Different ways exist to manage gastric leak, depending on the magnitude of the collection and the clinical repercussions. When treatment necessitates reintervention and is performed early, suture repair is more likely to be successful. Leakage closure time will vary.

SUMMARY Late results in 81 patients with achalasia treated in a prospective randomised study comparing forceful pneumatic dilatation with the Mosher bag and surgical anterior oesophagomyotomy by abdominal route, are reported. There were no deaths from either of the treatments.Two patients (5*6%) had a perforation of the abdominal oesophagus after pneumatic dilatation and were excluded from late follow up. In patients having surgery at radiological evaluation there was gullet diameter significantly increased at the oesophagogastric junction and decreased at the middle third of the oesophagus. One patient was lost from follow up and one died of an oesophageal carcinoma, leaving 95% of excellent results at the late follow up (median 62 months). Resting gastro-oesophageal sphincter pressure decreased significantly to approximately 10 mmHg; this was maintained five years after surgery. By contrast, in patients having pneumatic dilatation, there were good results in only 65% (follow up median 58 months), with 30% failures. One patient was lost from follow up and one developed oesophageal carcinoma. Measurement of resting gastro-oesophageal sphincter pressure after dilatation was highly predictive of the outcome. The study shows that surgical treatment offers a better final clinical result than pneumatic dilatation with the Mosher bag.The aim of treating patients with achalasia of the oesophagus is to obtain an adequate emptying of the gullet into the stomach, either by rupture or by surgical division of the circular muscle fibres of the distal oesophagus, where the hypertensive gastrooesophageal sphincter is located.'2 This can be achieved either by forceful dilatation, or by surgical oesophagomyotomy. We have previously reported the results of a prospective randomised study comparing the two treatments in 38 patients with achalasia.?The aim of this study is to report the late results of a greater number of patients included in this trial.

No abstract

Sterol receptor element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) mRNA expression was assessed in liver as signaling mechanisms associated with steatosis in obese patients. Liver SREBP-1c and PPAR-alpha mRNA (RT-PCR), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1a (CPT-1a) mRNA (real-time RT-PCR), and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA)(GLC) contents, plasma adiponectin levels (RIA), and insulin resistance (IR) evolution (HOMA) were evaluated in 11 obese patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy with gastro-jejunal anastomosis in Roux-en-Y and 8 non-obese subjects who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (controls). Liver SREBP-1c and FAS mRNA levels were 33% and 70% higher than control values (P<0.05), respectively, whereas those of PPAR-alpha and CPT-1a were 16% and 65% lower (P<0.05), respectively, with a significant 62% enhancement in the SREBP-1c/PPAR-alpha ratio. Liver n-3 LCPUFA levels were 53% lower in obese patients who also showed IR and hipoadiponectinemia over controls (P<0.05). IR negatively correlated with both the hepatic content of n-3 LCPUFA (r=-0.55; P<0.01) and the plasma levels of adiponectin (r=-0.62; P<0.005). Liver SREBP-1c/PPAR-alpha ratio and n-3 LCPUFA showed a negative correlation (r=-0.48; P<0.02) and positive associations with either HOMA (r=0.75; P<0.0001) or serum insulin levels (r=0.69; P<0.001). In conclusion, liver up-regulation of SREBP-1c and down-regulation of PPAR-alpha occur in obese patients, with enhancement in the SREBP-1c/PPAR-alpha ratio associated with n-3 LCPUFA depletion and IR, a condition that may favor lipogenesis over FA oxidation thereby leading to steatosis.

A sleeve gastrectomy produces an important decrease in LES pressure, which can in turn cause the appearance of reflux symptoms and esophagitis after the operation due to a partial resection of the sling fibers during the gastrectomy.

No abstract

Gastric emptying after SG is accelerated either for liquids as well as for solids in the majority of patients. These results could be taken in consideration for the dietary indications after surgery and could play a significant role in the definitive results during the late follow-up.

Close clinical observation detects gastric leaks early on inpatients who underwent LSG. We suggest evaluating these leaks based on three parameters: time of appearance, the location, and its severity, in order to propose the best medical or surgical treatment in these patients.