RESUMO - RACIONAL: Disfunção do esfíncter esofágico inferior (EEI), doença do refluxo gastroesofágico e esofagite erosiva em pacientes submetidos à gastrectomia subtotal são ocorrências comumente reconhecidas, mas até agora as causas permanecem obscuras. OBJETIVO: A hipótese deste estudo é que a gastrectomia subtotal provoque alterações na pressão de repouso do EEI e na sua competência, devido ao dano anatômico desta, visto que as fibras oblíquas “Sling”, um dos componentes musculares do EEI, são seccionadas durante este procedimento cirúrgico. MÉTODOS: Sete cães adultos sem raça definida (18-30 kg) foram anestesiados e submetidos à transecção do estômago proximal. Em seguida, o remanescente gástrico proximal foi fechado por sutura. No intraoperatório, manometria lenta foi realizada em cada cão, em condições basais (com estômago intacto) e no remanescente gástrico proximal fechado. A média dessas medidas é apresentada, com cada cão servindo como seu próprio controle. RESULTADOS: A pressão média do EEI medida no remanescente gástrico proximal, em comparação com a pressão do EEI no estômago intacto, foi diminuída em cinco cães, aumentada em um cão e sem alterações no outro cão. CONCLUSÃO: A secção transversa superior do estômago e o fechamento do remanescente do estômago por sutura provocam alterações na pressão do EEI. Sugerimos que essas mudanças na pressão do EEI são secundárias à secção das fibras oblíquas “Sling” do esfíncter, um de seus componentes musculares. A sutura e o fechamento do remanescente gástrico proximal, reancora essas fibras com mais, menos ou a mesma tensão, modificando ou não a pressão do EEI.

ABSTRACT - BACKGROUND: Dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), gastroesophageal reflux disease, and erosive esophagitis in patients undergoing subtotal gastrectomy are commonly recognized occurrences, but until now the causes remain unclear. AIM: The hypothesis of this study is that subtotal gastrectomy provokes changes on the LES resting pressure and its competence, due to the anatomical damage of it, given that the oblique “Sling” fibers, one of the muscular components of the LES, are transected during this surgical procedure. METHODS: Seven adult mongrel dogs (18-30 kg) were anesthetized and admitted for transection of the proximal stomach. Later, the proximal gastric remnant was closed by a suture. Intraoperatively, slow pull-through LES manometries were performed on each dog, under basal conditions (with the intact stomach), and in the closed proximal gastric remnant. The mean of these measurements is presented, with each dog serving as its control. RESULTS: The mean LES pressure (LESP) measured in the proximal gastric remnant, compared with the LESP in the intact stomach, was decreased in five dogs, increased in one dog, and remained unchanged in other dogs. CONCLUSION: The upper transverse transection of the stomach and closing the stomach remnant by suture provoke changes in the LESP. We suggested that these changes in the LESP are secondary to transecting the oblique “Sling” fibers of the LES, one of its muscular components. The suture and closing of the proximal gastric remnant reanchor these fibers with more, less, or the same tension, whether or not modifying the LESP.

background: Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication is the surgical procedure of choice for patients with gastroesophageal reflux. Aim: To describe the most important surgical stages of the technique and report the rates of complications and mortality. material and methods: In a ten years period, 530 patients were subjec-ted to laparoscopic fundoplication. In all patients a clinical history was obtained and an upper endoscopy with biopsy, esophageal manometry and 24 h pH measurement were performed. Patients with Barret esophagus, hiatal hernia of more than 5 cm and those subjected to other surgical techniques were excluded from analysis. Results: No patient died. The conversion rate was 0.4%. No patient required splenectomy. Two patients had complications and required a second intervention. Mean hospital stay was 2.8 days. Conclusions: Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication is safe and has a low rate of complications.

Objetivo: El presente estudio pretende describir las etapas quirúrgicas más importantes de esta técnica y describir la morbimortalidad publicada por autores nacionales. material y método: Entre enero de 1993 y diciembre de 2013 un total de 530 pacientes se sometieron a una fundoplicatura laparoscópica dentro de un protocolo de estudio prospectivo. En todos se realizó una encuesta clínica, endoscopia con toma de biopsia, manometría esofágica y pH de 24 h. Se excluyeron pacientes con esófago de Barrett, pacientes con hernia hiatal > 5 cm y pacientes sometidos a una técnica quirúrgica diferente. Resultados: La mortalidad operatoria fue cero. La tasa de conversión fue de 0,4%. No hubo esplenectomía. Hubo un total de 2 pacientes complicados (0,4%), siendo todos reoperados. La estadía hospitalaria fue de 2,8 días. Conclusión: La fundoplicatura de Nissen por vía laparoscópica es un procedimiento seguro, de muy baja morbilidad y nula mortalidad operatoria.

After years of discussion by the Chilean legislature, the Law Nº 20.584, which regulates health care related rights and duties of people, entered into force in Chile in October 2012. This bill represents an important step in the recognition and protection of health care related rights, welfare, dignity and duties of persons. It also intends to protect potential participants in clinical research. However such protective measures include explicit prohibitions such as the review of clinical records or the inclusion of people with mental or psychological handicaps as research participants. We herein discuss the implications of this law in medical research.

Background: The use of abdominal drains is a common practice in gastric surgery. Aim: To assess the daily flow of abdominal drains after gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Material and Methods: Prospective study of 359 morbid obese patients subjected to gastric bypass with excision of the distal gastric segment. The daily flow of drainages placed at the right and left side of the anastomosis was measured. Patients with fistulae or other abdominal complications, were excluded. Results: The right drainage had an initial flow of 50 mg/24 h. At the fifth postoperative day the flow was less than 20 ml/24 h and the drain was withdrawn. The left drainage had a higher initial flow of serous or serous-hematic fluid and was maintained for a mean of six postoperative days. Conclusions: The use of abdominal drains after gastric bypass is not associated with complications and allows a daily assessment of the drainage flow

Introducción: El uso de drenajes abdominales en cirugía gástrica ha sido una práctica habitual desde hace mucho tiempo. Objetivos: Determinar el débito diario de los drenajes colocados alrededor del sitio quirúrgico en pacientes con obesidad mórbida sometidos a cirugía laparotómica. Material y Método: Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo que analizó a 359 pacientes con obesidad mórbida sometidos a bypass gástrico con resección del segmento gástrico distal. Se midió el débito diario en ml/24 a través del drenaje que se coloca a derecha e izquierda de la anastomosis. Se excluyeron pacientes con fístula anastomótica u otra complicación abdominal. Resultados: El drenaje colocado a la derecha de la anastomosis presentó un volumen inicial de 50 ml/24, que al 5 día fue menor a 20 ml/24, retirándolo en ese momento. El drenaje izquierdo tuvo un mayor volumen inicial, siempre de tipo seroso o serohematico, retirándolo en promedio al 6 día postop. No hubo ninguna complicación derivada del uso de estos drenajes. Conclusiones: La colocación y uso rutinario de drenajes abdominales después de un bypass gástrico abierto no produce ninguna complicación derivada de su empleo. Por otra parte, permite determinar el volumen diario y el tipo de secreción que se obtiene, permitiendo eventualmente manejar alguna complicación sin necesidad de una reoperación