[Improvement in the quality of life for patients with adjustable gastric banding: initial results]. / Ameliorarea calitatii vietii la pacientii cu inel gastric reglabil: rezultate initiale.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the improvement in quality of life for patients that have undergone the laparoscopic gastric banding, using the BAROS and Moorehead-Ardelt II questionnaires. METHODS: We selected a 20 patient group (65% women) that underwent this surgical procedure in our clinic. The initial average weight was 123.45kg, and the body-mass index of 42.36. The average age was 29.25 years. The pars flaccida technique was used in 18, and the perigastric approach in 2 cases. RESULTS: No complications or intraoperative accidents occurred. The mean operation time was 115.5 minutes. Elective conversion was needed in one case with a BMI of 55. The average hospital stay was of 3.2 days. The follow-up was conducted at least through phone in 95% of cases, and its average duration was of 10 months. The only postoperative complications were infections of the subcutaneous port (5 cases - 25%) which needed removal of the port, but not of the banding. The average loss of excess weight was 48.23%. Using the BAROS score to determine the overall improvement of quality of life, 30% of the patients scored as "Very Good", 50% as "Good", 20% as "Fair". Using the Moorehead-Ardelt QLQ II score, 65% scored as "Very Good", 30% as "Good" and 5% as "Fair". CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding significantly improves the quality of life for most patients with this procedure.

Survival prognostic factors in patients with resection of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Case selection criteria for resection of liver metastasis after colorectal cancer are still incompletely elucidated and represent a subject of great interest recently. Our aim was to evaluate 2-year survival after resection and to identify the survival risk and prediction factors in those cases. METHODS: 63 patients diagnosed and undergoing liver resection for colorectal metastatic disease to the liver at the Surgical University Hospital No.3 (Cluj-Napoca, Romania) between 01.01.2002 and 31.12.2005 were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were: palliative treatment as well as surgical treatment performed in a different surgical centre. After the surgical treatment, patients were followed regularly using clinical assessment on a 3 monthly basis with abdominopelvic ultrasound or computerised tomography annually. The following variables were recorded: age, gender, coexisting medical diseases, blood tests results, tumour site, maximal tumour diameter after resection, duration of surgery, surgical procedure and the clinical outcome until last follow-up, including date of death where appropriate. RESULTS: 2-year post-operative survival was 65.1%. In univariate analysis: age (< 65 vs > = 65 years, p = 0.041), metastasis number (< 3 vs > = 3 tumors, p = 0.049), maximal tumor dimension (< 3 vs > = 3 cm, p = 0.047), glutamine-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) preoperative level (< 42 vs > = 42 mg/dl, p = 0.018) were significant factors correlated to median survival time. However, non of the above mentioned factors presented independent prediction power in multivariate analysis (Cox regression, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support liver metastasis resection without prior case selection except for technically-operative criteria selection.

[Procedures for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: dexamethasone and ondansetron].

This randomized double-blind study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of ondasetron and dexamathesone in reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The study covered 60 patients (ASA I/II) who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. The patients were divided into two groups: 1) 30 patients who received dexamethasone, 4 mg i.v.; and 2) 30 patients who took ondansetron, 4 mg i.v., prior to general anesthesia. Postoperatively, nausea, vomiting, and severe pain (VAS) were observed every 6 hours within the first 24 hours. Postoperative nausea and vomiting occurred in 6 (20) patients in Group I and in 13 (43.33) patients in Group 2 (p < 0.05), while vomiting did only in 5 (16.66%) patients in Group I and 4 (13.33%) in Group 2 (p > 0.05). The least intensity of postoperative pain was observed in Group 1, but the difference between the study groups was insignificant. It is concluded that dexamethasone is more effective in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy than ondansetron. This is mainly determined by a significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative nausea.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in an overnight admission]. / Internarea de o zi în colecistectomia laparoscopica.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the feasibility and desirability of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in an overnight versus a several day admission. BACKGROUND: Although LC is performed in U.S.A. as outpatient surgery this has not been generally accepted in Europe. The main objections, are the risk of complications becoming apparent at home. Considering the specific local conditions and the general attitude towards early discharge we tried to assess the degree of feasibility and acceptance of a overnight admission in our patients. METHODS: Two groups of forty patients each, with symptomatic gallstones, received LC either in an overnight or a several day admission. Preoperative and intraoperative data and postoperative recovery were prospectively assessed. RESULTS: The general and female age, the duration and frequency of the biliary pain, the duration and the degree of difficulty of the operation and the necessity of the subhepatic drainage were all significant in favour of the group with a shorter stay. No postoperative complications were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Overnight LC is safe and effective in treating patients requiring LC. The option of the patient must also be considered.

Reduction in periprocedural enzyme elevation by abciximab after rotational atherectomy of type B2 lesions: Results of the Rota ReoPro randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Abciximab has been shown to reduce ischemic complications and creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) elevation of both simple and complex coronary interventions. In addition to the procedural complications, one of the important mechanisms for CK-MB elevation after rotational atherectomy is an interaction between platelets and the atheromatous debris. METHODS: This study was conducted to determine whether abciximab would limit the extent of periprocedural CK-MB release after rotational atherectomy of American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology type B(2) lesions in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled manner. A total of 100 lesions in 100 patients were randomized with the primary end point being a CK-MB elevation of >16 U/L. RESULTS: Procedural success was achieved in 100% in the abciximab arm compared with 98% in the placebo group with any CK-MB elevation >16 U/L of 8% in the abciximab versus 22% in the placebo group (P =.04). The peak creatine phosphokinase level (units per liter) was 102 +/- 14 versus 153 +/- 22 (P =.05) and the peak CK-MB level was 12.8 +/- 1.8 versus 24.6 +/- 3.5 (P =.06) between the abciximab and placebo groups, respectively. Slow-flow or postprocedure chest pain occurred in 14% in the abciximab group versus 30% in the placebo group (P =.04). There was 1 Q-wave myocardial infarction in the placebo arm and 1 nonhemorrhagic stroke in the abciximab group. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore the Rota ReoPro randomized trial revealed the benefit of abciximab during rotational atherectomy in reducing procedural morbidity and CK-MB elevation, and its routine use can be justified even in moderately complex lesions undergoing rotational atherectomy.