JWA passenger count increases by 50%...

JWA passenger count increases by 50%

John Wayne Airport passenger traffic increased 50.4% in September

compared to the same time last year, officials said.

In September 2002, the passenger traffic count was 606,632. The

September 2001 passenger traffic count was 403,467.

Also, commercial carrier flight operations went up by 19% and air

taxi operations increased 27.6%. Total takeoffs and landings

increased by 33% and total aircraft operations went up by 38%.

UCI study: Stomach stapling requires more training

A new stomach staple surgical technique is becoming popular in

treating morbid obesity. Although effective, a UC Irvine and UC Davis

study found that surgeons require more training before the surgery --

laparoscopic gastric bypass -- becomes routine.

Patients experience fewer complications and require less time in

the hospital when the operating surgeon has performed at least 75

previous procedures, according to the study. Men and older patients

were found to be more susceptible to postoperative problems.

Patients in the study were considered morbidly obese if they had a

body index between 39 and 61.

The new method may be safer than other open surgeries, involving

only five, small, abdominal incisions. A tiny scope is inserted in

the abdominal cavity. The upper stomach is stapled and the small

intestine is rerouted. It is estimated that about 57,000 Americans

will have either the traditional or laparoscopic operation this year.

Dr. Ninh Nguyen at UCI Medical Center warns that it is imperative

that the surgeons receive adequate practice and training.

“It’s especially important here because the learning curve is

quite high and this issue needs to be addressed by medical

societies,” said Nguyen, who personally performed 150 consecutive

operations as part of the study.