Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyProbiotics improve outcomes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: a prospective randomized trial.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RNYGB) surgery offers an effective and enduring treatment for morbid obesity. Gastric bypass may alter gastrointestinal (GI) flora possibly resulting in bacterial overgrowth and dysmotility. Our hypothesis was that daily use of probiotics would improve GI outcomes after RNYGB. ⋯ In this novel study, probiotic administration improves bacterial overgrowth, vitamin B12 availability, and weight loss after RNYGB. These data may provide further evidence that altering the GI microbiota can influence weight loss.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Jul 2009
Comparative StudyThe lymph node ratio is the strongest prognostic factor after resection of pancreatic cancer.
Survival after surgery of pancreatic cancer is still poor, even after curative resection. Some prognostic factors like the status of the resection margin, lymph node (LN) status, or tumor grading have been identified. However, only few data have been published regarding the prognostic influence of the LN ratio (number of LN involved to number of examined LN). We, therefore, evaluated potential prognostic factors in 182 patients after resection of pancreatic cancer including assessment of LN ratio. ⋯ Not the lymph node involvement per se but especially the LN ratio is an independent prognostic factor after resection of pancreatic cancers. In our series, the LN ratio was even the strongest predictor of survival. The routine estimation of the LN ratio may be helpful not only for the individual prediction of prognosis but also for the indication of adjuvant therapy and herein related outcome and therapy studies.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Jul 2009
Acute abdominal pain in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) that present with acute abdominal pain (AAP) represent a challenge for the general surgeon. The purpose of this study was to identify the major causes of AAP among these patients and to define the role of disease activity scores and the APACHE II score in identifying patients with an increased perioperative risk. ⋯ This is one of the largest series of AAP and SLE. Most common causes of AAP were pancreatitis and intestinal ischemia. APACHE II score in patients with intestinal ischemia was higher than those with serositis; further studies are needed to examine whether this score may help to differentiate these etiologies when CT findings are inconclusive. APACHE II score was the most important factor associated with mortality. Furthermore, a prompt diagnosis and an appropriate surgical management are essential in order to improve patient outcome.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Jul 2009
Comparative StudyPreoperative lower esophageal sphincter manometry data neither impact manifestations of GERD nor outcome after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.
Experience with laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and manometrically intact lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is limited. The disease pattern may be different and LARS may fail to control reflux or result in higher rates of dysphagia. This is the first study investigating the impact of preoperative LES manometry data not only on manifestations of GERD and subjective outcome alone but also on objective outcomes 1 year after LARS. ⋯ The preoperative manometric character of the LES neither impacts the manifestations of GERD nor subjective and objective outcomes after LARS. Patients with GERD and manometrically intact LES have no higher risk for postoperative dysphagia.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Jul 2009
Identification of patients at risk for development of tertiary peritonitis on a surgical intensive care unit.
Tertiary peritonitis (TP) is defined as a severe recurrent or persistent intra-abdominal infection after adequate surgical source control of secondary peritonitis (SP). The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of patients with SP who will further develop TP in order to define early diagnostic markers for TP. ⋯ The MPI at IO as well as CRP and SAPS II at the second postoperative day helps to identify patients at risk for tertiary peritonitis.