This is a report of the techniques used on and outcome for three patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted vagotomy and distal gastrectomy for complicated peptic ulcer disease. The first patient had a Billroth I anastomosis in 2 h 42 min with an estimated blood loss of 200 ml. Oral fluids were started on day 3 and the diet progressed to a soft food by day 5. The patient was discharged 11 days after his gastrectomy following a transurethal prostatic resection on day 6. The second patient had a Billroth II anastomosis. The operation was completed in 4 h 40 min with an estimated blood loss of 350 ml. Oral fluids were commenced on the 1st postoperative day and the patient was tolerating a soft diet by day 4. The patient was discharged 5 days after his gastrectomy. The third patient had a Billroth I anastomosis with an estimated blood loss of less than 150 ml. The surgery took 2 h 35 min; the patient was tolerating oral fluids on the first postoperative day and was discharged on the 4th postoperative day on soft diet. Laparoscopic-assisted vagotomy and gastrectomy has the advantages of a minimal-access procedure without the risks of an intracorporeal anastomosis.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has been successfully performed and described in humans. Though it is presently not widely employed it offers tremendous potential for adrenal surgery. It remains, however, an advanced technique requiring demonstration and practice. The aim of this study is to develop a porcine model of adrenalectomy for teaching and advancing the technique applicable to human surgery. Five female pigs weighing 10-20 kg underwent bilateral adrenalectomy by the lateral approach using endotracheal intubation. The left adrenal was resected with the pig in the right decubitus position. The animal was repositioned to left decubitus and the right adrenal was resected. In each case four 10-mm trochars were placed over the respective flanks. There was no need to mobilize the colon or liver (in the pig model). The peritoneum over each gland was incised and the gland dissected in a cephalocaudal manner. The vessels were ligated and divided particularly those from the vena cava. Upon completion blood loss (< 100 cc) and operating times (mean 60 min for the left and 90 min for the right) were assessed and the animal was sacrificed. The glands were weighed (mean 1.23 g R and 1.15 g L) and measured. Using this model, experience is gained in positioning the subject as well as trocars, in fine dissection in a lateral orientation, and in techniques of hemostasis. Although porcine and human adrenal anatomy differ in some details the pig constitutes an excellent model for the development of the technical experience required to perform adrenalectomy in humans.