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Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most frequent benign disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Management of GERD has always been controversial since modern medical therapy is very effective, but laparoscopic fundoplication is one of the few procedures that were quickly adapted to the minimal access technique. The purpose of this project was to analyze the current knowledge on GERD in regard to its pathophysiology, diagnostic assessment, medical therapy, and surgical therapy, and special circumstances such as GERD in children, Barrett’s esophagus, and enteroesophageal and duodenogastroesophageal reflux. Methods The European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) has tasked a group of experts, based on their clinical and scientific expertise in the field of GERD, to establish current guidelines in a consensus development conference. The expert panel was constituted in May 2012 and met in September 2012 and January 2013, followed by a Delphi process. Critical appraisal of the literature was accomplished. All articles were reviewed and classified according to the hierarchy of level of evidence and summarized in statements and recommendations, which were presented to the scientific community during the EAES yearly conference in a plenary session in Vienna 2013. A second Delphi process followed discussion in the plenary session. Results Recommendations for pathophysiologic and epidemiologic considerations, symptom evaluation, diagnostic workup, medical therapy, and surgical therapy are presented. Diagnostic evaluation and adequate selection of patients are the most important features for success of the current management of GERD. Laparoscopic fundoplication is the most important therapeutic technique for the success of surgical therapy of GERD. Conclusions Since the background of GERD is multifactorial, the management of this disease requires a complex approach in diagnostic workup as well as for medical and surgical treatment. Laparoscopic fundoplication in well-selected patients is a successful therapeutic option.

Evidence for open groin hernia repair demonstrates less pain with bioglue mesh fixation compared with invasive methods. This study aimed to assess the short- and long-term effects of laparoscopic groin hernia repair with noninvasive and invasive mesh fixation. A systematic review of MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and OpenGrey was undertaken. Randomized trials assessing the outcome of laparoscopic groin hernia repair with invasive and noninvasive fixation methods were considered for data synthesis. Nine trials encompassing 1,454 patients subjected to laparoscopic hernia repair with mesh fixation using biologic or biosynthetic glue were identified. Short-term data were inadequate for data synthesis. Chronic pain was less frequently reported by patients subjected to repair with biologic glue fixation than with penetrating methods (odds ratio .46, 95% confidence interval .22 to .93). Duration of surgery, incidence of seroma/hematoma, morbidity, and recurrence were similar. Laparoscopic groin hernia repair with bioglue mesh fixation was associated with a reduced incidence of chronic pain compared with mechanical fixation, without increasing morbidity or recurrence. Longer term data on recurrence are necessary. •Bioglue has recently emerged as an alternative means of mesh fixation in open and laparoscopic groin hernia repair.•Synthesis of data suggests that this method reduces chronic postoperative pain, without increasing morbidity or recurrence.•Longer term data on recurrence are needed.

Background Laparoscopic techniques induced a tremendous revolution in surgery of the biliary tract, mainly due to improved results compared with the open approach and secondary because of their cosmetic advantage. A trend toward even more minimally invasive approaches has led to techniques of single-incision and natural orifice laparoscopic surgery. Because the evaluation of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is rather fragmentary by single-institution small patient series, this article intends to examine the success and the risks of the technique, and attempts to determine its potential limitations. Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify relevant articles. Studies enrolling at least ten patients who underwent SILC and reporting on analytical complication data were considered for inclusion. Results The literature search identified 29 studies, which included a total of 1,166 patients. Success and complication rates were 90.7% and 6.1%, respectively. Mean adjusted operative time was 70.2 min and mean adjusted hospital stay was 1.4 days. Analysis of outcome exhibited higher complication rates for studies with a mean patient age older than 45 years ( p  = 0.04), and higher operative time for studies with a mean body mass index >30 kg/m 2 (83.4 vs. 74.5 min) and female percentage lower than 70% (78.7 vs. 68.5 min). Acute cholecystitis as inclusion criterion was a factor for technical failure (success rate 59.9 vs. 93.0%, p  = 0.005) and resulted in an increase of operative time (78.1 vs. 70.6 min). Suture suspension of the gallbladder yielded significantly lower complication rates compared with instrument usage (3.3 vs. 13.3%, p  < 0.0001). Conclusions The clinical application of SILC exhibited satisfactory results. Cases of acute cholecystitis and older patients should be approached with caution, whereas improvement of the instrumentation is necessary.

Background Increasing life expectancy requires specific attention on geriatric patients. Data support a potential reduction of surgical morbidity for patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery as compared to conventional surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the comparative effect of laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery on geriatric patients. Methods A systematic review of electronic information sources was undertaken. Studies that provided outcome data on patients aged 65 years or older, subjected to laparoscopic or open colorectal surgery, were considered. Mortality, morbidity, cardiac and pulmonary complications were the outcome measures of treatment effect. The methodological quality of selected studies was independently appraised by two reviewers. Random effects model was applied to synthesize outcome data. Results Twenty-seven articles providing data for 66,592 patients were included in the analysis. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery had a decreased risk for mortality (2.2 vs. 5.4 %; OR 0.55, 95 % CI 0.44–0.67), overall morbidity (19.3 vs. 26.7 %; OR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.46–0.63), cardiac (4.7 vs. 7.7 %; OR 0.60, 95 % CI 0.39–0.92) and respiratory complications (3.9 vs. 6.3 %; OR 0.67, 95 % CI 0.47–0.95). Sensitivity analysis including reports with similar age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score and/or similar prevalence of cardiopulmonary morbidity between the laparoscopic and the open treatment arm validated the outcome estimates of the primary analysis. Conclusions This analysis supports a substantial benefit for elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic in comparison with open colorectal surgery. The comparative effect of either approach on geriatric patients with pulmonary and cardiac comorbidities is a subject of further investigation.

Single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy has emerged as a less invasive alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery. High-quality relevant evidence is limited. A systematic review of electronic information sources was undertaken, with the objective of identifying randomized trials that compared single-incision with conventional laparoscopic appendectomy. Outcome measures included 30-day morbidity, abdominal abscess, wound infection, open conversion, reoperation, operative time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative pain. Fixed-effects and random-effects models were used to calculate combined overall effect sizes of pooled data. Data are presented as odds ratios or weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Five randomized trials were identified, with a total of 746 patients. Thirty-day morbidity (9.6% vs 8.6%; odds ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, .69 to 1.89) and wound infection rates were similar between single-incision and conventional laparoscopy (4.0% vs 4.8%; odds ratio, .83; 95% CI, .41 to 1.68), whereas the duration of surgery was longer in the single-incision group (46.3 vs 40.7 minutes; weighted mean difference, 6.01; 95% CI, 2.26 to 9.76). Available data were not adequately robust to reach conclusions regarding the remaining outcome measures. Similar postoperative morbidity and wound infection rates for single-incision and conventional laparoscopic appendectomy are supported by the current literature, but single-incision surgery requires longer operative time.

The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair and totally extraperitoneal repair. The electronic databases of Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched, and a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials was undertaken. Seven studies comprising 516 patients with 538 inguinal hernia defects were identified. A shorter recovery time (P = .02) was found for totally extraperitoneal repair in comparison with transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (weighted mean difference = −.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], −.71 to .07) although the length of hospitalization (P = .89) was similar in the 2 treatment arms (weighted mean difference = .01; 95% CI, −.13 to .15). Operative morbidity (P = .004) was higher for the preperitoneal approach (odds ratio = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.29 to 3.61). No differences were found with regard to the incidence of recurrence, long-term neuralgia, and operative time. Current evidence suggests similar operative results for endoscopic and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, with a trend toward higher morbidity for the preperitoneal approach. Randomized trials with a longer-term follow-up are needed in order to assess the effect of each approach on the prevention of recurrence.

Background Although symptom outcomes following laparoscopic fundoplication have been adequately evaluated in the past, comparative subjective data of laparoscopic Nissen and Toupet fundoplications are scarce. Multichannel intraluminal impedance monitoring (MII) has not been used so far for comparison of objective data. Methods One hundred patients with documented chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were randomly allocated to either floppy Nissen fundoplication (group I, n = 50) or Toupet fundoplication (group II, n = 50). Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), symptom grading, esophageal manometry, and MII data were documented preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. Subjective and objective outcome data were compared to those of healthy individuals. Results Symptom intensity was significantly more severe and GIQLI showed impairment in the examined patient population compared to healthy controls. Both procedures resulted in a significant improvement in GIQLI and GERD symptoms ( p < 0.01). Dysphagia improved significantly only in group II, while cough, asthma, and distortion of taste improved significantly in both groups. Hoarseness symptoms showed some degree of improvement in both groups but reached statistical significance only in group I. Postoperatively, bowel symptoms partly increased and the ability to belch decreased in both groups ( p < 0.05). Comparison of postoperative GIQLI and symptom scores showed no significant difference between the two groups, except for the ability to belch, which was more impaired after Nissen fundoplication. Both procedures resulted in a significant improvement in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure; however, the improvement was greater in group I than in group II. MII data showed more reflux control after Nissen, but the differences between the procedures were not significant. Conclusions Both procedures equally improve quality of life and GERD symptoms. Bowel symptoms may increase after both procedures at the 3-month follow-up. Manometry and MII data favor Nissen fundoplication, but dysphagia and the inability to belch are more common compared to Toupet fundoplication.

Background The aim of this study was to define a standardized technique for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in the morbidly obese patient. Methods There are several surgical options for the morbidy obese patient. In general, there are the restrictive procedures [e.g., laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB)] and the malabsorptive procedures [e.g. laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP)]. Those techniques are already standardized. The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) seems to have some advantages over both procedures, but it is not standardized yet, and so there can be no comparison between the different techniques. In our center we have standardized the LSG technique with respect to abdominal access and narrowness of the gastric sleeve. After dissection of the greater omentum and the short gastric vessels, the greater curvature is resected along a 34-Fr gastric tube using the Endo-GIA. The remaining gastric sleeve has a volume of about 100 ml. Results The standardized LSG procedure is presented step by step. A comparison of operative data and early outcome with a matched group of patients with adjustable gastric banding showed no difference between the two techniques with respect to operating time, surgical complications, and weight loss 6 months after surgery. Conclusion With our standardized LSG technique it is possible to evaluate the positive aspects of the LSG compared with other standardized bariatric procedures like LAGB or LRYGBP.

Measures have been taken to improve methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This review systematically assessed the trends in volume and methodological quality of RCTs on minimally invasive surgery within a 10-year period. RCTs on minimally invasive surgery were searched in the 10 most cited general surgical journals and the 5 most cited journals of laparoscopic interest for the years 2002 and 2012. Bibliometric and methodological quality components were abstracted using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. The pooled number of RCTs from low-contribution regions demonstrated an increasing proportion of the total published RCTs, compensating for a concomitant decrease of the respective contributions from Europe and North America. International collaborations were more frequent in 2012. Acceptable or high quality RCTs accounted for 37.9% and 54.4% of RCTs published in 2002 and 2012, respectively. Components of external validity were poorly reported. Both the volume and the reporting quality of laparoscopic RCTs have increased from 2002 to 2012, but there seems to be ample room for improvement of methodological quality. •Methodological quality of laparoscopic RCTs was assessed over a 10-year period.•Volume and reporting quality have increased from 2002 to 2012.•External validity items should be addressed in laparoscopic RCTs.•Researchers are urged to further improve methodological quality.