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A 3-year prospective study of the learning curve for D2 gastrectomy was carried out by one surgeon beginning to perform the operation independently after intensive specialist training. Some 38 patients were treated; there were four postoperative deaths and 22 patients had complications. Postoperative morbidity decreased significantly with time (rS = -0.38, P = 0.02, 95 per cent confidence interval -0.62 to -0.07). The physiological component of POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity) was significantly lower in the third year (median value 15, 16 and 14 for years 1, 2 and 3, n = 31, chi 2 = 7.5, 2 d.f., P = 0.02, Kruskal-Wallis test), but the operative POSSUM scores and the number of lymph nodes found were not decreased (median operative POSSUM score 19, 18 and 21, n = 31, chi 2 = 0.2, 2 d.f., P = 0.91, Kruskal-Wallis test). The results suggest a learning curve lasting about 18-24 months or 15 to 25 procedures before a plateau is reached. Improved results were associated with changes in case selection and operative tactics but not with reduced extent of lymphadenectomy. D2 gastrectomy should be restricted to specialist centres where adequate training and supervision can be provided during the learning curve.

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Can all congenital cystic lung lesions be treated conservatively, without the need for surgery? Our purpose here is to present the morbidity associated with symptomatic cystic lung lesions which have failed to respond to medical treatment. In the past 8 years, 22 consecutive cystic thoracic lesions were retrospectively assessed for clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, operative findings, technical tribulations, and outcome. The endpoint was complete cessation of recurrent pneumonia and dysphagia. Age at presentation was 7.7 +/- 2.2 years, with 4 +/- 2 episodes per year of lower respiratory tract infection, which had been treated for the past 2.6 +/- 0.3 years. Cough and dyspnea (100%) were the common symptoms, with episodes of cyanosis occurring in 58%. Other significant clinical presentations were dysphagia (55%), failure to thrive (55%), chest pain (46%), haemoptysis (18%), and pleuritic pain (18%). Definitive growth was seen in 91% of the excised specimens. Preoperative morbidity resulted from intractable pneumonia, dysphagia, and failure to thrive. Surgical excision was curative. All 22 children after resection are thriving, with an absence of pneumonia and dysphagia, with normal ventilation/perfusion scans, at 48 +/- 6 months of follow-up. In conclusion, surgical excision of a symptomatic cystic lung lesion that has not responded to medical treatment is recommended.

LAG requires fewer anaesthetics, is associated with shorter time to feeding, shortened hospital stay and has a reduced risk of major complications. LAG is a very good alternative to the PEG in children.

Long-term follow-up is recommended because of the risks of late strictures, excessive tortuosity of the neo-oesophagus and the development of Barrett's oesophagus.