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[Display omitted] • Investigate HDH for freshwater from saltwater using heat pipes, employing waste heat from residential ACs. • Innovate with recovered AC waste heat to enhance efficiency in freshwater production. • Experimentally assess system performance across varied AC temperatures (19 °C, 20 °C, 21 °C). • Highlight superior freshwater production of R32 heat pipe compared to R134a and R600a. • Contribute to a holistic understanding of HDH system performance, emphasizing efficiency benefits. This study presents an experimental exploration of a desalination system that produces freshwater from saltwater using a novel heat pipe-assisted humidification-dehumidification (HDH) process. The system utilizes waste heat recovered from residential air conditioners that use vapour compression refrigeration systems. The study focuses on the mass and heat transfer within the system's components, with performance evaluations conducted at three different air conditioning temperatures (19 °C, 20 °C, and 21 °C). The experiments highlight the freshwater production of the R32 heat pipe over the R134a and R600a heat pipes. The study estimates the system's cost-effectiveness at $0.0085/L, emphasizing its economic viability. Preheating resulted in significant improvements in freshwater yield, ranging from 43.33 % to 51.5 %, at temperatures of 21 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The Gain Output Ratio (GOR) doubled from 0.75 to 1.52, indicating a more energy-efficient process with significant improvements in the effectiveness of humidification and dehumidification. The pH levels improved from 8.32 to 7.07, representing a 15 % reduction and falling within the WHO-recommended range of 6.5–8.5. Electrical Conductivity (EC) shows a notable reduction from 62,720 to 826.1 micromhos/cm, representing a 98.68 % reduction, and well below the permissible limit of 1500 micromhos/cm. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) also experienced a drop from 31,777 to 413.1 ppm, representing a 98.7 % reduction, and falls under the WHO guideline of <600 ppm for drinking water. The experiments prove that the use of waste heat from household air conditioners for sustainable freshwater production through the HDH desalination method, with the added efficiency benefits of heat pipe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bariatric surgeries are now redefined as metabolic surgeries given the excellent resolution of metabolic derangements accompanying obesity. Duodenojejunal bypass (DJB) is a novel metabolic surgery based on foregut hypothesis. Reports describe DJB as a stand-alone procedure for the treatment of diabetes in nonobese subjects. For obese subjects, DJB is combined with sleeve gastrectomy. This combination of DJB and sleeve gastrectomy is proposed as an ideal alternative to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) with these advantages: (1) easy postoperative endoscopic surveillance, (2) preservation of the pyloric mechanism, which prevents dumping syndrome, and (3) reduced alimentary limb tension. This study aimed to analyze the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic DJB with sleeve gastrectomy for morbidly obese patients. Methods: At our institution, 38 patients who underwent laparoscopic DJB with sleeve gastrectomy were followed up. The inclusion criteria for the study were according to the Asian Pacific Bariatric Surgery Society guidelines. Sleeve gastrectomy was performed over a 36-Fr bougie, with the first part of the duodenum mobilized and transected. The jejunum was divided 50 cm distal to duodenojejunal flexure. A 75- to 150-cm alimentary limb was fashioned and brought in a retrocolic manner. End-to-end hand-sewn duodenojejunostomy was performed. Intestinal continuity was restored with a stapled jejunojejunostomy, and mesenteric rents were closed. Results: The study population consisted of 38 patients (15 men and 23 women) ranging in age from 31 to 48 years. During a mean follow-up period of 17 months, the excess body weight loss was 72%, with a 92% resolution of diabetes. One patient presented with internal herniation through the retrocolic window 1 month after the operation and was managed surgically without any complication. No other minor or major complications occurred, and there was no mortality. Conclusion: Laparoscopic DJB with sleeve gastrectomy is safe and effective in achieving durable weight loss and excellent resolution of comorbidities. Long-term follow-up studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drain practices in minimally invasive retromuscular ventral hernia repairs have largely been transferred over from open surgery without significant review. We wished to evaluate the role of drains in these repairs.Methods: Using the Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Surgical Collaborative (AWRSC) registry, patients with ventral hernias who underwent enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) repairs between February 2016 and September 2019 were evaluated. Patients with contamination or active infection within the surgical field, those who underwent an emergent or hybrid repair, or received a concomitant procedure were excluded. Propensity score matching based on the defect size, previous hernia repair status, and the use of posterior component separation (PCS) was used to match patients with drains to patients without drains. We evaluated 180-day outcomes in terms of SSIs, SSOs, and recurrence.Results: 308 patients met the inclusion criteria. After propensity score matching, 48 patients with drains and 72 without drains were included in the analysis cohort. Those with drains were older with a greater likelihood of an incisional hernia, but were broadly similar for other relevant demographic and hernia-related variables. While there was no difference in the incidence of SSOs and SSIs between the two groups, we report a higher risk of SSOs needing procedural intervention (SSOPI) and recurrence, with a lengthened hospital stay in the cohort that received surgical drains.Conclusion: The use of surgical drains in "clean" eTEP repairs of ventral hernias appears to be common, with a selection bias for more complex cases. Based on our analysis, we found the use of drains was associated with longer hospital stays. The use of drains did not change the likelihood of suffering an SSI or SSO. However, the incidence of SSOPIs was higher despite the use of drains, which raises questions about their protective role in these repairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopy for ventral hernia repair is now an established technique with its proven benefits of less pain, early recovery, low-recurrence rate as compared to open repair. Several techniques have been described such as IPOM, MILOS, TES, EMILOS, SCOLA, e-TEP. e-TEP was originally conceptualized as an alternative approach to inguinal hernia in difficult cases (obese, previous scars) and for training surgery residents. Application of this approach for ventral hernia repair has recently been reported by few surgeons. We present our experience of e-TEP approach for ventral hernia from a tertiary care center in South India over one year duration. Materials and methods: Electronically maintained data of patients who underwent e-TEP for ventral hernia during a period of November 2017 to November 2018 was reviewed retrospectively. Their demographic data, intraoperative details, postoperative complications and follow up data for a period of 6 months was noted. Results: 171 patients underwent e-TEP approach ventral hernia repair. Mean age was 49.34 ± 10.75 years with hypertension being most common comorbidity. Mean BMI was 29.2 ± 4.1 kg/m2. Mean defect area was 51.35 ± 45.09 cm2 and mean mesh size used was 397.56 ± 208.83 cm2. Fifty patients required TAR. Mean duration of surgery was 176.75 ± 62.42 min and blood loss was 78.7 ± 24.4 ml. Mean length of stay was 2.18 ± 1.27 days. Seven cases had paralytic ileus, 5 cases had surgical site infection, and 3 cases had recurrence at 6 months follow up. Conclusion: e-TEP is a minimally invasive approach which is safe, feasible and also avoids placement of mesh in peritoneal cavity. Since it is a relatively new approach it requires further studies for standardization of techniques, criteria for patient selection and to study long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the predisposing factors and characteristics of recurrent ventral hernia (RVH) along with the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopy in managing RVH.Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of all patients with reducible or irreducible, uncomplicated RVH who underwent surgical management from January 2012 to June 2018.Results: Out of 222 patients, 186 (83.8%) were female, and 36 (16.2%) were male. The mean age was 54.1 ± 10.1 years; an average body mass index was 31 kg/m2 (19-47.9). The most common previous abdominal operations among female patients were cesarean sections (43.5%) and abdominal hysterectomy (36.6%). Most of the patients had a history of open mesh repair (43.7%) and open anatomical repair (36.9%). The median time of recurrence was 4 years (1-33 years). The median defect size was 10 cm2 (range 2-150 cm2), and 73% defects were in the midline. Total 181 of 222 (81.6%) patients underwent laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh plus (L-IPOM+), 19 (8.5%) laparoscopic-assisted IPOM+, 17(7.7%) laparoscopic anatomical repair, while remaining 5 (2.3%) patients required open mesh reconstruction. The median size of the composite mesh used was 300 cm2 (150-600 cm2). The mean operating time was 145 (30-330) min, and median blood loss was 15 (5-110) ml. The median hospital stay was 3 days, and median follow-up period was 37 months. The post-operative symptomatic seroma rate was 3.1%, and re-recurrence rate was 1.4%.Conclusion: Obesity, old age, female sex, previous lower abdominal surgeries, and previous open repair of a hernia are factors associated with recurrence. Laparoscopic repair is feasible with excellent outcome in most of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Laparoscopic resection as an alternative to open pancreatoduodenectomy may yield short-term benefits, but has not been investigated in a randomized trial. The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopic and open pancreatoduodenectomy for short-term outcomes in a randomized trial. Methods Patients with periampullary cancers were randomized to either laparoscopic or open pancreatoduodenectomy. The outcomes evaluated were hospital stay (primary outcome), and blood loss, radicality of surgery, duration of operation and complication rate (secondary outcomes). Results Of 268 patients, 64 who met the eligibility criteria were randomized, 32 to each group. The median duration of postoperative hospital stay was longer for open pancreaticoduodenectomy than for laparoscopy (13 (range 6-30) versus 7 (5-52) days respectively; P = 0·001). Duration of operation was longer in the laparoscopy group. Blood loss was significantly greater in the open group (mean(s.d.) 401(46) versus 250(22) ml; P < 0·001). Number of nodes retrieved and R0 rate were similar in the two groups. There was no difference between the open and laparoscopic groups in delayed gastric emptying (7 of 32 versus 5 of 32), pancreatic fistula (6 of 32 versus 5 of 32) or postpancreatectomy haemorrhage (4 of 32 versus 3 of 32). Overall complications (defined according to the Clavien-Dindo classification) were similar (10 of 32 versus 8 of 32). There was one death in each group. Conclusion Laparoscopy offered a shorter hospital stay than open pancreatoduodenectomy in this randomized trial. Registration number: NCT02081131( ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), although an advanced surgical procedure, is being increasingly used for pancreatic head and periampullary tumors. We present our experience of 15 years with the largest series in total LPD for periampullary and pancreatic head tumors with data on oncological outcome and long-term survival. Materials and Methods: Prospective and retrospective data of patients undergoing LPD from March 1998 to April 2013 were reviewed. Of the 150 cases, 20 cases of LPD (7 cases done for chronic pancreatitis and 13 cases for benign cystic tumors of the pancreas) have been excluded, which leaves us with 130 cases of LPD performed for malignant indications. Results: In total, 130 patients were chosen for the study. The male:female ratio was 1:1.6, with a median age of 54 years. We had one conversion to open surgery in our series, the overall postoperative morbidity was 29.7%, and the mortality rate was 1.53%. The pancreatic fistula rate was 8.46%. The mean operating time was 310±34 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 110±22 mL. The mean hospital stay was 8±2.6 days. Resected margins were positive in 9.23% of cases. The mean tumor size was 3.13±1.21 cm, and the mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 18.15±4.73. The overall 5-year actuarial survival was 29.42%, and the median survival was 33 months. Conclusions: LPD has evolved over a period of two decades and has the potential to become the standard of care for select periampullary and pancreatic head tumors with acceptable oncological outcomes, especially in high-volume centers. Randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the advantages of LPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parastomal hernia is one of the most common but challenging complication after stoma formation. Modified Sugarbaker technique is the recommended procedure for repair parastomal hernia, however, keyhole repair technique had also been used in certain instances. In cases of parastomal hernia following ileal conduit procedure, the Sugarbaker technique is been described, although with associated theoretical risk of conduit failure. We are reporting a case of post-radical cystectomy with ileal conduit presented with symptomatic large parastomal hernia. Laparoscopic modified keyhole plus repair has been done successfully in this patient with no recurrence in 2 years of follow-up. The purpose of our case report is to describe our novel modification of the laparoscopic keyhole technique which can be a feasible and acceptable alternative surgical method in these types of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]