Effect of Floss Band on Anaerobic Exercise and Muscle Tissue Oxygenation

CONTEXT

Flossing is still a relatively new technique that has yielded varied results in the research literature; therefore, it requires further investigation. Previous research has shown that thigh tissue flossing might improve performance in countermovement jump, sprint time, maximum voluntary contraction, and rate of force development.

DESIGN

The present study aims to investigate the effect of the floss band on performance during the Wingate test (30-WAT), muscle oxygen saturation (SpO2), and total hemoglobin in vastus lateralis.

METHODS

Twenty-two students of physical education and sport (11 men and 11 women) were randomly selected to complete either the Wingate test with the application of a floss band in warm-up or the Wingate test without the use of a floss band, followed by the alternative 24 hours apart.

RESULTS

Throughout the testing, the floss band did not affect performance values during the Wingate test (relative peak power, relative average power, and fatigue index). However, there was a medium to large effect difference during 1 minute prior to 30-WAT (PRE), during the 30-WAT, and 10-minute recovery (REC) in values of SpO2 and total hemoglobin. Use of floss band displayed a higher SpO2 during PRE, 30-WAT, and REC by ∼13.55%, d < 2; ∼19.06%, d = 0.89; and ∼8.55%, d = 0.59, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings indicate that the application of thigh flossing during warm-up has no effect on 30-WAT performance; however, SpO2 was significantly increased in all stages of testing. This could lead to potential improvement in repeated anaerobic exercise due to increased blood flow. Increased muscle oxygen saturation can also lead to improved tissue healing as oxygen supply is essential for tissue repair, wound healing, and pain management.

The effect of biological maturation on foot morphology, and their relation to postural stability performance in male footballers

BACKGROUND

Biological maturity (BM) and foot morphology (FM) can independently alter neuromuscular loading on the ankle-foot complex, potentially causing stability deficits and injury predisposition. However, the influence of BM on FM, and how much both explain neuromuscular performance in postural stability (PS) tests, has been understudied. This study aimed to investigate the effect of BM on FM, and then discover to what extent both factors explain the variance in PS performance in adolescent footballers.

METHODS

Over one season, 399 three-dimensional foot scans were gathered from 72 footballers (U12-U15). PS was measured by center of pressure (COP) displacement in bilateral and unilateral stance. The Khamis and Roche equation determined maturity status (MS), while formulae from Mirwald and Khamis and Roche estimated timing of biological maturation (TBM). Principal component analysis determined nine principal components that explained the most variance in FM. An ANCOVA determined the effect of TBM on FM principal components, with covariates of age, height, weight, playing position, and foot preference. Step-wise linear regression determined the explanation of COP displacement by the above-mentioned predictors.

RESULTS

There was significantly increased foot pronation during and after peak height velocity/puberty. MS and four foot principal components (foot arch and width, great toe width and length) were significant predictors in all PS tests (R2: 0.105-0.180).

CONCLUSIONS

TBM had a significant effect on FM presentation, and should be a part of adolescent foot assessment. While they only explained a small amount of variance, determining MS and FM may identify those requiring additional PS attention.

Revisiting ab initio carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 tumor markers in colorectal carcinoma in association with anatomotopographic location and staging of disease

OBJECTIVE

This study purposed to evaluate preoperative two tumor markers, namely, carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9, in colorectal cancer for anatomotopographic location with disease stage and to assess their utility for diagnostic staging purposes.

METHODS

The study retrospectively incorporated patients who had undergone surgery for colorectal cancer at our department in 2015-2018 and in whom carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 tumor markers had been preoperatively analyzed. The obtained data were then statistically processed using R-project.

RESULTS

A total of 155 patients had been incorporated, of whom 96 (62%) were men and 59 (38%) were women. Rectum was the most common location (74 patients, 48%), and the least represented stage was IV (18, 12%). The marker carcinoembryonic antigen was obtained in all 155 cases, while CA19-9 was in 105. The median carcinoembryonic antigen was 3 (0.34-1104.25), and the median CA19-9 was 12 (0.18-840.00). A significance was recognized between median carcinoembryonic antigen and disease stage (p-value=0.016), with stages I, II, and III (medians 2, 3, and 2) different from stage IV (median 13), while no significance for CA19-9 was recognized (p-value=0.343). No significance between either marker and location (carcinoembryonic antigen: p=0.276; CA19-9: p=0.505) was detected. The testing was performed at a significance level of alpha=0.05.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed a significance between the marker carcinoembryonic antigen, but not CA19-9, and the disease stage, while no relationship of either of these markers with tumor location was found. Herewith, the study confirmed that higher carcinoembryonic antigen values may suggest the finding of more advanced forms of colorectal cancer and thus a worse prognosis of this malignant phenomenon.

Management of ileocolic intussusception in the Czech Republic

INTRODUCTION

Ileocolic intussusception is one of the most frequent causes of acute abdomen in infants and toddlers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment of ileocolic intussusception in the Czech Republic in 2019.

METHODS

Fourteen departments of paediatric surgery participated in this multicentre retrospective study. A SurveyMonkey Inc. questionnaire was used for anonymous data collection of patients with ileocolic intussusception.

RESULTS

In 2019, ileocolic intussusception was diagnosed in 162 patients; median age was 30 months (3 months to 9.5 years). Contrast enema was indicated in 133 patients, primary surgery in 14 patients and spontaneous reduction was found in 15 patients. All departments using contrast enema had a success rate of 89.5%; 12 departments approached the contrast enema procedure under general anaesthesia (including myorelaxation at 7 departments) and 2 departments under sedation. Contrast enema under general anaesthesia with/without myorelaxation was significantly more successful than contrast enema under sedation (108/113, 95.6% vs 11/20, 55%; p.

Midgut volvulus in adult age associated with congenital malrotation - case report

INTRODUCTION

Malrotation is understood as a congenital anomaly of the intestinal position formed during embryonic development. Disorders of intestinal rotation and its manifestations in adulthood are less common; the symptoms of these disorders are characteristic of childhood. An asymptomatic bowel rotation disorder occurs in up to 1 of 200 newborns and symptomatic malrotation occurs in 1 of 6,000 live newborns. The incidence of intestinal rotation disorders in adulthood is estimated to be between 0.0001% and 0.19%. Acute complications in adulthood include volvulus with ischemia of the small bowel.

CASE REPORT

A 36-year-old man with a previously diagnosed bowel rotation disorder with intermittent abdominal pain was examined for sudden convulsive pain. The CT scan showed volvulus of small bowel. During surgery, a small bowel volvulus with venostasis and dilated mesenteric veins rotated 360 degrees clockwise, the mesenterium commune, and the presence of Ladds bands causing partial compression of the duodenum were found. The condition was managed surgically to derotate the loops into nonrotation with preserved viability of the intestinal loops, interrupt the Ladds bands and mobilize the duodenum, including fixation of the mesentery to the retroperitoneum and invagination appendectomy. The patient has been without problems and without any signs of complications based on his 2-year follow-up from the surgery.

CONCLUSION

Early surgical treatment of intestinal malrotation complications helps maintain intestinal viability and can prevent the development of the short bowel post-resection syndrome. Prophylactic surgery should be considered in symptomatic rotation disorders, although the determination of the indication for surgery and its timing remain uncertain.

Current management of diffuse peritonitis - is postoperative continuous lavage still a relevant method of choice?

INTRODUCTION

Diffuse peritonitis is a serious disease with rather poor therapeutic results. Management traditionally consists in the surgical treatment of its etiology, combined with targeted antibiotic therapy and complex intensive care of the patient. The basic procedure includes the identification and treatment of the origin of peritonitis, followed by thorough abdominal cavity toilet, lavage and drainage. There are currently two major procedures for carrying out complex surgical care of a patient suffering from diffuse peritonitis. The first one is primary sanation of the abdominal cavity, in which toilet, peroperative lavage and postoperative drainage is performed. The second procedure involves similar steps, but postoperative irrigation with saline or another solution is performed, usually over 2448 hours - continuous lavage. Both procedures, albeit often modified, are still used in most surgical departments in the Czech Republic; therefore, we decided to compare them in terms of morbidity, mortality and hospital length of stay.

METHOD

We conducted a prospective randomized study involving 55 patients with peritonitis operated on from 10/2012 to 4/2014. Whenever possible, we tried to use both methods alternately method regularly to enable randomization and ensure presentable outcomes.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference related to morbidity, mortality and hospital length of stay was recorded in our group.

CONCLUSION

Based on our results, we can state that both methods are equal and suitable for all types of diffuse peritonitis without any impact on mortality, morbidity and hospital length of stay. Key words: peritonitis - drainage peritoneal lavage.

Performance and Kinematic Differences in Putting between Healthy and Disabled Elite Golfers

Golfers with disability are limited in the execution of the full golf swing, but their performance in putting may be comparable because this stroke does not demand significant strength, balance and range of motion. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare putting performance, kinetic and kinematic consistency between golfers with different disabilities and healthy athletes. The participants consisted of three disabled athletes (perinatal cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, below knee lower limb amputee) and three healthy golfers (age 34 ± 4.5 years, body height 178 ± 3.3 cm, body mass 83 ± 6.2 kg). The golfers’ movements were recorded by active 3D markers for kinematic analyses; the subjects performed 10 trials of a 6 m putting task while standing on separate force platforms placed under each lower limb. Putting performance was measured by the distance of the final ball position to the centre of the hole. ANOVA analyses did not show any differences in clubhead speed and total ball distance from the hole. The consistency of those two parameters expressed by the coefficient of variation (CV) was CV = 0.5% or better in both groups for clubhead speed and ranged from CV = 0.40 to 0.61% in healthy and CV = 0.21 to 0.55% in disabled athletes for total error distance. The main effect ANOVA showed differences in weight shift, hip and shoulder kinematics (p < 0.05) between healthy players and all players with disability. All disabled athletes shifted their weight toward the healthy side (towards the healthy lower limb) and alternated the end of the swing. The player with below knee amputation had the lowest range of motion in the shoulder joint during the putting stroke. The players with perinatal cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis had the largest range of motion in the hips. Putting performance of disabled golfers was similar to healthy athletes. During training of disabled players, coaches should pay attention to the specificity of a particular disability when focused on putting performance. However, individual technique should achieve the same consistency as observed in healthy players.

Kinematic Analysis of Volleyball Attack in the Net Center with Various Types of Take-Off

The aim of the study was to describe and compare kinematics in two types of execution of attack hit, the goofy approach and regular approach. The research group consisted of players from the Czech Republic’s top league (n = 12, age 28.0 ± 4.3 years, body height 196.6 ± 5.6 cm, body mass 89.7 ± 6.7 kg) divided into two groups according to the individual type of approach in the attack. Analysis of movement was performed by 3D kinematics video analysis, space coordinates were calculated by the DLT (Direct Linear Transformation) method together with interpretation software TEMA Bio 2.3 (Image Systems AB, Sweden). The players started their run-up from a distance of about 4 – 4.5 m from the net with similar maximal vertical velocity (2.91 – 2.96 m⋅s^-1). The trajectory of players with goofy approach seemed to be convenient for the rotation of shoulders and hips in the moment of ball contact. Differences between both groups were observed. Players with a goofy approach had a longer flight phase compared to regularly approaching players.

J-pouch versus Roux-en-Y reconstruction after gastrectomy: functional assessment and quality of life (randomized trial)

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life and functional emptying of J-pouch versus Roux-en-Y reconstruction after total gastrectomy for malignancy.

Methods

This study was designed as a prospective, nonblinded, randomized, parallel clinical trial (Trial Number: MN Ostrava, 200604). With informed consent, patients undergoing gastrectomy for malignancy were randomized to J-pouch or Roux-en-Y reconstruction. The time taken for a test semisolid meal labeled with ^99mTc-sulfur colloid to exit the reconstructed parts was measured by dynamic scintigraphy 1 year after resection. Quality of life was measured using the Eypasch questionnaire at the same time as functional emptying assessment. This trial was investigator-initiated.

Results

In all, 72 patients were included into the study. The time taken for the test meal to exit the postgastrectomy reconstruction was 16.5±10.0 minutes (mean ± standard deviation) in the Roux-en-Y group and 89.4±37.8 minutes in the “J-pouch” group; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Emptying of the J-pouch appeared to be a linear decreasing function compared to the exponential pattern seen in the Roux-en-Y group. The quality of life measurement showed scores of 106±18.8 points (mean ± standard deviation) in the Roux-en-Y group compared to 122±22.5 points in the J-pouch group; the difference was statistically significant (P=0.0016). There were no important adverse events.

Conclusion

After total gastrectomy, a J-pouch reconstruction empties more slowly and is associated with higher quality of life compared to Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Whether these two observations have a direct causative link remains unanswered.

[Circumscribed and diffuse peritonitis: severe complications in bariatric and metabolic surgery; specifics related to their diagnosis and therapy]

INTRODUCTION

Cases of localized and diffuse peritonitis are severe surgical conditions. Despite expanding possibilities for the diagnosis and therapy, patients with peritonitis, its diffuse form in particular, still suffer from high morbidity and mortality. The management of this condition, both in the healthy and especially seriously ill population, is not satisfactory. Recently, we have witnessed an increase in bariatric and metabolic surgery in response to an ever rising number of extremely obese patients worldwide. Bariatric patients belong to a group of seriously ill patients with a significant risk of post-operative complications due to an infection. Although their treatment is identical to that of the normal population, a great emphasis is put on early recognition of complications, and the decision on any potential surgical revision should be actively approached, often necessitating the absence of frequently lengthy paraclinical assessments.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 346 obese bariatric patients undergoing surgical treatment for morbid obesity between August 2011 and August 2015.

RESULTS

A total of 6 patients experienced severe complications including two cases of diffuse peritonitis, two cases of localized peritonitis and two cases of intraperitoneal bleeding. One patient died after her discharge from hospital due to toxic shock caused by stomach perforation. We describe two case reports in greater detail to highlight the importance of early detection of complications and a timely surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

In principle, bariatric patients are a severely ill population where standard diagnostic procedures for post-operative complications often fail. Clinical findings and the surgeons experience are commonly the only diagnostic signs that trigger a surgical revision. In contrast, surgical treatment of post-operative complications in obese patients with peritonitis is virtually identical to that in patients with normal or slightly increased BMI. It involves thorough toilette of the abdominal cavity, lavage and drainage. Due to high morbidity and large peritoneal surface, obese patients may deteriorate rapidly. Timely surgical intervention is thus the only proper therapeutic approach, even without any, often lengthy paraclinical assessments.

KEY WORDS

peritonitis - bariatric surgery - complications in bariatric surgery.

[HELLP syndrome complicated by liver rupture - case report]

OBJECTIVE

A case of HELLP syndrome complicated by liver rupture in the 36th week of pregnancy.

DESIGNS

A case report.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, FN Olomouc.

CASE REPORT

The authors report a case of 31 years old female patient who came to the hospital at 36th week of pregnancy with epigastric pain lasting about 14 days. The problems became worse in the last 10 hours. At admission, the patient was pale with repeatedly unmeasurable blood pressure, and she had lower limbs oedema. There was performed the caesarian section, during the operation the liver rupture was found. Both, patient and her baby, was saved thanks to the concerted interdisciplinary team work.

CONCLUSION

One of the most serious complications of HELLP syndrome is liver rupture. It occurs in 3.8% of HELLP syndrome cases. The solution of this complication is to perform an acute operation. The operation is based on liver suture with application of deep mattress suture, applying hemostatic materials, liver compression by Mikulicz´s tamponade or ligation of liver artery. There is also possibility to use omentoplasty. If there is necessity of liver resection for necrotic focus, the argon coagulative laser is used preferably.

[Rare umbilical anomalies]

INTRODUCTION

Umbilicus is a scar, which is the place of the previous merger of the fetus with the umbilical cord. After birth, it has no known function, however, unless the umbilical annulus is completely closed, umbilical hernia may occur. Umbilical scar is also an area where may occur a number of anomalies that may be present alone or together with umbilical hernia. Failure of involution leads to persistence of omphalomesenteric duct and urachal remnants. These embryonic remnants may cause more or less significant clinical problems, or may be completely asymptomatic and may be diagnosed at random.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors present their own group of patients who were diagnosed and dealt with the defect omphalomesenteric duct or urachus. In past 7 years we observed 35 children with these abnormalities. A large group of patients represents incidental findings during elective surgery for umbilical hernia. Another large group are patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic Meckel's diverticulum. The anatomical observations, clinical manifestations, complications and treatment of these anomalies are mentioned.

RESULTS

A total of 35 children were found with these birth defects. In 23 cases we observed omphalomesenteric duct disorders and 12 urachal remnants were reported. Of these, 12 abnormalities were found incidentally during elative procedure for umbilical hernia. Asymptomatic or symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum appeared in 16 cases. Surgical treatment included resection or exstirpation, if urachal anomaly was accompanied then partial resection of the bladder vertex was added. Postoperative complications emerged in 4 cases, three times it was ileus from adhesions 6 months after surgery, once postoperative cystitis appeared and was treated conservatively.

CONCLUSION

Birth abnormalities of the umbilicus are relatively rare diseases that may occur in the pediatric population. Omfalomesenteric duct and urachal anomalies constitute a major group of these congenital disorders and are often associated with umbilical hernia. They can be diagnosed soon after birth or later in life. Surgical treatment involves excision or radical exstirpation to prevent early or late complications (urachal carcinoma in adulthood).

[An original reconstruction of stomach after gastrectomy for cancer]

The aim is to present gastrectomy/D2 lymphadenectomy technique with stomach substitution with "J-pouch". The description of gastrectomy/D2 lymphadenectomy with the following reconstruction of upper GI part comes from a standardized technique as well as from the experiences of the authors. The technique of "J-pouch" with the anti-reflux cuff is a reconstruction modification created by the authors. "J-pouch" is created in the aboral half of interponate jejunal loop with the following reconstruction with esophagojejunostomy end-to-side and antireflux cuff creation. On the distal end is the jejuno-duodenostomie side-to-end created. The reconstruction with "J-pouch" after gastrectomy is an advantageous technique. It creates the needed reservoir and retains the physiological orientation through duodenum. These two factors lead to the improvement of life quality for patients after gastrectomy. This technique is safe and standard to perform according to the authors' experience.

[Quality of life after gastrectomy]

AIM

The comparison of quality of life after gastrectomy.

METHOD

Quality of life after gastrectomy is compared in open, prospective, randomised trial. The group with Roux-en-Y reconctruction and "J-pouch" reconstruction are compared. "J-pouch" is created using interponate jejunum loop with keeping duodenum in passage. The standardized questionnaire according to Eypasch is tool for comparison of quality life. The statistical evaluation was performed using Student t-test.

RESULTS

67 patients were analyzed altogether. The average quality of life in the group with Roux-en-Y reconstruction was 92.6 points and in the "J-pouch" group was 102.5 points. The statistical comparison of quality of life using Student t-test in the group with Roux-en-Y and "J-pouch" reconstructions confirmed significant difference (p = 0.0067).

CONCLUSION

Quality of life in patient after gastrectomy represents the most important factors after surgery. The standardised questionnaries help to quantify quality of life and provide the necessary data for evidence based medicine. The statistical comparison confirmed the higher quality of life in patients with "J-pouch" reconstruction. The possibility of reconstruction providing better nutrition and higher quality of life should be considered.

[Iatrogenic bile ducts injuries]

AIM

To evaluate therapeutic options and outcomes of repair of iatrogenic bile duct injuries during cholecystectomy, which were solved in our institution over the past five years. The incidence of this injury is stated in the range of 0-0.4% for open cholecystectomy and 0-0.7% for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

Authors present a group of ten patients who were operated on for iatrogenic bile duct injury incurred during cholecystectomy in 2005-2009. All patiens were refered from other hospitals. Three men and seven women aged 20-71 years. The bile duct injury occured twice during open procedure and during laparoscopic procedure in eight. Incomplete lesion was idenified in one case, complete lesions with tissue loss were found in nine patients. Right hepatic artery injuries were found in four patients with tissue loss injury. Nine patients required reconstruction of the biliary tract using hepaticojejunoanastomosis with Roux-Y loop.

RESULTS

The bile leak occurred in two patients after reconstruction. In one patient was required early percutaneous transhepatic drainage. The early death occurred in a patient with a complicated course, where our reconstruction of the biliary tract was already in the field of advanced biliary peritonitis as a third operation during 7 days. All other patients are monitored postoperatively at regular intervals in our clinic. They carried out clinical examinations and monitoring of liver enzymes. In the long interval from reconstruction (6-12 months) anastomotic stenosis occurred in three patients. Postoperative radiological intervention in the form of dilation of anastomosis and prolonged transient transanastomotic drainage was necessary (the duration of drainage was 6-7 months).

CONCLUSION

Iatrogenic bile duct injury is a serious condition threatening the patient's life from the progressive failure of liver function on the basis of secondary biliary cirrhosis. Due to the nature of lesions arising from laparoscopic cholecystectomy (loss tissue injuries, thermal damage to surrounding structures, the hepatic artery injuries) reconstructions are extremely difficult. For most patients reconstructive operations are the last possible surgical procedures in this area, except for liver transplantation. Hilar reconstructions have a higher probability of stenosis of the anastomosis. If they occur, there are repeated cholangitis, which pass into the secondary sclerosing cholangitis and cause secondary biliary cirrhosis, with all the consequences of disease (portal hypertension, bleeding esophageal varices). For these reasons, it is necessary for careful long-term postoperative monitoring of liver function and good interdisciplinary cooperation, especially with the intervention radiologist in management postoperatively evolving stenosis of anastomoses. It is necessary for the early identification and indication of radiological interventions in order to prevent damage to the liver parenchyma.

[Gastric carcinoma surgery outcomes during 2004-2008]

Gastric carcinoma is a malignancy, frequently manifesting itself in late stages, with metastatic spread into lymph nodes. Resection is the only curative therapy. A total of 149 gastric carcinoma patients were operated in the Ist Surgical Clinic during the studied five- year period. The pre-operative disease staging included the PET-CT examination, as a standard. Total gastrectomy (GE) was completed in 109 subjects, while 12 subjects underwent subtotal GE. The both procedures included D2 lymphadenectomy. In selected cases, the surgery included upper polar resection (7 subjects). Paliative resections or explorations were performed in 21 subjects. During the postoperative period, no complications were recorded in 90% of the patients, however, two subjects exited. The postoperative complications recorded included adhesive ileus in a single subject, subphrenic absces in two subjects, esophago-jejuno-anastomosis fistule in 8 subjects and a duodenal stub fistule in one female patient. Total or subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy are standard procedures in gastric carcinoma patients. Mortality and morbidity rates of radical surgical procedures for gastric carcinoma should correspond with data presented in the literature.

[Post-gastrectomy reconstruction]

AIM

Authors present review of current opinion in reconstruction of gastrointestinal tract after gastrectomy, in pouch benefit and benefit of retaining of the duodenum in food transit, and the importance of antireflux procedure.

METHOD

Authors searched the Medline database for current trials regarding the reconstruction of gastrointestinal tract after gastrectomy. The key words were gastrectomy, reconstruction, and upper GI. The search was limited to those languages: English, German, and Czech. The authors identified 41 trials altogether. The trials were analysed regarding the pouch benefit and the retaining of duodenum in food transit. The comparison was done.

CONCLUSION

The trials' results are not homogenous. Many patients are not possible to be evaluated because of the tumor recurrence with weight loss and other symptoms. There is no ideal reconstruction according to the trials. Patients can benefit from the reconstruction retaining the duodenum in food transit and with pouch creation. The retained duodenum in food transit is anormal stage from the anatomical and physiological view. In the case that pouch allows the proportional evacuation of food, the retaining of duodenum is advantageous. The pouch combined with antireflux procedure has a potential to improve life duality from longer perspective. On the other side, some authors present opinion that the reconstruction with pouch is too complicated with worse patient perioperative tolerance and its benefit is minimal. There is a very small number of prospective randomized trials which present a very small number of patients without statistical significance. It is important to perform a larger prospective randomized trial.

[What does NOTES yield?]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this review is to inform about the possibilities offered by NOTES (Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery). This technique allows to access into the peritoneal cavity, respectively thoracic cavity, through natural orifices using endoscopical visualization. This technique unites the skills of surgeons and endoscopists.

MATERIAL

The laparotomy or laparoscopy (in parallel into the thoracic cavity) was required for the access into the peritoneal cavity (thoracic cavity) historically. NOTES uses the following accesses: transgastric, PEG-like access, transcolical, transvesical, transvaginal with or without possible mini-laparoscopical control. Since the introduction of this method for the first time in 2004, many studies have been published. Using the databases Medline the authors searched the current view on NOTES technique. They focused on current possibilities offered by this technique. They searched advantages of this technique and its weak points as well. They looked at recommendations leading to the application of this technique for human.

RESULT

More than 100 articles focusing on this subject were published together according to Medline. The single articles present animal studies, technical problems, and suggestions for technical equipment improvement and review articles. They are verbal presentation about successful transgastric or transvaginal appendicectomy or cholecystectomy by humans.

CONCLUSION

They are many controversies obstructing introduction of this method into common praxis. This technique is undergoing an immense progression and it is not possible to only passively observe this dynamic development, but it is necessary to actively make the indications and contraindications for the possible usage of this method.

[The Lotheissen-McVay operation for inguinal hernia]

AIM

The authors evaluated the results of operation for inguinal hernia according to Lotheissen-McVay in their own group of patients.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

During the period from July 1996 to October 1998 122 patients were operated by the method according to Lotheissen-McVay. The inguinal hernia was operated by this method in 120 cases and femoral hernia in 2 cases.

RESULTS

There were 2 relapses in our group of patients, i.e. 1.64% (2/122). In both cases there was a coincidence with secondary healing.

CONCLUSION

The operation according to Lotheissen-McVay is suitable method for surgical treatment of inguinal hernia.

[A new method of therapy of hemorrhoids using the PPH stapler and the Longo technique]

The author wish to submit information on the use of a new method of surgical therapy of haemorrhoids about which they acquired information at a workshop of Ethicon Co. in Ljubljana (Slovenia). At the same time they want to demonstrate their first experience with introduction of the new method into practice.