Perioperative outcomes after totally robotic gastric bypass: a prospective nonrandomized controlled study

Background

Perioperative short-term outcomes could be improved after totally robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (TR-RYGBP) compared with conventional laparoscopic gastric bypass.

Methods

This is a nonrandomized controlled prospective study (N = 200) to evaluate perioperative short-term outcomes. The primary endpoint was to investigate risk factors for 30-day surgical complications.

Results

Mean total operative time was shorter in patients who underwent TR-RYGBP (130 vs 147 minutes; P < .0001). However, postoperative surgical complications rate (13% vs 1%; P = .001), and mean overall hospital stay (9.3 vs 6.7 days; P < .0001) were higher after TR-RYGBP. By multivariate analysis, robotic surgery (hazard ratio [HR] = 15.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8 to 280; P = .01), and conversion to laparotomy (HR = 18.8; 95% CI, 1.7 to 250.8; P = .014) were independent risk factors for 30-day surgical complications.

Conclusions

Although robotic gastric bypass reduces mean operative time, TR-RYGBP is associated with an increased postoperative surgical complications rate and longer hospitalization.     

The Desire for Body Contouring Surgery after Bariatric Surgery

Background  Obesity has become far more prevalent over the last few decades. In parallel, bariatric surgery has been increasingly utilized as a method of treatment. This appears to be having an impact on the rate of body contouring surgery for hanging redundant skin after the massive weight loss that usually results from bariatric surgery. Little literature is available addressing how frequently patients who have undergone bariatric surgery receive or desire body contouring surgery or regarding how satisfied these patients are with the hanging skin in certain body areas. Methods  Seventy individuals (out of 250 who were mailed the questionnaire) who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery 6–10 years previously completed a questionnaire, which obtained information regarding their experiences with as well as their desire for body contouring surgery and more general body area satisfaction. Results  Thirty three of the seventy patients reported having undergone a total of 38 body contouring procedures. The most common were abdominoplasties (24.3%), breast lifts (8.6%), and thigh lifts (7.1%). However, subjects were not uniformly satisfied with body areas that had undergone body contouring surgery; some found the areas unattractive. The majority of patients, at least to some extent, desired body contouring surgery, often in several areas, most notably the waist/abdomen, rear/buttock, upper arms, and chest/breast. Conclusion  Paralleling the increasing use of bariatric surgery is an increasing desire for body contouring surgery. Most patients desire body contouring surgery after bariatric surgery. However, third party payors usually do not reimburse for such procedures.     

单纯性肥胖青少年血清脂蛋白亚组分水平分析

目的探讨青少年单纯性肥胖与血清脂蛋白及其亚组分水平的关系。方法采用超速离心-高效液相色谱法测定60例肥胖青少年和19例体重指数正常者血清脂蛋白及其亚型水平。使用双能量X线吸收仪检测所有受试者全身及躯干部体脂比率。结果与正常对照组相比,肥胖组血清TC(4.47±0.90)比(3.79±0.50)mmol/L、TG(1.02±0.41)比(0.72±0.34)mmol/L、LDL-C(2.56±0.81)比(1.95±0.35)mmol/L、LDLa-C(2.39±0.83)比(1.74±0.37)mmol/L平均水平显著增高,而HDL-C(1.18±0.23)比(1.35±0.16)mmol/L、HDL2-C(0.73±0.21)比(0.91±0.16)mmol/L平均水平明显降低(P<0.01)。BMI、腰围、全身体脂及躯干体脂比率分别与TC、TG、LDL-C、LDLa-C水平呈显著正相关,与HDL-C、HDL2-C水平呈显著负相关(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论单纯性肥胖青少年存在与肥胖相关的早期脂质代谢紊乱的趋势。     

The value of a bariatric specific chart to initiate resuscitation of adult bariatric burns

IntroductionThe prevalence of obese adults is rising across the world with a tripling of rates since 1975. The resuscitation of large burns in obese patients brings unique challenges leading some to advocate the use of a bariatric specific burn chart.AimsWe sought to determine whether bariatric burn specific charts can better estimate burn percentage to prevent under resuscitation. We also reviewed the impact of obesity upon the length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality at our institution.MethodsA retrospective case note review, of patients identified from the prospective International Burns Injury Database (iBID), was undertaken of patients’ ≥18 years of age with burns ≥15% of their total body surface area.ResultsThere were 79 overweight and 53 bariatric patients from a total of 232 patients identified. There was no statistical difference in burn percentage or fluid input estimation between the Lund & Browder and Neaman charts. Complications were seen in 51% of the normal weight patients. Obese patients had a similar incidence of death (24%) compared to the normal weight group (26%). The class I obese had the lowest complication rate at 28% and lowest mortality rate at 11%.ConclusionsBariatric specific charts did not demonstrate any benefits in optimising bariatric resuscitation. There appears to be a ‘physiological benefit’ in the class I obese who sustained burns undergoing resuscitation.     

Sleeve gastrectomy in patients with previous antireflux surgery. Preliminary results of the “no-touch to posterior wrap” technique

BackgroundReported morbidity of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in patients with previous antireflux surgery warrants caution, and data on sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are unexpectedly scarce.ObjectivesTo evaluate the safety and efficiency of SG in patients who previously underwent an antireflux procedure. A new technique to preserve intact fundoplication is described.SettingPrivate practice, bariatric center of excellence, Turkey.MethodsThe following data were retrieved from our prospective data base: (1) details of previous repair; (2) clinical/endoscopic reflux status, body mass index (kg/m²), and presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) before SG; (3) duration of SG, length of stay, complications; and (4) percent excess weight loss, MetS/T2D resolution, and reflux status at follow-up.ResultsFifteen consecutive SGs were performed without conversion or major complications. The first case is excluded from the analysis because complete wrap unfolding was abandoned in favor of the described technique. Among 14, 10 had MetS, 4 had T2D, and 1 had a proven reflux recurrence before SG. Mean operating time was 118.5 minutes. All were discharged on the third postoperative day. Apart from 1 functional stenosis, no complications occurred. At 12 months, percent excess weight loss rate was 82.2, MetS resolved in 9 of 10, and T2D was in complete (n = 2) or partial remission (n = 1). No de novo reflux became evident, and absence of reflux was proved by pHmeter in 3.ConclusionsSG is feasible in patients who previously had antireflux repair with negligible morbidity and percent excess weight loss rates similar to that with regular sleeves. Results in reflux control needs further confirmation.     

Small intestinal interventions including barriers,duodenal mucosal resurfacing,and other small bowel strategies

Bariatric surgery has revolutionized obesity treatment. There remains, however, a large demand for less invasive and potentially cheaper or even reversible procedures that impart a similar effect on obesity and its related comorbidities. Endoluminal Bariatric Therapies, such as endoluminal sleeves or barriers, duodenal mucosal resurfacing technology, and magnetic anastomoses may emerge to fill this gap. To date, their safety profiles and the reported success with regard to both weight loss and diabetes control have proven favorable, yet need to be further studied before widespread adoption. The following review will discuss in detail these procedures and the literature supporting their continued development and potential clinical applications.     

Patient obesity and the practical experience of the plain radiography professional: On everyday ethics,patient positioning and infelicitous equipment

Patient obesity is increasingly placing significant and multifaceted strain upon medical imaging departments, and professionals, in (particularly Western) healthcare systems. The majority of obesity-related studies in radiology are, however, primarily focused only upon the technical business of collecting diagnostically-efficacious images. This study, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), qualitatively explores the everyday clinical experiences of eight expert UK diagnosticians working in plain radiography. Focus herein falls particularly upon (a) problems with patient positioning during examination, and (b) challenges arising around available equipment. In line with extant research, participants reported that difficulties with positioning obese patients could have negative impacts on image quality, and that insufficient table weight limits and widths, and inadequate detector sizes, can adversely affect examination. They also raised some more novel issues, such as how the impact of available gown sizes upon a patient's sense of dignity can cause practical and ethical dilemmas for a clinician in situ. The issue of how one might ‘train’ experience in positioning patients without bony landmarks as a reference point was also made salient, with strong implications for undergraduate radiography curricula. It is finally highlighted how the participating radiographers themselves seldom conceptualised any given problem as a purely ‘technical’ one, instead recurrently recognising the interlinking of material, socio-economic and moral matters in real healthcare contexts. By better understanding such nuance and complexity as lived by real radiographers, it is contended, a more context-sensitive and flexible path to effective training and guideline-production can be mapped.