The association of pre-neoadjuvant SUVmax and post-neoadjuvant change in SUVmax on FDG-PET with survival after oesophagectomy for cancer.

Background: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is currently widely used in staging and re-staging oesophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. The maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) is a reproducible parameter that may predict survival. This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of SUVmax and the change in SUVmax after neoadjuvant treatment (ΔSUVmax) on overall and disease-free survival.

Surgical Options for Retained Gallstones After Cholecystectomy.

Background: Retained gallstones are the most common cause of postcholecystectomy pain. They may be in a long remnant cystic duct (CD), the common bile duct (CBD), or within a remnant gallbladder (GB) post subtotal cholecystectomy. Although endoscopic management is often attempted, occasionally surgical clearance is required.

Radiologic myosteatosis predicts major complication risk following esophagectomy for cancer: a multicenter experience.

Background: Myosteatosis is a measure of skeletal muscle quality that is readily identifiable on computed tomography (CT). The effect of preoperative myosteatosis on outcomes after radical esophagectomy remains unclear. This study aimed to correlate the presence of myosteatosis on CT scan with perioperative morbidity, mortality, and survival outcomes after esophagectomy in an Australian population across 3 esophageal cancer centers.

The influence of socioeconomic disadvantage on short- and long-term outcomes after oesophagectomy for cancer: an Australian multicentre study.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) affects outcomes following surgery for various cancers. There are currently no Australian studies that examine the role of socioeconomic disadvantage on outcomes following oesophagectomy for cancer. This study assessed whether SES was associated with short-term perioperative morbidity, long-term survival, and oncological outcomes following oesophagectomy across three tertiary oesophageal cancer centres in Australia.

Perioperative outcomes in patients who undergo neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy versus up-front surgery in patients with oesophageal cancer.

Background: Oesophagectomy is the mainstay of curative treatment for oesophageal cancer. The role of neoadjuvant therapy has evolved over time as evidence for its survival benefit comes to hand. Clinician reluctance to offer patients neoadjuvant therapy may be based on the perception that patients receiving treatment before surgery may be exposed to a greater risk of perioperative complications.

Impact of pre-existing mesh at the hiatus at revisional hiatal hernia surgery.

Recurrence after laparoscopic hiatus hernia repair (LHR) is high, with few symptomatic patients undergoing redo LHR. Morbidity is higher in redo surgery compared with the primary operation. Tens of studies have explored the safety of redoing LHR.

Sarcopenia impacts perioperative and survival outcomes after esophagectomy for cancer: a multicenter study.

Background: The impact of sarcopenia on outcomes after esophagectomy is controversial. Most data are currently derived from Asian populations. This study aimed to correlate sarcopenia to short-term perioperative complication rates and long-term survival and recurrence outcomes.

The Impact of Age on the Post-operative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Resection for Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer.

Background: Within our ageing population, there is an increasing number of elderly patients presenting with oesophagogastric cancer. Resection remains the mainstay of curative treatment however it has substantial morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess whether age was an independent predictor of resection related complications in our unit.

Initial experience with laparoscopic gastric bypass in an Australian general foregut surgery unit.

Background: Laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB) is an increasingly utilized approach to bariatric surgery in Australia. A high proportion of those procedures are revisional due to Australia's legacy of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), which is not the case internationally. The aim of this study was to compare post-operative outcomes in an Australian general foregut surgery unit against benchmarks published in the literature.

Intragastric laparoscopy for oesophageal eroded mesh removal: An approach to avoid resection.

The augmentation of hiatal repair for large hiatus hernia with mesh is controversial. There is some evidence that recurrence rates are less with mesh repair; however, there is a risk of mesh erosion. Complicated erosion may require complex revisional surgery and oesophagogastric resection.

Acute cholecystitis or simple biliary colic after an emergency presentation: why it matters.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is often performed during the index admission after emergency presentation for acute biliary pain. Many patients have acute cholecystitis (AC) that may increase operative difficulty and complications. Our primary aim was to assess the validity of Tokyo Guidelines (TG18) for diagnosing AC by comparison with the admitting team diagnosis, operative findings and histopathology.

Acute paraesophageal hernia repair: short-term outcome comparisons with elective repair.

Background: In the literature, there is a wide range of reported morbidity and mortality rates after acute paraesophageal hernia (PH) repair.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected from all patients undergoing PH repair between December 2001 and October 2011. Outcome data were compared between the acute and elective groups.

Transfusion-Dependent Anaemia: An Overlooked Complication of Paraoesophageal Hernias.

Introduction. A paraoesophageal hernia (PH) may be one reason for iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) but is often overlooked as a cause. We aimed to assess the incidence and resolution of transfusion-dependent IDA in patients presenting for hiatal hernia surgery.

Postoperative Dysphagia in laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair: the effect of distal esophageal angulation.

Background: Dysphagia following laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair is an uncommon but difficult problem that may be due to technical factors. We looked for an association between esophageal angulation after posterior crural repair and postoperative dysphagia.

Materials And Methods: Patients undergoing paraesophageal hiatus hernia repair were identified from a prospectively maintained dedicated database.

Laparoscopic reduction of an internal hernia of transverse colon through the foramen of Winslow.

Large bowel obstruction by incarceration in the lesser sac through the foramen of Winslow is exceedingly rare and often associated with nonviable bowel at the time of operation according to older reports. In modern times, widespread availability of computed tomography (CT) for investigation of the acute abdomen may decrease the necessity of bowel resection in these cases. Here, we present a case of laparoscopic reduction of viable transverse colon from the lesser sac in a young woman.

Porcine small intestine submucosa matrix (Surgisis) for esophageal perforation.

We present a case of traumatic cervical esophageal perforation complicated by delayed diagnosis and foreign body presence successfully repaired with acellular matrix biomaterial made from porcine submucosa (Surgisis mesh [Wilson-Cook, Winston-Salem, NC]). With metal plating eroding into the esophagus from a spinal fixation procedure, the mesh was applied to the defect just under the cricopharyngeus. The patient re-commenced oral intake after 7 days, and an endoscopy at 4 weeks revealed a well-incorporated mesh in an intact esophagus with normal caliber.

Prosthesis related sepsis following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Background: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is well-recognized as a superior method to achieving durable weight loss in the medium term when compared with non-surgical methods of weight loss. In this paper, we described the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients presenting with band or band-adjustment reservoir sepsis from our series from a single institution.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected clinical, anthropometric and biochemical data from patients who underwent LAGB placement over a five-year period at a metropolitan teaching hospital.

Cartilage defects are associated with physical disability in obese adults.

Objective: To describe the associations between physical disability measures and knee cartilage defects in obese adults.

Methods: One hundred and eleven obese subjects were recruited from laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding or exercise/diet weight loss programmes. All subjects completed disease-specific (WOMAC) and general health status (SF-36) questionnaires, and were assessed for range of knee motion, tibiofemoral alignment and quadriceps strength.

Influence of BMI on health-related quality of life: comparison between an obese adult cohort and age-matched population norms.

The aim of this study was to determine health-related quality of life and fatigue measures in obese subjects and to compare scores with age- and gender-matched population norms. A total of 163 obese subjects were recruited from laparoscopic-adjustable gastric banding or exercise and diet weight loss programs between March 2006 and December 2007. All subjects completed the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36), Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL), and Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) questionnaires.

Erosion of a composite PTFE/ePTFE mesh after hiatal hernia repair.

Primary repair of large hiatal defects is associated with higher than acceptable recurrence rates. This has led to the increased use of fascial prostheses for reinforcement of the hiatal repair. We report a case of intraluminal mesh erosion after repair of a recurrent paraesophageal hernia with a composite polytetrafluoroethylene/expanded polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis in an 80-year-old woman.

Delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage: clinical associations in obese adults.

Objective: Delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cartilage (dGEMRIC) is used to assess cartilage glycosaminoglycan distribution. Our aim was to determine the relationships between self-reported pain and disability, clinical variables, and serum leptin, and dGEMRIC indices in obese subjects with and without clinical knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Seventy-seven subjects were recruited from laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding or exercise and diet-weight loss programs.

Omission of the calibration bougie in laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernia.

Background: The use of an intraesophageal bougie has traditionally been an integral step in the repair of large hiatal hernia and fundoplication. Typically, the bougie is passed by the anesthesiologist or a member of the surgical team into the stomach to enable calibration of the hiatal repair and fundoplication. An inherent risk of esophagogastric perforation is associated with this maneuver.