Injection port and connecting tube complications after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

BACKGROUND: Port-site and connecting tube complications are usually considered minor problems in the follow-up of obese patients submitted to laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), but the incidence reported in literature ranges from 4.3% to 24%. These complications are mainly because of the mechanical stress of the port and the tube; therefore, their incidence might be time dependent and probably increase during the follow-up. METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively 489 obese patients submitted to LAGB from February 1998 to December 2005, considering all the complications of the connecting tube and port. Their clinical signs, imaging exams, operative reports, and hospitalization files were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean follow-up of the patients was 41 months. Seventy-one patients (14.5%) presented port and connecting tube complications that required 82 revisional operations. Fifty-four patients had system leaks, 3 had infection problems, and 14 mechanical problems, always requiring surgical revision. In five patients, the system leak was observed twice and required a second surgical repair, while one patient presented three times a leakage of the connecting tube and needed three surgical revisions. All cases of system leakage were related to significant weight regain. In one case of recurrent port infection, we had to remove the band. CONCLUSION: Port-site and connecting tube problems are the most common complications after LAGB. Although they are considered marginal complications, they usually cause weight regain; their correction often requires surgical revision and sometimes removal of the band.

Stapled transanal rectal resection in solitary rectal ulcer associated with prolapse of the rectum: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: At present, none of the conventional surgical treatments of solitary rectal ulcer associated with internal rectal prolapse seems to be satisfactory because of the high incidence of recurrence. The stapled transanal rectal resection has been demonstrated to successfully cure patients with internal rectal prolapse associated with rectocele, or prolapsed hemorrhoids. This prospective study was designed to evaluate the short-term and long-term results of stapled transanal rectal resection in patients affected by solitary rectal ulcer associated with internal rectal prolapse and nonresponders to biofeedback therapy. METHODS: Fourteen patients were selected on the basis of validated constipation and continence scorings, clinical examination, anorectal manometry, defecography, and colonoscopy and were submitted to biofeedback therapy. Ten nonresponders were operated on and followed up with incidence of failure, defined as no improvement of symptoms and/or recurrence of rectal ulceration, as the primary outcome measure. Operative time, hospital stay, postoperative pain, time to return to normal activity, overall patient satisfaction index, and presence of residual rectal prolapse also were evaluated. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 27.2 (range, 24-34) months, symptoms significantly improved, with 80 percent of excellent/good results and none of the ten operated patients showed a recurrence of rectal ulcer. Operative time, hospital stay, and time to return to normal activity were similar to those reported after stapled transanal rectal resection for obstructed defecation, whereas postoperative pain was slightly higher. One patient complained of perineal abscess, requiring surgery. DISCUSSION: The stapled transanal rectal resection is safe and effective in the cure of solitary rectal ulcer associated with internal rectal prolapse, with minimal complications and no recurrences after two years. Randomized trials with sufficient number of patients are necessary to compare the efficacy of stapled transanal rectal resection with the traditional surgical treatments of this rare condition.

Concurrent band and tube migration following acute pancreatitis.

A 52-year-old woman developed an acute pancreatitis 7 years after gastric banding for morbid obesity. The patient presented a stable weight loss. Three months before, a radiological band calibration showed a normal position of the band. Investigations revealed that the pancreatitis was related to the presence of gallstones, complicated by a stone in the choledocic tract. The band migrated completely into the gastric lumen and passed far down the jejunum. The band was still connected to the port but the connecting tube did not follow the normal course of duodenum, entering the stomach in the middle of the greater curvature and getting out on the same side 5 cm more distad. The patient underwent first an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram with sphinterectomy, then a laparoscopy that allowed us to remove the band, via jejunotomy, and the tube, which was outside the stomach. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Does lobectomy for lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affect lung function? A multicenter national study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lobectomy on pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: One hundred thirty-seven patients were analyzed; 49 had normal pulmonary function tests, and 88 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Different functional parameter groups were identified: obstructive (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC], and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease index), hyperinflation (residual volume and functional residual capacity), and diffusion (transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide). Also, the ratio between observed and predicted postoperative FEV(1) was calculated. RESULTS: In patients with preoperative FEV1 greater than 80% of predicted, postoperative FEV1/FVC slightly but not significantly decreased, and postoperative FEV1 significantly decreased. In patients with preoperative FEV1 less than 65%, postoperative FEV1 and FEV1/FVC significantly increased. In patients with preoperative FEV1/FVC greater than 70%, postoperative FEV1 and FEV1/FVC significantly decreased. In patients with preoperative FEV1/FVC less than 70%, postoperative FEV1/FVC increased, and FEV1 remained unchanged. In patients with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease index greater than 1.5, postoperative FEV1 and FEV1/FVC significantly decreased, whereas in patients with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease index less than 1.5, postoperative FEV1/FVC significantly increased and FEV1 remained unchanged. In patients with residual volume and functional residual capacity greater than 115% and transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide less than 80% of predicted, postoperative FEV1 diminished less (not significant) compared with patients who had residual volume and functional residual capacity less than 115% (P = .0001). Observed postoperative/predicted postoperative FEV1 was higher if FEV1/FVC was less than 55% (1.46), if FEV1 was less than 80% of predicted (1.21), or if the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease index was less than 1.5 (1.17). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with mild to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could have a better late preservation of pulmonary function after lobectomy than healthy patients.