There is currently no consensus on the combined length of small bowel that should be bypassed as biliopancreatic or alimentary limb for optimum results with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. A number of different limb lengths exist, and there is significant variation in practice amongst surgeons. Inevitably, this means that some patients have too much small bowel bypassed and end up with malnutrition and others end up with a less effective operation. Lack of standardisation poses further problems with interpretation and comparison of scientific literature. This systematic review concludes that a range of 100-200 cm for combined length of biliopancreatic or alimentary limb gives optimum results with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in most patients.

A large number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery are deficient in copper, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can further aggravate it. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of copper deficiency can leave patients with residual neurological disability. This has led to recommendation from the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society that copper levels should be monitored annually after gastric bypass. This review concludes that copper deficiency in adequately supplemented patients is rare and can be adequately treated if a related haematological or neurological disorder is diagnosed. The cost of routine monitoring may therefore not be justified for adequately supplemented, asymptomatic patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The screening may however be necessary for high-risk patient groups to prevent severe complications and permanent disability.

Mini-gastric bypass (MGP) is a promising bariatric procedure. Tens of thousands of this procedure have been performed throughout the world since Rutledge performed the first procedure in the United States of America in 1997. Several thousands of these have even been documented in the published scientific literature. Despite a proven track record over nearly two decades, this operation continues to polarise the bariatric community. A large number of surgeons across the world have strong objections to this procedure and do not perform it. The risk of symptomatic (bile) reflux, marginal ulceration, severe malnutrition, and long-term risk of gastric and oesophageal cancers are some of the commonly voiced concerns. Despite these expressed fears, several advantages such as technical simplicity, shorter learning curve, ease of revision and reversal, non-inferior weight loss and comorbidity resolution outcomes have prompted some surgeons to advocate a wider adoption of this procedure. This review examines the current status of these controversial aspects in the light of the published academic literature in English.

Aim: To study the prevalence of associated anomalies with neonatal duodenal obstruction and factors impacting short-term survival. Material and methods: Records of 31 neonates with neonatal duodenal obstruction could be retrieved and analyzed for a 13.5-year-period (October 2003-May 2016). M:F ratio was 1.58:1. The mean birth weight was 2.15 kg; 12 patients were preterm. Etiologies included duodenal atresia (n=23), duodenal web (n=8) and malrotation of gut (n= 6). Results: Associated anomalies were seen in 19/31: Down's syndrome (n=6), anorectal malformation (ARM) (n=5), annular pancreas (n=5), cardiac anomalies (n=4), esophageal atresia with trachea-esophageal fistula (EA with TEF) (n=3). Mortality in the series was 22.5%; 5 deaths and 2 patients left against medical advice in moribund state (hidden mortality). Mortality in associated anomalies group was 5/19; and 2/12 in the no anomalies group, though this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.676). Similarly, low birth weight (LBW) did not have impact on survival (p=0.639) but preterm status had highly significant p value (<0.001). Conclusion: Duodenal atresia was the commonest cause of neonatal duodenal obstruction. Associated anomalies were noted in 61% patients, Down's syndrome being the most frequent. These anomalies did not have any significant impact on the survival, nor did LBW. Preterm status had significant impact on prognosis.

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Thoracoscopy has major advantages over thoracotomy. We report a successful management of foregut duplication cyst thoracoscopically in a child with review of literature.

Fluidotherapy was not as effective as warm water for rewarming mildly hypothermic subjects. Although Fluidotherapy is more portable and technically simpler, it provides a lower rate of rewarming that is similar to shivering only. It does help decrease shivering heat production, lowering energy expenditure and cardiac work, and could be considered in a hospital setting, if convenient.

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