John G. Zografakis

Minimally invasive surgery for achalasia: a 10-year experience ☆

Minimally invasive esophagomyotomy for achalasia has become the preferred surgical treatment; the employment of a concomitant fundoplication with the myotomy is controversial. Here we report a retrospective analysis of 53 patients with achalasia treated with laparoscopic Heller myotomy; fundoplication was used in all patients except one, and 48 of the fundoplications were complete (floppy Nissen). There were no deaths or reoperations, and minor complications occurred in three patients. Good-to-excellent long-term results were obtained in 92% of the subjects (median follow-up 3 years). Two cases (4%) of persistent postoperative dysphagia were documented, one of which was treated with dilatation. Postoperative reflux occurred in five patients, four of whom did not receive a complete fundoplication; these patients were well controlled with medical therapy. We suggest that esophageal achalasia may be successfully treated with laparoscopic Heller myotomy and floppy Nissen fundoplication with an acceptable rate of postoperative dysphagia.

Effect of body mass index on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients undergoing minimally invasive bariatric surgery

The risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients undergoing bariatric surgery are under study. We wanted to determine the correlation between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and patient factors such as obesity and liver function tests. A retrospective analysis was performed on 177 nonalcoholic morbidly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with liver biopsy, to identify risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The histologic grade of liver disease was compared with preoperative body mass index, age, and liver function tests. Simple steatosis and steatohepatitis were present in 90% and 42% of patients, respectively. Elevated transaminaselevels were an independent risk for liver disease. Body mass index and liver disease were not correlated with univariate analysis. Regression analysis performed on age, body mass index, and liver disease demonstrated that the risk for liver disease increased with body mass index in the younger (<35 years old) age group and decreased with body mass index in the older (<45 years old) age group. There was a high incidence of steatosis and steatohepatitis in these nonalcoholic bariatric patients, and elevated transaminase level was indicative of disease. Body mass index was a positive risk factor for liver disease in younger patients but a negative risk factor in the older patients.

Minimally invasive incisional herniorrhaphy: a review of 208 cases

Background:Minimally invasive incisional herniorrhaphy has become an accepted approach for incisional hernia. However, the ideal technique for this procedure is not known. The authors present their technique and personal experience with minimally invasive incisional herniorrhaphy.Methods:A retrospective review investigated 208 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive incisional hernia repair under the supervision of a single surgeon between 1995 and 2002.Results:An intraperitoneal mesh repair was performed in all cases. There were no conversions. The mean operative time was 2.1 h (range, 0.8–4.5 h). The mean length of hospital stay was 2.5 days (range, 0–13 days). There were six complications, including two bowel perforations, and zero mortality. There were three recurrences during the follow-up period, which ranged from 6 to 72 months (median, 24 months).Conclusions:Minimally invasive incisional herniorrhaphy yielded an acceptable morbidity and recurrence rate during the follow-up period. The outcome compares favorably with that for open incisional hernia repair. Although long-term follow-up evaluation is desirable, the data support the contention that the minimally invasive approach is an appropriate option for incisional hernia.

Laparoscopic Revision of Failed Fundoplication and Hiatal Herniorraphy

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms of failure after laparoscopic fundoplication and the results of revision laparoscopic fundoplication. BACKGROUND Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has become the most commonly performed antireflux procedure for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, with success rates from 90 to 95%. Persistent or new symptoms often warrant endoscopic and radiographic studies to find the cause of surgical failure. In experienced hands, reoperative antireflux surgery can be done laparoscopically. We performed a retrospective analysis of all laparoscopic revision of failed fundoplications done by the principle author and the respective fellow within the laparoscopic fellowship from 1992 to 2006. METHODS A review was performed on patients who underwent laparoscopic revision of a failed primary laparoscopic fundoplication. RESULTS Laparoscopic revision of failed fundoplication was performed on 68 patients between 1992 and 2006. The success rate of the laparoscopic redo Nissen fundoplication was 86%. Symptoms prior to the revision procedure included heartburn (69%), dysphagia (8.8%), or both (11.7%). Preoperative evaluation revealed esophagitis in 41%, hiatal hernia with esophagitis in 36%, hiatal hernia without esophagitis in 7.3%, stenosis in 11.74%, and dysmotility in 2.4%. The main laparoscopic revisions included fundoplication alone (41%) or fundoplication with hiatal hernia repair (50%). Four gastric perforations occurred; these were repaired primarily without further incident. An open conversion was performed in 1 patient. Length of stay was 2.5 +/- 1.0 days. Mean follow-up was 22 months (range, 6-42), during which failure of the redo procedure was noted in 9 patients (13.23%). CONCLUSION Laparoscopic redo antireflux surgery, performed in a laparoscopic fellowship program, produces excellent results that approach the success rates of primary operations.

Two-trocar cholecystectomy by strategic laparoscopy for improved cosmesis (SLIC).

Results of this study suggest that strategic laparoscopy for improved cosmesis cholecystectomy is feasible, safe, and decreases the cumulative incision length as well as the number of incisions in patients with favorable body habitus and previous surgical history.