On the basis of the factors implicated in postlaparoscopy pain, the following recommendations can be made in an attempt to reduce such pain: emphathically consider each patients' unique sociocultural and individual pain experience; inject port sites with local anesthesia at the start of the operation; keep intra-abdominal pressure during pneumoperitoneum below 15 mmHg, avoiding pressure peaks and prolonged insufflation; use humidified gas at body temperature if available; use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at the time of induction; attempt to evacuate all intraperitoneal gas at the end of the operation; and use drains only when required, rather than as a routine.

The use of humidified insufflation gas reduces postoperative pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but except for these relatively brief procedures, the heat-preserving effect of humidified gas insufflation is not significant.

This study demonstrates that esophageal motility disorders after LAGB are frequent, poorly appreciated complications. Despite adequate excess weight loss, LAGB should probably not be considered the procedure of first choice and should be performed only in selected cases until reliable criteria for patients with a low risk for the procedure's long-term complications are developed.

Cavernous hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors of the liver. Giant cavernous hemangiomas, defined as those larger than 4 cm in diameter, can reach enormous proportions. Newer imaging modalities, although often demonstrating characteristic features that strongly suggest the diagnosis, should not be augmented by biopsy because of the risk of hemorrhage. Elective surgical resection may be indicated for symptomatic giant lesions and for those with an atypical appearance where the diagnosis is in doubt. Between October 1986 and May 1991, we treated 10 patients with giant hemangiomas by enucleation or enucleation plus resection. Median operative blood loss was 800 mL (range, 200 to 3000 mL). One patient required reoperation for control of postoperative hemorrhage. Detailed pathologic examination has demonstrated an interface between hemangiomas and the normal liver tissue that allows enucleation. Enucleation is an underused procedure that if carefully performed allows resection of giant hemangiomas with a reduced blood loss and the preservation of virtually all normal hepatic parenchyma.

The outcome is reported of patients after external chest wall stabilisation for respiratory insufficiency due to a traumatic flail chest. Since 1990, all patients with a flail chest causing respiratory insufficiency despite peridural analgesia and without further reason for prolonged mechanical ventilation underwent osteosynthesis of the chest wall using the AO-technique with 3.5 mm thick reconstruction plates, and were prospectively followed-up by use of clinical and radiological evaluation. 23 patients underwent external chest wall fixation between 1990 and 1996 and were followed for a mean time of 28 months. 2 patients died after the operation, giving a 30-day-survival rate of 91.3% 21 patients survived and were extubated and transferred to the ward after a mean time interval of 3.9 and 7.8 days, respectively. 95% of the survivors revealed a 100% working capacity at assessment and 86% returned to preoperative sports activities without complaining of chest wall or shoulder girdle pain or dysfunction. External chest wall fixation appears to be an attractive alternative to prolonged intubation and mechanical ventilation for selected patients with flail-chest respiratory insufficiency despite peridural analgesia, providing they do not require prolonged intubation for other reasons.

At 5-year follow-up, laparoscopic SAGB is a safe and effective surgical treatment for morbid obesity. Our results appear to confirm that SAGB is a safer surgical treatment regarding rate and severity of complications compared with gastric bypass and malabsorptive procedures.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has been considered by many as the treatment of choice for morbid obesity because of its simplicity and encouraging early results. The aim of this prospective study was to critically assess the effects, complications, and outcome after LAGB in the long-term, based on a 12-year experience. Between June 1998 and June 2009, all patients with implantation of a LAGB have been enrolled in a prospective clinical trial. Results were recorded and classified, with special regard to long-term complications, re-operation rate, and graft survival. LAGB was performed in 167 patients (120 female, 47 male) with a mean age of 40.1±5.2 years. Operative mortality was 0%, overall 1.2% (not band-related). Overall patient follow-up was 94.0%. Mean excess weight loss (EWL) after 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10 years was 31.1±7.5% (p<0.005), 44.2±6.5% (p< 0.001), 50.3±6.9% (p<0.001), 51.7±6.3% (p<0.001), and 48.8±6.0% (p<0.001), respectively. The non-responder rate (EWL<30%) after 2, 5, 8, and 10 years was 24.5%, 18.3%, 12.5%, and 16.6%, respectively. The early complication rate (<30 days) was 7.8% (13/167), with 10 minor and three major complications. Late complications (>30 days) occurred in 40.1% (67/167), of whom seven were minor and 60 were major complications (three band infections, two band migrations, 11 band leakages, two slippings/pouch dilatations, two band intolerances, and 40 esophageal dilatations). The overall re-operation rate was 20.4% (34/167). The graft survival of the implanted band after 2, 5, 8, 10, and 12 years was 98.8%, 94.0%, 86.8%, 85.0%, and 85.0%, respectively. The failure rate of the procedure after 2, 5, 8, and 10 years was 25.7%, 24.3%, 25.7%, and 31.6%, respectively. In the present long-term highparticipation follow-up study, LAGB is a safe and effective surgical treatment for morbid obesity. However, the high complication, re-operation, and long-term failure rates lead to the conclusion that LAGB should be performed in selected cases only, until reliable criteria for patients at low risk for long-term complications are developed.

The potential benefits of humidifying insufflation gas during thoracoscopy warrant its evaluation in the clinical setting.