Is routine postoperative upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopy unnecessary after laparoscopic adjustable gastric band placement?
We conclude that routine UGI after LAGB is not necessary based on a 0% stomal obstruction rate and detection of not a single gastric leak. Elimination of routine postoperative UGI will decrease cost and length of hospital stay. We suggest a selective approach for those patients at increased risk of early postoperative complications, including those having intraoperative methylene blue instillation, increased length of operation, and increased age.
Histomorphologic regression is an objective response parameter of significant prognostic importance. The diagnostic accuracy of endoscopy, rebiopsy, and EUS is inadequate for objective response evaluation after neoadjuvant chemoradiation and can be omitted for this purpose in the clinical practice.