by tear of anterior horn. The tear was repaired using all-inside technique without any implants. We described the surgical technique and discussed the rationale.

Objective: To estimate the incidence and postoperative mortality rates of surgery, and variations by age, diabetes, kidney replacement therapy (KRT) modality, and time over a 15-year period. Background: Patients with kidney failure receiving chronic KRT (dialysis or kidney transplantation) have increased risks of postoperative mortality and morbidity. Contemporary data on the incidence and types of surgery these patients undergo are lacking. Methods: This binational population cohort study evaluated all incident and prevalent patients receiving chronic KRT using linked data between Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry and jurisdictional hospital admission datasets between 2000 and 2015. Patients were categorized by their KRT modality (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, home hemodialysis, and kidney transplant) for each calendar year. Incidence rates for overall surgery and subtypes were estimated using Poisson models. Logistic regression was used to estimate 30-day/in-hospital mortality risk. Results: Overall, 46,497 patients over a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 6.3 years (3.5–10.2 years) underwent 81,332 surgeries. The median incidence rate of surgery remained stable over this period with a median of 14.9 surgeries per 100 patient-years. Annual incidence rate was higher in older people and those with diabetes mellitus. Patients receiving hemodialysis had a higher incidence rate of surgery compared with kidney transplant recipients (15.8 vs 10.0 surgeries per 100 patient-years, respectively). Overall adjusted postoperative mortality rates decreased by >70% over the study period, and were lowest in kidney transplant recipients (1.7%, 95% confidence interval, 1.4–2.0). Postoperative mortality following emergency surgery was >3-fold higher than elective surgery (8.4% vs 2.3%, respectively). Conclusions: Patients receiving chronic KRT have high rates of surgery and morbidity. Further research into strategies to mitigate perioperative risk remain a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy (VATS) is an established minimally invasive procedure for thoracic sympathetic blockade in patients with hyperhidrosis, facial flushing and intractable angina. Various techniques using clips, diathermy and excision are used to perform sympathectomy. We present our technique of excision of the sympathetic chain with histological proof and the analysis of the early and late outcomes. Methods We evaluated 200 procedures in 100 consecutive patients, who underwent Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy by a single surgeon in our centre between September 1996 to March 2007. All patients had maximum medical therapy prior to surgery and were divided into 3 groups based on indications, Group 1(hyperhidrosis: 48 patients), Group 2 (facial flushing: 26 patients) and Group 3(intractable angina: 26 patients). The demography and severity of symptoms for each group were analysed. The endpoints were success rate, 30 day mortality, complications and patient's satisfaction. Results 99 patients had bilateral VATS sympathectomy and 1 had unilateral sympathectomy. The conversion rate to open was 1(1%). All patients had successful removal of ganglia proven histologically with no perioperative mortality in our series. The complications included pneumothorax (5%), acute coronary syndrome (2%), transient Horner's syndrome (1%), transient paraesthesia (1%), wound infection (4%), compensatory hyperhidrosis (18%), residual flushing (3%) and wound pain (5%). There were five late deaths in the intractable angina group at a mean follow up of 36.7 months. Overall success rates of abolishing the symptoms were 96.3%, 87.5% and 95.2% for Group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Conclusion Excision of the sympathetic chain with histological confirmation during VATS sympathectomy is a safe and effective method in treating hyperhidrosis, facial flushing and intractable angina with good long term results and satisfaction.

This study aimed to examine the feasibility of using a frailty index (FI) based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), to assess the level of frailty in older surgical patients preoperatively and to evaluate the association of FI-CGA with poorer postoperative outcomes. Two hundred and forty-six patients aged ≥70 years undergoing intermediate- to high-risk surgery in a tertiary hospital were recruited. Frailty was assessed using a 57-item FI-CGA form, with fit, intermediate frail, and frail patients defined as FI ≤0.25, >0.25 to 0.4, and >0.4, respectively. Adverse outcomes were ascertained at 30 days and 12 months post-surgery. Logistic regression models assessed the relationship between FI and adverse outcomes, adjusting for age, gender and acuity of surgery. The mean age of the participants was 79 years (standard deviation [SD] 6.5%), 52% were female, 91% were admitted from the community, 43% underwent acute surgery, and 19% were assessed as frail. The FI-CGA form was reported as being easy to apply, with a low patient refusal rate (2.2%). The majority of items were easy to rate, although inter-rater reliability was not tested. In relation to outcomes, greater frailty was associated with increased 12-month mortality (6.4%, 15.6%, and 23% for fit, intermediate frail, and frail patients respectively, P=0.01) and 12-month hospital readmissions (33.9%, 48.9%, and 60% respectively, P=0.004). There were no statistically significant differences between fit, intermediate frail, and frail groups in perioperative adverse events (17.4%, 23.3%, and 19.1% respectively, P=0.577) or 30-day postoperative complications (35.8%, 47.8%, and 46.8% respectively, P=0.183). Our findings suggest that it is feasible to use the FI-CGA to assess frailty preoperatively, and that using the FI-CGA may identify patients at high risk of adverse long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We retrospectively assessed outcomes in a single institution series of percutaneous nephrolithotomy using retrograde nephrostomy access. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 333 consecutive patients treated between May 2003 and July 2008. Measured variables included patient demographics, retrograde nephrostomy site, postoperative drainage, operative time, stone clearance rate and degree, requirement for secondary procedures, stone composition and complications. Results: A total of 333 patients were included in study, including 162 females and 171 males with a median age of 56 years (range 17 to 87). Median hospital stay was 2 days (range 1 to 13). Antegrade access was required in 14 patients (4%) due to difficult or suboptimal anatomy. A nephrostomy tube was placed in 33 of 329 patients (10%), mainly for postoperative irrigation. Mean operative time was 76 minutes (range 25 to 246). Of the patients 79% achieved complete clearance, 19% had residual fragments 4 mm or less and 2% had significant persistent stones greater than 4 mm. Postoperatively 11 patients (3%) required shock wave lithotripsy. Analysis revealed calcium oxalate in 57% of stones, uric acid in 24%, struvite in 5% (infection stones) and other in 21%. Complications included 4 patients (1%) with significant postoperative hemorrhage, including angioembolization in 2, transfusion of 4 U packed red blood cells in 1 and observation in 1. Conclusions: The retrograde technique to establish a percutaneous nephrostomy tract for percutaneous nephrolithotomy is safe and effective with stone clearance and complication rates comparable to those of antegrade access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]