A simple laparoscopic method to provide access to the gastroesophageal junction in obese patients.
By now, the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery in obese patients is well established; a conversion rate of 1.4-4.3% has been reported [1, 2]. The main reason for conversion in these cases is the difficulty encountered in exposing the gastroesophageal junction due to a huge fatty liver that covers the entire upper abdomen ("the invisible stomach" [1]). We report here a simple method that allows easy access to the upper stomach in such cases. This technique involves the exposure of the gastroesophageal junction using a laparoscopic suprahepatic route.
Slim
K
K
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Hôtel-Dieu BP 69, F-63003 Clermont-Ferrand, Cedex 1, France.
Buc
E
E
Chipponi
J
J
D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*