Minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy a one year record.

PURPOSE: Our study is to demonstrate the feasibility and the safety of the Minilaparoscopic Cholecystectomy. MATERIAL OF STUDY: During one year period 12 patients underwent 5mm Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and 102 patientunderwent Mini-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. In this study the exclusion criteria for surgery have been analyzed as well as the technical difficulties, the operation time, the duration of hospital stay, the post-surgery pain, the complications and the aesthetic results RESULTS: The operation time was 3 minutes longer for Mini-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, the hospital stay was shorter in Mini-laparoscopic group. Patients that underwent 5mm Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy required a longer analgesic therapy. Complications occurred during the study were not related to the method. The aesthetic results were better in Minilaparoscopic Cholecystectomy due to lower scars length. Only in two cases we converted the planned Mini-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in 5mm Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. DISCUSSION: All the patients submitted to Mini-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and 5mm Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy had the same therapeutic result. The Mini-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy gave advantages on post-surgery pain and recovery time. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the Mini-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is a safe method that guarantees the same clinical results of conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. It shows some technical difficulties, but yet this surgery is to be recommended to expert surgeons. KEY WORDS: Gallbladder Polyps, Gallstone Disease, Mini-laparoscopic Cholecistecomy.

Intragastric balloon for obesity treatment: results of a multicentric evaluation for balloons left in place for more than 6 months.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases. The BioEnterics(®) Intragastric Balloon (BIB(®)) is used worldwide as a short-term (6 months) treatment in morbid obese patients. However, removal of BIB(®) past 6 months is a common occurrence in clinical practice often as a result of patient factors. The aim of the present Italian multicentre cohort study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the BIB(®) left in situ for more than 6 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of eight Italian centres participated in the study. Participating centres received a standardised questionnaire designed to capture safety and efficacy data. Weight loss data, as well as date, and reason for removal of the BIB(®) after 6 months were recorded. Adverse events, including mortality and complications, operators' subjective technical notes and findings, and difficulties during removal procedure were also collected. RESULTS: Six hundred and eleven patients were included. In the majority of cases, patient extended BIB(®) treatment due to satisfactory weight loss (44 %). At 6 months, all patients achieved a BMI statistically lower than the initial BMI (p < 0.001). There was a non-significant trend towards greater BMIL % in patients who underwent removal up to 15 months versus the results achieved up to 6 months. No major complications were recorded. CONCLUSION: Extending the duration of BIB(®) use up to 14 months safely maintains weight loss and satiety with greater results than that up to 6 months, without complications.