Prehabilitation for Bariatric Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled Trial Protocol and Pilot Study.

Bariatric surgery is the most efficacious treatment for obesity, though it is not free from complications. Preoperative conditioning has proved beneficial in various clinical contexts, but the evidence is scarce on the role of prehabilitation in bariatric surgery. We describe the protocol and pilot study of a randomized (ratio 1:1), parallel, controlled trial assessing the effect of a physical conditioning and respiratory muscle training programme, added to a standard 8-week group intervention based on therapeutical education and cognitive-behavioural therapy, in patients awaiting bariatric surgery. The primary outcome is preoperative weight-loss. Secondary outcomes include associated comorbidity, eating behaviour, physical activity, quality of life, and short-term postoperative complications. A pilot sample of 15 participants has been randomized to the intervention or control groups and their baseline features and results are described. Only 5 patients completed the group programme and returned for assessment. Measures to improve adherence will be implemented and once the COVID-19 pandemic allows, the clinical trial will start. This is the first randomized, clinical trial assessing the effect of physical and respiratory prehabilitation, added to standard group education and cognitive-behavioural intervention in obese patients on the waiting list for bariatric surgery. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT0404636.

Cytomegalovirus colitis: a cause of severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Cytomegalovirus infection is an uncommon illness that mainly affects immunocompromised subjects being associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Reactivation or reinfection of the virus causes various symptoms ranging from asymptomatic forms to severe organ-specific complications, such as severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Once diagnosed the infection it is important and necessary to establish an adequate treatment with antivirals, with the surgical option for those cases with gastrointestinal complications depending on the patients clinical situation. We report two cases of immunocompromised patients that after presenting rectal bleeding, were diagnosed of cytomegalovirus colitis, requiring urgent surgery.

La infección por citomegalovirus es poco frecuente, afecta sobre todo a sujetos inmunocomprometidos y los pacientes de este grupo tienen una alta morbilidad y mortalidad. La clínica de la reactivación o reinfección del virus puede variar desde formas asintomáticas hasta complicaciones graves específicas de órgano, como la hemorragia del tracto gastrointestinal masiva. Es de vital importancia un tratamiento adecuado con antivirales; la opción quirúrgica se reserva para las complicaciones gastrointestinales de acuerdo con la situación clínica del paciente. Se presentan los casos de dos pacientes inmunocomprometidas que luego presentar episodios de rectorragia se diagnostican con colitis por citomegalovirus que exige tratamiento quirúrgico.

Adult gastric duplication: an unknown condition within the spectrum of gastric submucosal lesions.

BACKGROUND: Gastric duplication is an uncommon condition in adults representing only 4-8% of all gastrointestinal duplications. It develops as a cystic growth within the thick gastric wall that is surrounded by a layer of smooth muscle and lined with gastric mucosa. It is usually asymptomatic but may present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms as well as cyst-related complications such as gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, ulceration and even pancreatitis. They are difficult to distinguish from other gastric submucosal lesions and may also mimic a gastrointestinal tumor (GIST) or mucinous cyst of the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the most widely used diagnostic procedure and histology provides a definitive diagnosis. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 36-year-old female patient with a history of a "contained" perforated gastric ulcer that was managed conservatively. The patient was diagnosed with a gastric GIST which prompted a laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y reconstruction with a good postoperative outcome. DISCUSSION: The definitive histological diagnosis was gastric duplication. Thus, the previous diagnosis of a "contained" perforated gastric ulcer was in fact a complication of the gastric duplication itself.

Remission of female sexual dysfunction in morbidly obese female patients with the Scopinaro procedure.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity has increased in Spain in recent years. Obese women are at increased risk for sexual dysfunction, and important remission of this condition has been previously reported with bariatric surgery. OBJECTIVES: The major aim of this study was to assess the effects of the Scopinaro biliopancreatic diversion on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) using a validated Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). METHODS: Eighty sexually active women with morbid obesity and with FSD underwent surgery. All patients completed the FSFI before surgery, as well as 6 and 12 months after surgery. The FSFI evaluates the sexual function using 6 items: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. We used a<26.5 cut-point to assess the presence of FSD. This cut-point is used as a standard for the investigation. RESULTS: Before surgery, all patients had FSD (mean 19.9±1.6). Six months after surgery, the FSD improved (mean 25.4±4.1; P<.001), and 12 months after surgery FSD resolved in most of the patients (mean 30.4±3.5; P<.001). All of the parameters evaluated by the FSFI (P<.001) improved significantly in all patients. CONCLUSION: FSD improved significantly 6 months after biliopancreatic diversion among obese women with preoperative sexual dysfunction and continued improving up to 12 months later.

[Staged oesophageal reconstruction for benign disease]. / Reconstrucción diferida del esófago tras su interrupción para el tratamiento de una patología benigna.

OBJECTIVES: To assess morbidity, mortality and quality of life after oesophageal reconstruction in patients with oesophageal exclusion for benign diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2002 to 2011, 20 of 24 patients with esophageal exclusion due to benign disease underwent a delayed reconstruction. We analyzed morbidity, mortality and health-related quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaire, before and after reconstruction. RESULTS: Twenty patients were operated (16 men and 4 women) with an average age of 54.5 ± 10.5 years. Main causes of oesophageal disconnection were: 10 cases of caustics ingestion, 3 iatrogenic perforations, 4 anastomotic leaks and 3 cases with Boerhaave syndrome. Fourteen (60%) coloplasties and 6 (25%) gastric interpositions were performed with an average time of 212,2 ± 23.5 days after oesophageal exclusion. Pulmonary complications were the most common postoperative complications (55% patients) and according to the modified Clavien classification were divided into: grade 1 (10%), grade 2 (15%), grade 3a (40%), grade 3b (10%), and grade 4a (10%). The 30-day mortality (grade 5) of the series was 10%. Quality of life after reconstruction improved significantly in all analyzed domains of the SF-36 questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Deferred oesophageal reconstruction is associated with a high morbidity and a mortality rate of 10%. After reconstruction, the quality of life improved in all the parameters evaluated.