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Background/aims: Obesity is one of the most serious public health problems. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), a type of bariatric surgery, is emerging as the new promising therapy for the treatment of morbid obesity., Methodology: In the present study we aimed to assess the effects of LSG on body weight and other obesity related pathological conditions., Results: A total of 19 obese subjects underwent LSG surgery. All patients underwent complete evaluation including anthropometric/clinical parameters and laboratory tests. Hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), body mass index (BMI), and hyperlipidemia were significantly reduced after LSG., Conclusions: Results of this study demonstrate that LSG induces stable weight loss and resolution of obesity-associated comorbidities.

Background: Clinical diagnosis of appendicitis is often difficult in atypical patients., Objectives: The authors aim to determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US) for acute appendicitis., Material and Methods: 121 consecutive patients with right lower abdomen pain were evaluated. Of them, 25 were excluded due to not having performed a preoperative US and 5 were obese (Body Mass Index > 30). A total of 91 patients were evaluated. The patients were assessed clinically and radiologically. Blood and urine analysis was carried out in all patients. US was performed with a Toshiba Fomio 8 brand machine with 3.75 and 8 MHz linear probes. Patients underwent an operation and an appendicectomy was done. Specimens were sent for histopathology to confirm appendicitis., Results: Ultrasound supported the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in 58 (63.7%) patients. In the US with positive findings, 55 patients (94.8%) had inflamed appendices on histopathology and 5 (8.6%) had normal appendices. The overall sensitivity of ultrasonography was 71.4% and specificity was 78.5%. Positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography are 94.8%, 33.3%, and 72.5% respectively., Conclusions: All diagnostic tests are adjunctive to the clinician. US should be the first step in the care of patients with right lower abdominal pain after the physical examination.

Background: Schwannomas are usually benign tumors that arise from the schwann cells in the neural sheaths of peripheral nerves. Most schwannomas occur in the head, neck, or limbs and rarely in the retroperitoneal space. In the retroperitoneal space, schwannomas are most commonly located near the adrenal gland. We report a successfully resected retroperitoneal benign schwannoma near the inferior vena cava (IVC) using laparoscopic surgery., Methods/results: A 33-year-old woman presented with dull abdominal pain for several months. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the existence of a round, sharply demarcated retroperitoneal solid tumor, 42 x 52 mm in size, located between the anterior of the right kidney and the IVC, which was compressed but still patent. The lesion was laparoscopically resected, and pathologic examination revealed a degenerative schwannoma., Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery is very useful and feasible in the diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal schwannoma, with minimal invasiveness and early postoperative recovery., (Copyright 2010 Annals of Vascular Surgery Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)