Congruence of histological diagnosis with imaging and operation diagnosis in acute appendicitis.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnostic process of acute appendicitis is based on clinical symptoms, evaluation of laboratory biomarkers of inflammation and imaging examinations results. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is a key factor in reducing the number of so-called negative appendectomies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the importance of ultrasound in the diagnostic algorithm of acute appendicitis. We also compared the accuracy of the intraoperative diagnosis evaluated by the surgeon with the histopathological findings. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients operated for acute appendicitis at our surgical department in time period from 2015 to 2017. We compared the results of preoperative imaging examinations (ultrasound, CT) and intraoperative diagnosis (from the surgical record) with final histopathological findings. RESULTS: 386 patients were operated on for acute appendicitis. Histopathological examination revealed 33 patients (9%) with no signs of inflammation, 309 patients (80%) with inflammatory changes, 37 cases (10%) with chronic appendicitis and 7 other histological findings (2%). Ultrasound was performed in 382 patients (99%). False negative ultrasound was obtained in 18 (6%) of 309 patients with histologically confirmed inflammation. Ultrasound gave a false positive finding in 16 (48%) of 33 patients whose histology revealed no signs of inflammation. Equivocal ultrasound was obtained in 104 patients (27%). Intraoperative diagnosis of appendix without inflammation was described by the surgeon in 27 patients (7%). Of these, 12 cases (44%) were histologically non-inflammatory, 7 cases (26%) with acute inflammation, 7 cases (26%) with chronic inflammation and 1 other finding (4%). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is a suitable imaging method to confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis but not to rule it out. Intraoperative assessment of the appendix by the surgeon is not reliable. Any appendix intraoperatively evaluated as showing no signs of inflammation should be removed.

Radioimmunoassay of chromogranin A and free metanephrines in diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

This work discusses the clinical performance of chromogranin A, free metanephrine and normetanephrine determination in plasma using a radioimmunoanalytical methods for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Blood samples were collected from 55 patients (46 pheochromocytomas, 9 paragangliomas). A sampling of biological materials was performed preoperatively and about one week, six months and one year after adrenal gland surgery. The comparative group without a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma consisted of 36 pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma patients more than 4 months after adrenal gland surgery, and of 87 patients, 16 of them with multiple endocrine neoplasia, 9 with medullary and 5 with parafolicullar carcinoma of the thyroid gland. The rest were patients with various adrenal gland disorders. Chromogranin A, metanephrine and normetanephrine were determined in the EDTA-plasma using a radioimmunoassay kits Cisbio Bioassays, France and IBL International GmbH, Germany. Clinical sensitivity was 96 % for the combination of metanephrine and normetanephrine, and 93 % for chromogranin A. Clinical specificity was 100 % for the combination metanephrine and normetanephrine, and 96 % for chromogranin A. Falsely elevated levels of chromogranin A were observed in 1 patient with chronic renal insufficiency and 9 analyses were influenced by the administration of proton pump inhibitors. These results were excluded of CGA specificity. Both the combination of plasma free metanephrine, normetanephrine and chromogranin A as determined by radioimmunoassays, which are simple without the necessity of special laboratory material, are effective markers of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. Chromogranin A exerts association to malignity and all markers are associated with tumor mass.

[10 years of sleeve gastrectomy in the Czech Republic in terms of the surgical procedure]. / 10 let sleeve gastrectomy - tubulizace zaludku v Ceské republice z hlediska operacního výkonu.

INTRODUCTION: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) as a single bariatric/metabolic procedure has been performed since 2003 in the world, and since 2006 in the Czech Republic. We report 10 years experience with SG in the Czech Republic from 2006 to 2015. METHOD: Prospectively collected data from 14 surgical departments was evaluated retrospectively using descriptive statistics for every year from 2006 to 2015 and subsequently evaluated and compared for the entire period. The number of the patients, mean age, mean weight and BMI at the time of surgery, the number of patients with T2DM after SG, mean follow-up, mean %BMIL (% Body Mass Index Loss), distance of the starting point of the resection line from the pylorus, the size of the calibration bougie, the rate of complications, and the number and type of conversion procedures were evaluated. RESULTS: 4134 sleeve gastrectomies were done in the Czech Republic from 2006 to 2015 with the mean follow-up of 32.9 months (range 2145 months) from the procedure. The mean weight at the time of surgery fluctuated between 114.2 kg and 128.9 kg; mean BMI fluctuated between 42.3 and 46.7. Mean %BMIL was 63.2% for the entire evaluated period. The distance of the starting point of the resection line from the pylorus changed from the mean 6.1 cm (range 67 cm) to mean 4.2 cm (range 36 cm) and the size of the calibration bougie changed from the mean 39.2 F (range 3642 F) to mean 37.1 F (range 3542 F). As regards early postoperative complications, bleeding from the resection line occurred in 1.4% and a leak from the staple line occurred in 1.1%. The gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia occurred in 17.3% as the most frequent late complications. Conversion to another bariatric procedure was approached in 3.8% in the event of an unsatisfactory effect of the SG. CONCLUSION: Bariatric or metabolic surgery, respectively, is a safe and effective surgical method for the treatment of severe obesity and T2DM in morbidly obese patients. Currently, SG is the most widely used bariatric/metabolic procedure in the Czech Republic as well as in most other countries and the long-time results are similar in comparison with other authors.Key words: bariatric surgery - sleeve gastrectomy - resection line - complications.

Deconjugated urinary metanephrine, normetanephrine and 3-methoxytyramine in laboratory diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

This work discusses the clinical performance of deconjugated metanephrine (MN), normetanephrine (NMN) and 3-methoxytyramine (3MT) determined in the basal first morning urine using a chromatographic method with electrochemical detection for the clinical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL). Urine samples were collected from 44 patients (36 with PHEO, 8 with PGL) aged 54+/-17 (20-78) years (22 females, 22 males). A sampling of biological materials was performed preoperatively and about one week, six months and one year after adrenal gland surgery. The control group consisted of 34 PHEO/PGL patients more than 4 months after adrenal gland surgery. All subjects in the control group were without a diagnosis of PHEO or PGL. Clinical sensitivity was 55 % for MN, 64 % for NMN, 80 % for combination of both MN and NMN, and only 23 % for 3TM. Clinical specificity calculated from the control group was 93 % for MN, 95 % for NMN, 95 % for the combination MN and NMN, and 97 % for 3TM. Cut-off values for deconjugated metanephrines in the basal urine were 310 (MN), 690 (NMN) and 250 microg/l (3MT). Chromatographic determination of deconjugated urinary metanephrines, which is simple without the necessity of special laboratory material, can serve for the screening of PHEO or PGL patients. Urine NMN and 3MT exerts an association to malignity, and all markers are associated with tumor mass. However, the principal laboratory diagnosis of PHEO or PGL must be based on plasma-free metanephrines and plasma chromogranin A with better performance in the laboratory diagnosis of PHEO or PGL.

Biochemical Testing After Pheochromocytoma Removal: How Early?

Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-producing tumors with typical clinical presentation. Tumor resection is considered as an appropriate treatment strategy. Due to its unpredictable clinical behavior, biochemical testing is mandatory to confirm the success of tumor removal after surgery. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of a shorter interval of postoperative testing (earlier than the recommended 2-4 weeks according to recently published Guidelines). We investigated 81 patients with pheochromocytoma before and after surgery. Postoperative examination was performed of stable subjects after their transport from the surgical to the internal ward (7.1±2.2 days after surgery). Plasma metanephrines were used for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and confirmation of successful tumor removal. All subjects with pheochromocytoma had markedly elevated plasma metanephrines before surgery. No correlation between postoperative interval (the shortest being 3 days) and plasma metanephrine levels was found. Postoperative plasma metanephrine levels did not differ significantly from those taken at the one-year follow-up. In conclusion, we have shown that early postoperative diagnostic workup of subjects with pheochromocytoma is possible and may thus simplify early postoperative management of this clinical condition.

Changes in energy metabolism in pheochromocytoma.

CONTEXT: Catecholamine overproduction in pheochromocytoma affects basal metabolism, resulting in weight loss despite normal food intake. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate changes in energy metabolism expressed as resting energy expenditure (REE) in patients with pheochromocytoma before and after adrenalectomy and the possible relationship with circulating inflammatory markers. DESIGN: We measured REE in 17 patients (8 women) with pheochromocytoma by indirect calorimetry (Vmax-Encore 29N system) before and 1 year after adrenalectomy. Body fat percentage was measured with a Bodystat device. Inflammatory markers (leukocytes count and C-reactive protein) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8) were analyzed with a Luminex 200. RESULTS: REE measured in the pheochromocytoma group was 10.4% higher than the predicted value (1731 ± 314 vs 1581 ± 271 kcal/d; P = .004). Adrenalectomy significantly increased body mass index (P =0.004) and the percentage of body fat (P = .01), with a proportional increase in fat distribution (waist circumference, P = .045; hip circumference, P = .001). REE significantly decreased after adrenalectomy (1731 ± 314 vs 1539 ± 215 kcal/d; P = .002), even after adjustments in body surface and body weight (P < .001). After adrenalectomy, we found a significant decrease in leukocyte counts (P = .014) and in the levels of TNF-α (P < .001), IL-6 (P = .048), and IL-8 (P = .007) but not C-reactive protein (P = .09). No significant correlations among calorimetry parameters, hormones, and proinflammatory markers were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic catecholamine overproduction in pheochromocytoma may lead to a proinflammatory and hypermetabolic state characterized by increased REE. Adrenalectomy leads to the normalization of energy metabolism followed by an increase in body mass index and body fat content and decreases in inflammatory markers and cytokines.

High incidence of cardiovascular complications in pheochromocytoma.

Excess of catecholamines in pheochromocytoma is usually accompanied with classical symptoms and signs. In some cases, severe cardiovascular complications (e. g., heart failure, myocardial infarction) may occur. We performed a retrospective analysis focused on the incidence of cardiovascular complications (classified as follows: arrhythmias, myocardial involvement or ischemia and atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular impairment) before the establishment of diagnosis of pheochromocytoma among 145 subjects treated in our hospital. Cardiovascular complications occurred in 28 subjects, but these subjects did not differ significantly from subjects without complications in age, gender, body mass index, paroxysmal symptoms, symptom duration, tumor dimension, catecholamine secretory phenotype, and incidence of hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Arrhythmias occurred in 15 subjects (2 arrhythmia types in 2 subjects): atrial fibrillation in 9 subjects, supraventricular tachycardia in 3 cases, and ventricular tachycardia in 2 patients. Significant bradycardia was noted in 3 cases. Five subjects presented with heart failure with decreased systolic function (takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy found in 2 cases). One subject suffered from hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Seven subjects presented with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 2 patients with ST-segment myocardial infarction, and 1 subject underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Two subjects suffered from significant peripheral atherosclerosis. Among cerebrovascular complications, transient ischemic attack was found in 3 cases, 2 subjects suffered from stroke, and subarachnoidal bleeding occurred in 1 patient. One subject suffered from diffuse neurological impairment due to multiple ischemic white matter lesions. These data show relatively high incidence of cardiovascular complications (19.3%) in subjects with pheochromocytoma. Early diagnosis is mandatory to prevent severe complications in pheochromocytoma.

[Czech bariatry in 2010]. / Ceská bariatrie v roce 2010.

INTRODUCTION: It is only during the past two decades, when obesity has become to be considered a pandemic disorder. However, in 1953 Varco performed jejunoileal bypass as the world's first bariatric surgical procedure. 30 years later, Pesková performed the first bariatric surgery--a gastroplasty--in Czechoslovakia. From 1984 she started to perform fixed gastric bandages, through laparotomic app- roach at that time. The first laparoscopic fixed bandage in Czechoslovakia was performed in 1993. Over the years, the number of surgical procedures to treat morbid obesity, as well as the number of bariatric surgeons, continued to increase. In 2004, Czech Bariatric Section of the Czech Surgical Society and the Czech Society of Obesitology of the Czech Medical Association of J. E. Purkyne, were established. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 170 bariatric surgeries were performed in the Czech Republic in 1999. The majority of procedures included fixed gastric bandage, rarely, adjustable bandage was performed. At that time, bariatric procedures were performed at five sites only. However, over the past 10 years, bariatric surgery has largely developed in the Czech Republic. The exact number of bariatric procedures completed per year was unknown, therefore, 21 surgical clinics, at which bariatric procedures are performed, were contacted from January to June 2010. Heads of the clinics were asked to provide basic data on surgical treatment of obesity. The aim of the study was to analyze the situation in bariatric surgery in the Czech Republic at the end of 2009. A total of 18 clinics (85.8%) joined the study and provided their own statistical data. 14 of them perform over 20 bariatric procedures a year. RESULTS: The analysis data showed that, in 2009, a total of 1558 bariatric procedures were completed at 18 surgical clinics and approximately 1600 procedures were performed in the whole Czech Republic. However, out of the total, over 230 patients were foreigners. In 99% of bariatric procedures in morbid obese subjects, laparoscopic approach was used. CONCLUSION: Over the ten year period, the number of clinics performing over 20 bariatric procedures a year increased from five to 14 clinics and the number of bariatric procedures increased from 170 to 1600 procedures a year. It is 900% increase, compared to the year 1999! Nevertheless, compared to other countries, e.g. Austria, the number of bariatric procedures does not correspond with prevalence rates of obesity in the Czech Republic.

The influence of obesity and different fat depots on adipose tissue gene expression and protein levels of cell adhesion molecules.

Increased circulating adhesion molecules in patients with obesity play an important role in the development of endothelial dysfunction/atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of various fat depots to the production of adhesion molecules in obesity. 12 women with first and second degree of obesity, 13 women with third degree of obesity and 14 lean age-matched women were included into study. Circulating levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin were measured by Luminex kits. mRNA expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and CD68 in subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was measured by RT-PCR; ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 protein levels by Luminex kits, normalized to protein content. Obesity increased ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA expression and protein levels and CD68 mRNA expression in VAT. Expression of E-selectin and MCP-1 did not significantly differ between groups. Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 positively correlated with expression of CD68 in both adipose depots. In VAT, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression and protein levels positively correlated with BMI. Obesity was associated with increased adhesion molecules mRNA expression and protein levels in VAT, but not in SAT. Increased adhesion molecules production in visceral fat may provide a novel direct link between visceral adiposity and increased risk of cardiovascular complications.

Serum concentrations and tissue expression of a novel endocrine regulator fibroblast growth factor-21 in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) is a novel endocrine and paracrine regulator of metabolic homeostasis. The aim of our study was to measure its serum concentrations in patients with obesity, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and healthy subjects (C), and to assess the changes of its circulating levels and mRNA expression after dietary and pharmacological interventions. DESIGN: We measured biochemical parameters, serum FGF21, adiponectin, leptin and insulin levels by commercial ELISA and RIA kits, and mRNA expression in the liver, subcutaneous and visceral fat by RT PCR in 26 obese patients, 11 T2DM patients and 32 control subjects. The interventions were acute hyperinsulinaemia during isoglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp, very low calorie diet (VLCD) and 3 months treatment with PPAR-alpha agonist fenofibrate. RESULTS: Baseline serum FGF21 levels were significantly higher in both obese and T2DM patients relative to healthy controls. FGF21 levels in obesity did not significantly differ from T2DM group. Both 3 weeks of VLCD and 3 months of fenofibrate treatment significantly increased FGF21 levels. FGF21 mRNA expression in visceral fat was twofold higher in obesity relative to C group, while it did not differ in subcutaneous fat. VLCD significantly increased FGF21 mRNA expression in subcutaneous fat of obesity. 3-h hyperinsulinaemia during the clamp increased FGF21 levels in T2DM but not in C group. CONCLUSION: An increase in FGF21 levels after VLCD and fenofibrate treatment may contribute to positive metabolic effect of these interventions and suggests the possibility of direct positive metabolic effects of FGF21 in humans.

The endocrine profile of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue of obese patients.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression profile of genes potentially related to metabolic complications of obesity in the whole adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes from subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) from 12 non-diabetic obese women and 12 lean women. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for expression analysis of 41 genes of interest and two housekeeping genes. We found increased expression of specific proinflammatory and adipogenic genes and reduced expression of specific lipogenic and insulin signaling pathway genes in obese relative to lean women with no preferable localization in SAT or VAT depot. The gene expression significantly differed between adipocytes and adipose tissue but both contributed to the proinflammatory profile in obesity. We conclude that both SAT and VAT exhibit alterations in the expression of specific genes possibly contributing to proinflammatory and insulin resistance state and consequently to metabolic complications of obesity.

[Experience about more than 2000 renal transplantations at the university of Brussels]. / A propos de 2000 greffes rénales a l'U.L.B.: le parcours d'un patient transplanté rénal en 2007.

Since 1965, more than 2000 renal transplantations (including more than 100 living-donor transplantations) have been performed at the University of Brussels. An end-stage renal disease patient candidate to renal transplantation will be therefore followed from his enrolment on the waiting list to the long-term post-transplant period. Improvement in the outcome of renal transplantation is achieved due to better knowledge in many fields of medicine, such as immunology, infectious disease, metabolic diseases (hyperlipemia, diabetes mellitus), pharmacology, use of immunosuppressive regimen, a more adequate cardiovascular prevention and treatment. If the best results were achieved with kidneys from living donors, the graft survival rate at the University of Brussels was nearly 80% for the last period (2000-2006). Unfortunately, renal transplantation cannot cure certain comorbid conditions and even may promote them: infectious diseases, neoplasia, metabolic disorders (e.a diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia). Many efforts have to be done to develop less toxic and more immune selective therapeutic strategies. Living donation and extension of the pool of cadaveric donors will reduce the length of time spent on the waiting list and will significantly impact on mortality and morbidity after kidney transplantation.

[The influence of obesity on the gene expression of adiponectin and its receptor in subcutaneous adipose tissue]. / Vliv obezity na genovou expresi adiponektinu a jeho receptoru v subkutánní tukové tkáni.

UNLABELLED: The objective of the study was to measure the concentration of adiponectin in plasma, its mRNA expression and the expression of the adiponectin receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in subcutaneous adpipose tissue (ST) of women with various levels of fat in their organism. A further objective of the study was to determine to what extent the stated parameters correlate with obesity as defined by BMI (body mass index) and how it can be affected by a very low calorie diet (VLCD). PATIENT SAMPLE: The sample of 70 women was divided into groups by BMI: patients with class 3 obesity (BMI > 40 kg.m(-2), n = 25), patients with class 1 and 2 obesity (BMI 30-40 kg.m(-2), n = 15), overweight patients (BMI 25-30 kg.m(-2), n = 10) and a normal healthy control group (BMI 20-25 kg.m(-2), n = 20). In the case of 14 women with class 3 obesity, the parameters were measured before and after a three-week diet with an energy content of 2200 kJ (550 kcal)/day (VLCD). METHOD: Plasma concentrations of adiponectin were measured using an ELISA kit (LINCO Research, USA). Subcutaneous adipose tissue was taken using biopsy. RNA was isolated using a MagNA Pure Compact RNA Isolation Kit (Tissue) (Roche, SRN). The gene expression of adiponectin, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 was determined using the real-time PCR (RT-PCR) method on a ABI Real-Time PCR 7500 instrument (Applied Biosystems, USA) with TaqMan Gene Expression Assays hydrolisation probes. beta-2-mikroglobulin (beta2M) was used as an endogenous control, to which the data was normalised. RESULTS: The circulatory concentration of adiponectin, its mRNA expression and the mRNA expression of AdipoR1 in ST correlate negatively with BMI (r = -0.524, p < 0.001; r = -0.460, p < 0 001; p = -0.354, p = 0.004). The expression of AdipoR2 in ST did not correlate with BMI. The VLCD reduced weight by 9% but did not affect the plasma concentration of adiponectin or the rate of its expression, or the expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. CONCLUSION: Our results show that not only the circulatory concentration of adiponectin but also its mRNA expression and the expression of AdipoR1 in ST are significantly lower in obese women compared to a control group and may contribute to the development of metabolic complications in obesity.

[Laparoscopic gastric tubulization--sleeve gastrectomy--another option for bariatric food intake restriction in morbidly obese subjects]. / Laparoskopická tubulizace zaludku--sleeve gastrectomy--dalsí moznost bariatrické restrikce príjmu stravy u morbidne obézních jedincu.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, obesity is the commonest multifactorial metabolic disorder. The role of bariatric surgery, i.e. surgery specializing in the treatment of obesity, in the management of obese patients, where conservative therapy failed and who have high incidence of obesity relapses, or in morbidly obese subjects (BMI > 40, resp. BMI > 35), as well as in superobese subjects (BMI > 60), is irreplacable. Most of the surgical procedures for the morbid obesity treatement use miinvasive laparocopic techniques. Recent options include the method of gastric tubulization- Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG), which , as a "single procedure" has been performed in some clinics since 2003. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: In the 1st Surgical Clinic of the 1st Medical faculty of the Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, the authors have intensively studied the problematics of bariatric surgery since 1983. Since Janury 2006, a total of 39 morbidly obese patients (MO), where adjustable gastric bandage had not been indicated for various reasons, have been indicated for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Gastric bandage was not indicated, for instance, in cases where poor cooperation ("sweet-eaters, binge-eaters") could be expected or when good cooperation and adherence to diet restrictions in patients with SAGB could not be guaranteed. RESULTS: Our study group of 39 morbidly obese patients included 30 females and 9 males. The mean age was 37.6 y.o.a., the mean weight was 127 kg, the mean height 164 cm and the mean BMI was 41.3. A nine- month follow up phase could be assessed only in 27 heavily obese subjects following SGs. The mean weight loss was 17.3 kg, the mean percentile excess weight loss (EWL) was 28.1% and the final mean reduction in BMI was 12.1. No serious late complications were recorded in the study group. CONCLUSION: Sleeve gastrectomy presents with a rather higher risk rates compared to gastric bandage, however, the risk remains considerably lower compared to that in malabsorption procedures. Unfortunately, there is no long- term experience regarding maintanance of the weight loss or possible development of serious late complications. Current excellent long- term weight reduction clinical results are very promissing.

[Long-term experience with adjustable gastric banding]. / Dlouhodobé zkusenosti s adjustabilní gastrickou bandází.

Obesity is the most common multifactorial metabolic disorder defined as an increased portion of the adipose tissue in the human body. The latest WHO report mentions a pandemia of the obesity. In the Czech Republic, its prevalence is currently 25.7% in females and 22.4% in males. A conservative approach is the main treatment method in the morbid obese patients. In case it fails, a surgical treatment is yet another option. The authors have conducted bariatric surgery (the surgical management of obesity) in the 1st Surgical Clinic since 1984. In 1993 they performed the first non-adjustable gastric bandage (NGB) using laparoscopy and since 1997 they have also performed adjustable bandages (AGB) in selected patients. From 1993 to 2004 they performed 734 procedures for morbid obesity. 647 (88%) obese patients had the gastric non-adjusable bandage applied and 87 (12%) of the obese patients had the adjustable bandage applied.