Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a very common bacterium present in the gastric tissue of up to 50 % of people, and the mucosal damage it causes can predispose to multiple comorbid conditions. This study aims to observe the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and its correlation with postoperative complications. A retrospective study was done on the gastric pathology specimen results of 682 patients who underwent LSG at Amiri Hospital from 2008 to 2012. Symptomatic patients had preoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopies (UGIEs) based on the decision of the treating surgeon, along with campylobacter-like organism test (CLO test) for H. pylori detection. The intraoperatively excised gastric specimen was sent for histopathological assessment of H. pylori, and the patients were followed up for complications. Of the 682 patients, 629 (92.2 %) were found to be H. pylori negative intraoperatively, while 53 (7.8 %) were positive. A total of 32 (4.7 %) patients were found to have postoperative complications, of which 2 (6.3 %) had H. pylori intraoperatively. No statistical significance (p = 0.71), however, was seen between the overall complication rate and H. pylori. Specifically, there were five (0.7 %) cases of leak and eight (1.2 %) cases of neuropathy, both of which were not significantly associated with H. pylori (p = 0.33 and p = 0.12, respectively). All the other complications had no evidence of H. pylori. There appears to be no association between H. pylori infection and post-LSG complications.

Background:Over the past decade, laparoscopic hernia repair was the most performed operation in our department. Equally, it compromises 15% of all pediatric operations performed. We aim, in this study, to review all the cases performed and extrapolate important information like reoccurrences, the incidence of metachronous inguinal hernia, complications amongst other information.Material and Methods:All patients under the age of 18 whom underwent elective laparoscopic hernia repair between 03/01/2007 till the 18/05/2016 were included in our study. We recorded important clinical features and studied their post-operative follow up. Equally reoccurrences, the incidence of metachronous inguinal hernia, complications and other parameters were recorded and studied.Results:A total of 916 patients were operated on during the defined study period. There was a 0.17% reoccurrence rate and a 0.46% incidence of metachronous inguinal hernia. Equally a contralateral patent processus vaginalis was diagnosed and closed in 17.10%. There were no postoperative complications and we had a 0% postoperative hydrocele rate.Conclusion:Laparoscopic hernia repair is safe and carries all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. We recommend that it is offered to patients and would like to refute previously claimed reports that it carries a higher reoccurrence rate or takes a long time to perform. Our reoccurrence rate of 0.17% is actually lower than many published reoccurrence rates after open repair.

Benign rib lesions in children are rare. Thoracoscopy may be offered to reduce the functional deleterious consequences of an open surgery. It may be put forward especially in case of hereditary multiple exostoses where redo procedures may be required.

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