PURPOSE Small intercostal spaces and limited pleural space significantly limits the use of 12-mm stapling devices in pediatric thoracoscopic surgery. The goal of this study was to compare sealing of lung tissue by the 5-mm Ligasure (Valley Lab, Boulder, CO) device to a standard 12-mm Endo-GIA stapler (US Surgical, Norwalk, CT). METHODS Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) appro...

Treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum by flexible endoscopy is considered to be feasible, effective, and safe [1,2]. Endoscopic treatment consists of the division of the septum between the diverticulum and the esophagus, within which the cricopharyngeus muscle is contained [1,2]. This report describes the novel use of a LigaSure scalpel (Valleylab, Boulder, Colorado, USA) to perform flexible endos...

OBJECTIVE According to the ''vascular'' theory, arterial overflow in the superior hemorrhoidal arteries would lead to dilatation of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus. Hemorrhoid laser procedure (LHP) is a new laser procedure for outpatient treatment of hemorrhoids in which hemorrhoidal arterial flow feeding the hemorrhoidal plexus is stopped by laser coagulation. AIM Our aim was to compare the h...

Objectives: To compare the outcome of Rubber band ligation with open hemorrhoidectomy in short term and its suitability in our social set up. Material and Methods: One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled from November 2007 to May 2009. They were equally divided into group A (open hemorrhoidectomy) and group B (Rubber band ligation). Postoperative complications, recurrence and patient’s sa...

OBJECTIVE Hemorrhoids are normal elements of the anal canal anatomy and they become symptomatic with potential factors such as gravity or strain. When symptomatic, hemorrhoidal disease can be costly measured in time away from productive activities. The aim of the study was to assess changes in the quality of life of patients after hemorrhoidectomy using Short Form-36. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thi...