Background: Ventral hernia repair with mesh is a frequently performed procedure and the Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) concept might be adaptable for hernia repairs avoiding incision in the abdominal wall. The risk for infection in mesh placement is of concern. We compared abdominal wall mesh placement via NOTES with the laparoscopic mesh placement.Hypothesis: […]
Background: Although the feasibility of laparoscopic liver resections has been demonstrated, a very few studies comparing the laparoscopic approach to open surgery have been published. The left lateral sectionectomy (resection of segments II and III) was the first formal liver resection performed by laparoscopy. We developed a laparoscopic procedure very similar to open surgery, with […]
Introduction: Successful weight loss after laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass (LRGBP) hinges on many elements including neurohormonal, anatomical, and postoperative behavioral changes. To date, the effects of socioeconomic factors have been poorly studied. We examine several components of socioeconomic status and its relationship to weight loss after LRGBP.Methods: Between August 2002 and July 2006, 405 LRYGB […]
Background: Natural Orifice Transluminal OrificeSurgery (NOTES) is being investigated for human use as a new minimally invasive procedure. We compared NOTES with the current gold standard laparoscopy.Hypothesis: Animals undergoing NOTES will reveal greater hemodynamic instability due to uncontrolled insufflation pressures. No difference in the immunologic impact as measured by Interleukin-1b will be realized.Design: Randomized blinded […]
Background: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has become the preferred surgical procedure for the elective treatment of hematologic disorders. Compared to open splenectomy (OS), it results in shorter hospital stay, decreased postoperative pain and faster recovery. The cost-benefit analysis of both procedures has not been fully studied. We hypothesize that LS results in significant savings to all […]