Raymond J. Taddeucci

Support Group Meeting Attendance is Associated with Better Weight Loss

BackgroundSupport group meetings (SGM) are assumed to be an integral part of success after bariatric surgery. This investigation studies the effect of SGM on weight loss as well as factors associated with attendance of SGM. It is our hypothesis that patients who attend SGM (ASGM) lose more weight than those patients who do not attend SGM (NASGM).MethodsPostoperative bariatric patients completed a questionnaire regarding their opinions of SGM. Change in body mass index (BMI) was computed for each patient. The patients were then divided into two groups: ASGM and NASGM for data comparison.ResultsThere were 46 patients in the investigation. Patients in the NASGM group tended to feel that SGM are not needed after bariatric surgery compared to the ASGM group (5.29 vs. 7.06; p = 0.07). Patients in the NASGM group tended to feel that they would lose the same amount of weight with or without attending SGM compared to the ASGM group (5.67 vs. 7.38; p = 0.07). There were no differences in distance to clinic nor in time to clinic between both groups. Gastric bypass patients in the ASGM group had a statistically significantly higher percent decrease in BMI than the patients in the NASGM group (42% vs. 32%; p < 0.03).ConclusionPatients in the ASGM group lose more weight than patients in the NASGM group. The importance of attending SGM should be incorporated in preoperative patient counseling and encouraged during postoperative follow-up visits.

Goal-directed laparoscopic training leads to better laparoscopic skill acquisition

INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic skills training outside the operating room is becoming the standard for educating surgical residents. Because of the restrictions on the work week, it is imperative for this training to be efficient. We hypothesized that goal-directed laparoscopic training (GDLT) would result in better skill acquisition than laparoscopic training without goals (LT). METHODS Second-year general surgery residents participated in this study. Metrics were scores that incorporated time and errors. One group of residents (LT) went through a 10- week laparoscopic training course without goals; one group of residents (GDLT) was given goals to achieve during their course. Each group practiced for the same amount of time. The tasks were peg exercise, run the rope, pattern cutting, clip/cut vessel, extracorporeal knot tying, intracorporeal knot tying, and suturing device. Statistical analysis was performed via 2-tailed Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS There were 8 residents in the LT group and 7 residents in the GDLT. The GDLT group had statistically significant higher scores on 7 of the 8 tasks compared the LT group (P < .02 to P < .0001). The GDLT group performed better in the final task, suturing device, than the LT group, but this did not reach statistical significance (451 vs 414; P = .14). CONCLUSIONS GDLT should be used by surgeons instead of LT. Future studies need to examine whether GDLT translates into a better operative technique and outcomes.

Initial Trocar Placement and Abdominal Insufflation in Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

INTRODUCTION Initial trocar placement and abdominal insufflation in laparoscopic bariatric surgery can be challenging for the novice. One technique is the use of an optical viewing trocar without prior abdominal insufflation. This investigation tests the hypothesis that this technique can be taught to novice surgeons with good results. METHODS Patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery were included. Novice surgeons (residents/fellows) with 0-50 initial trocar placements placed the initial trocar and insufflated the abdomen in the presence of an expert surgeon (>300 initial trocar placements in morbidly obese patients). Trocar placement time was defined as the time to place the trocar into the peritoneal cavity (including infiltration of local anesthesia and incision). Insufflation time was defined as the time to insufflate the abdomen to a pressure of 10 to 15 mm Hg (including time to place tubing on trocar). Novice times were compared with expert times. RESULTS There were 81 patients (56 by expert and 25 by novice) in this study. No bowel or vessel injury during initial trocar placement was noted. No correlation was seen between times and BMI or waist/hip circumference (P = NS). Mean expert trocar placement time was shorter than the mean novice time (25 +/- 9 versus 54 +/- 27 s; P < 0.0001); although there was no difference in mean insufflation time (expert versus novice: 16 +/- 5 versus 19 +/- 10; P = NS). The mean total time to place the initial trocar and insufflate the abdomen for the novices was 72 +/- 26 s. CONCLUSIONS Initial trocar placement can be taught safely to novices. The technique using an optical viewing trocar without prior abdominal insufflation is effective and efficient in morbidly obese patients.

Knowledge and opinions regarding Medicare reimbursement for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BackgroundMedicare, via its fee schedule, determines amount of payment to physicians for services for its beneficiaries. Because many private insurance companies base their payment schedule on Medicare rates, it is important for physicians to know the rates of commonly performed procedures. In addition, it seems that public perception is that physicians receive substantial payments for procedures. This investigation explores patient, student, resident, and surgeon knowledge and opinion of Medicare reimbursements for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.MethodsPatients, students, residents, and surgeons filled out an IRB-exempted survey. The survey included a written description of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. All participants were asked to give their thoughts of what Medicare currently reimburses for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (

Postoperative Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery Patients do Not Remember Potential Complications

622) and what they thought Medicare should reimburse for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for our geographic area.ResultsThere were 105 participants (47 patients, 17 medical students, 33 surgical residents, and 8 attending surgeons) in the investigation. The reported mean reimbursements of what each group thought Medicare pays were patients,

Non-closure of Defects during Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

9,396; students,

Laparoscopic re-operations for band removal after open banded gastric bypass

3,077; residents,

Minimally invasive surgery fellows would perform a wider variety of cases in their “ideal” fellowship

800; and surgeons,

Band versus bypass: influence of an educational seminar and surgeon visit on patient preference

711. The reported mean reimbursements of what each group thought Medicare should pay were patients,

V-10: Laparoscopic correction of a slipped adjustable gastric band

8,067; students,