Robotic-Assisted Surgery in Patients Less than 15 kg: A Single Center Review.

Introduction: Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is an increasingly utilized tool in children. However, utilization of RAS among infants and small children has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to review and characterize RAS procedures for children ≤15 kg. Methods: We performed a single institution retrospective descriptive analysis including all patients ≤15 kg undergoing RAS between January 2013 and July 2021. Data collection included procedure type, age, weight, gender, and surgical complications. Cases were further categorized according to surgical specialty: pediatric urology (PU), pediatric surgery (PS), and multiple specialties (MS). t-Tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: Since 2013, a total of 976 RAS were identified: 492 (50.4%) were performed by PU, 466 (47.8%) by PS, and 18 (1.8%) by MS. One hundred eighteen (12.1%) were performed on children ≤15 kg, consisting of 110 (93.2%) PU cases, 6 (5.1%) PS cases, and 2 (1.7%) MS cases. Procedures were significantly more common in the PU subgroup, mean of 12 cases/year, compared to PS subgroup, mean of 0.63 cases/year, (P < .01). The mean weight of PU patients (10.5 kg) was significantly less than PS patients (13.9 kg) (P < .01). Mean age was also significantly lower among PU patients (18.6 months) compared to PS (34.2 months) (P < .01). Conclusion: RAS among patients ≤15 kg is safe and feasible across pediatric surgical subspecialties. RAS was performed significantly more frequently by pediatric urologists in younger and smaller patients compared to pediatric surgeons. Further refinement of robotic technology and instrumentation should enhance the applicability of these procedures in this young group.

Associations between marital status and weight loss trajectories entering into early adulthood: a Teen-LABS study.

BACKGROUND: Among adolescents who underwent metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), it is unclear how relationships and specifically marital status (MS) may be associated with long-term weight loss. OBJECTIVE: In this analysis, we tested for associations between the MS of adolescents who underwent MBS and the MS of their primary caregiver and weight loss trajectory over 8 years. SETTING: Teen-LABS participating sites. METHODS: This sample included 231 participants (75.3% female, 71.4% White, 68.0% Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 27.7% vertical sleeve gastrectomy, 4.3% laparoscopic adjustable gastric band). A linear mixed model was conducted with the dependent variable percent body mass index (BMI) change from preoperatively through 8 years with between-participant factors (1) participant MS, (2) caregiver MS, and (3) interaction between caregiver and participant MS. RESULTS: One third of participants and 87% of caregivers were ever married (EM). Compared with never-married (NM) participants and caregivers (-14.6%), EM participants and caregivers (-20.6%), EM participants and NM caregivers (-25.9%), and NM participants and EM caregivers (-19.8%), each had significantly greater BMI loss at 8 years (each P < .05). No other group comparisons achieved statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: NM participants with NM caregivers had less favorable long-term BMI. Additional research is needed to better understand how relationships affect behavior change and weight loss after MBS.

Trends and Economic Implications of Disparities in Postoperative Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pneumonia is the third most common surgical complication and can seriously impair surgical rehabilitation and lead to related morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the temporal trends in racial and ethnic disparities in postoperative pneumonia and quantified the economic burden resulting from these inequalities in the United States. METHODS: This population-based study includes 195 028 children (weighted to 964 679) admitted for elective surgery across 5340 US hospitals reporting to the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2010 and 2018. We estimated the risk-adjusted incidence of postoperative pneumonia, comparing racial and ethnic groups. We also quantified the inflation-adjusted hospital costs attributable to racial and ethnic disparities in postoperative pneumonia. RESULTS: The risk-adjusted rates of pneumonia declined across all racial and ethnic categories, with Black children having the lowest annual rate of decline (Black: 0.03 percentage points, Hispanic: 0.05 percentage points, white: 0.05 percentage points). The risk-adjusted rates of pneumonia trended consistently higher for Black and Hispanic children, relative to white children, throughout the study period (Black versus white: relative risk, 1.31 (95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.51), P < .01; Hispanic versus white: relative risk, 1.16 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.32), P = .02). These disparities did not narrow significantly over time. During the study period, the excess hospitalization cost attributable to racial and ethnic disparities in postoperative pneumonia was $24 533 458 for Black children and $26 200 783 for Hispanic children (total, $50 734 241). CONCLUSIONS: Against the backdrop of decreasing postoperative pneumonia, Black and Hispanic children continue to experience higher rates compared with white children. These persistent disparities in postoperative pneumonia were associated with considerable excess cost of surgical care.

Utilization of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery are limited. In 2018, an ERAS protocol for patients undergoing robotically assisted vertical sleeve gastrectomy (r-VSG) was instituted. This study's aim was to compare outcomes before and after ERAS initiation. METHODS: A single institution retrospective review of patients undergoing r-VSG from July 2015 to July 2021 was performed. The multimodal ERAS protocol focused on limiting post-operative nausea and narcotic utilization. Subjects were categorized into non-ERAS (July 2015-July 2018) and ERAS (August 2018-July 2021) groups. In-hospital and 30-day outcomes were compared. RESULTS: 110 subjects (94 females) with a median age of 17.6 years (range 12.5-22.0 years) were included (60 non-ERAS, 50 ERAS). Demographics were similar except for a higher proportion of females in the non-ERAS group (97% vs 72%, p < 0.001). A significant decrease in narcotic use (p < 0.001) and higher utilization of acetaminophen (p < 0.001) and ketorolac (p < 0.001) was observed in the ERAS group. Additionally, median time to oral intake, a proxy for postoperative nausea and vomiting [2:00 h (1:15, 2:30) vs. 3:22 h (2:03, 6:15), p < 0.001] and hospital length of stay (LOS) [1.25 days (1.14, 1.34) vs. 2.16 days (1.48, 2.42), p < 0.001] were shorter in the ERAS group. Eleven subjects (10%; ERAS = 5, non-ERAS = 6) experienced post-discharge dehydration, prompting readmission 8 times for 7 (6%) individuals. CONCLUSION: Utilization of ERAS led to a significant decrease narcotic utilization, time to first oral intake, and hospital LOS with no change in adverse events following pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery. Larger studies, including comparative analysis of health care utilization, should be carried out. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III. TYPE OF STUDY: Treatment Study.

Marijuana, e-cigarette, and tobacco product use in young adults who underwent pediatric bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: The postoperative course after pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) cuts across a developmental phase when substance-use behaviors emerge as significant public health concerns. OBJECTIVE: We examined use of marijuana, conventional cigarettes, and alternate tobacco products/devices (e.g., e-cigarettes, hookah, smokeless, dissolvable) in young adults (YA) to 6 years postsurgery. SETTING: Five academic medical centers. METHODS: In a prospective observational cohort series, 139 surgical (Mage = 16.9, Mbody mass index [BMI] = 51.5, 80% female, 66% white) and 83 nonsurgical comparisons (Mage = 16.1, MBMI = 44.9, 82% female, 54% white) completed assessments at presurgery/baseline and postsurgery years 2, 4, and 6 (year 6 [2014-2018]: surgical n = 123 [89%], Mage = 23.0, MBMI = 39.8; nonsurgical n = 63 [76%], Mage = 22.4, MBMI = 53.6). Lifetime and current (past 30 days) use were reported. RESULTS: Consistent with national YA trends (2014-2018), the most commonly used were (1) conventional cigarettes (30% surgical, 41% nonsurgical, nonsignificant [ns]); (2) marijuana (25% surgical, 27% nonsurgical, ns); and (3) e-cigarettes (12% surgical, 10% nonsurgical). A sizable minority (26% surgical, 18% nonsurgical) used one or more alternate tobacco product/device. Many YA reported persistent and/or heavy use (e.g., >50% marijuana at year 6 and year 2 or 4; ≈50% ≥.5 pack/d of cigarettes), suggesting more established (versus intermittent) health risk behaviors. For the surgical group at year 6, current tobacco product/device use was associated with lower BMI (P < .001) and greater percent weight loss (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric MBS demonstrates promise in lowering risks for adult chronic disease, which may be diminished by age-typical health risk behaviors. Developmentally salient and holistic pediatric postoperative care guidelines are needed.

Psychosocial predictors of problematic eating in young adults who underwent adolescent bariatric surgery.

Introduction: This study examined problematic eating and eating-related psychopathology among young adults who underwent adolescent bariatric surgery including concurrent and prospective associations with psychosocial factors and weight change. Methods: VIEW point is a 6-year follow-up study within a prospective observational study series observing adolescents with severe obesity who had bariatric surgery (n = 139) or who presented to nonsurgical lifestyle modification programs (n = 83). Participants completed height/weight measurements, questionnaires, and diagnostic interviews. Regression analyses compared problematic eating across groups and examined Year 6 correlates (i.e., psychosocial factors and weight change) and baseline predictors (i.e., psychosocial factors) of eating-related psychopathology. Results: Compared to the nonsurgical group, the surgical group reported lower eating-related psychopathology, objective binge eating, and grazing at Year 6. While chewing/spitting out and vomiting for weight/shape-related reasons were very infrequent for the surgical group, self-induced vomiting for other reasons (e.g., avoid plugging) was more common. For the surgical group, lower self-worth, greater internalizing symptoms, and higher weight-related teasing in adolescence predicted increased eating-related psychopathology in young adulthood. Year 6 eating-related psychopathology was concurrently associated with lower percent weight loss for the surgical group and greater percent weight gain for the nonsurgical group. Conclusion: Undergoing adolescent bariatric surgery appears to afford benefit for problematic eating and eating-related psychopathology. Current findings suggest that the clinical intervention related to problematic eating and associated psychosocial concerns may be needed for young adults with obesity, regardless of surgical status.

Comparative Safety and Effectiveness of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy for Weight Loss and Type 2 Diabetes Across Race and Ethnicity in the PCORnet Bariatric Study Cohort.

Importance: Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity; yet it is unclear whether the long-term safety and comparative effectiveness of these operations differ across racial and ethnic groups. Objective: To compare outcomes of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) across racial and ethnic groups in the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet) Bariatric Study. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective, observational, comparative effectiveness cohort study that comprised 25 health care systems in the PCORnet Bariatric Study. Patients were adults and adolescents aged 12 to 79 years who underwent a primary (first nonrevisional) RYGB or SG operation between January 1, 2005, and September 30, 2015, at participating health systems. Patient race and ethnicity included Black, Hispanic, White, other, and unrecorded. Data were analyzed from July 1, 2021, to January 17, 2022. Exposure: RYGB or SG. Outcomes: Percentage total weight loss (%TWL); type 2 diabetes remission, relapse, and change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level; and postsurgical safety and utilization outcomes (operations, interventions, revisions/conversions, endoscopy, hospitalizations, mortality, 30-day major adverse events) at 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery. Results: A total of 36 871 patients (mean [SE] age, 45.0 [11.7] years; 29 746 female patients [81%]) were included in the weight analysis. Patients identified with the following race and ethnic categories: 6891 Black (19%), 8756 Hispanic (24%), 19 645 White (53%), 826 other (2%), and 783 unrecorded (2%). Weight loss and mean reductions in HbA1c level were larger for RYGB than SG in all years for Black, Hispanic, and White patients (difference in 5-year weight loss: Black, -7.6%; 95% CI, -8.0 to -7.1; P < .001; Hispanic, -6.2%; 95% CI, -6.6 to -5.9; P < .001; White, -5.9%; 95% CI, -6.3 to -5.7; P < .001; difference in change in year 5 HbA1c level: Black, -0.29; 95% CI, -0.51 to -0.08; P = .009; Hispanic, -0.45; 95% CI, -0.61 to -0.29; P < .001; and White, -0.25; 95% CI, -0.40 to -0.11; P = .001.) The magnitude of these differences was small among racial and ethnic groups (1%-3% of %TWL). Black and Hispanic patients had higher risk of hospitalization when they had RYGB compared with SG (hazard ratio [HR], 1.45; 95% CI, 1.17-1.79; P = .001 and 1.48; 95% CI, 1.22-1.79; P < .001, respectively). Hispanic patients had greater risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.24-4.70; P = .01) and higher odds of a 30-day major adverse event (odds ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.38-2.68; P < .001) for RYGB compared with SG. There was no interaction between race and ethnicity and operation type for diabetes remission and relapse. Conclusions and Relevance: Variability of the comparative effectiveness of operations for %TWL and HbA1c level across race and ethnicity was clinically small; however, differences in safety and utilization outcomes were clinically and statistically significant for Black and Hispanic patients who had RYGB compared with SG. These findings can inform shared decision-making regarding bariatric operation choice for different racial and ethnic groups of patients.

Robotic-assisted vertical sleeve gastrectomy in adolescents: Do BMI limits apply?

BACKGROUND: Robotic-assisted vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) in adolescent patients has been shown to have comparable outcomes to laparoscopic VSG. Recent data suggests that metabolic and bariatric surgery (performed using robotic and laparoscopic techniques) in patients with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2 have a higher risk of adverse events compared to those with BMI < 50 kg/m2. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of robotic-assisted VSG in adolescents with a BMI above and below 50 kg/m2. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all adolescents undergoing robotic-assisted VSG between January 2014 and December 2020. Subjects were categorized based on preoperative BMI; Group 1 (BMI < 50 kg/m2) or Group 2 (BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2). Data collection included patient demographics, preoperative BMI, total operative time, access time (i.e., total time for port-placement), 30 day complications, and 30 day hospital readmissions. Analysis was performed using chi-square, Fisher's Exact, and student t-test. RESULTS: Total of 115 subjects (Group 1 N = 64 and Group 2 N = 51) were included. No differences in age or ethnicity were detected; however, Group 2 had a higher percentage of male patients (27.5% vs. 4.7%, respectively, p = 0.001). Mean operative times (Group 1 = 122.2 min vs. Group 2 = 121.6 min) and access times (Group 1 = 19.1 min vs. Group 2 = 19.7 min) were similar between groups. Thirty day complication rates were similar between groups (p = 0.133); however, there was a higher rate of hospital readmission in Group 1. CONCLUSION: While recent data demonstrate an increased likelihood of adverse events occurring among patients with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2 undergoing robotic surgery, we observed no differences in intraoperative or early postoperative outcomes based on BMI in this robotic-assisted pediatric cohort.

Gastroblastoma with a novel EWSR1-CTBP1 fusion presenting in adolescence.

Gastroblastomas are rare tumors with a biphasic epithelioid/spindle cell morphology that typically present in early adulthood and have recurrent MALAT1-GLI1 fusions. We describe an adolescent patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome who presented with a large submucosal gastric tumor with biphasic morphology. Despite histologic features consistent with gastroblastoma, a MALAT1-GLI1 fusion was not found in this patient's tumor; instead, comprehensive molecular profiling identified a novel EWSR1-CTBP1 fusion and no other significant genetic alterations. The tumor also overexpressed NOTCH and FGFR by RNA profiling. The novel fusion and expression profile suggest a role for epithelial-mesenchymal transition in this tumor, with potential implications for the pathogenesis of biphasic gastric tumors such as gastroblastoma.

Update on pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery.

The prevalence of childhood obesity has risen sharply over the last several decades and poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of today's youth. Childhood-onset obesity is associated with a number of cardiometabolic consequences, which contribute to diminished quality of life. Metabolic and bariatric surgery offers a powerful treatment paradigm with positive long-term health effects. A growing body of literature supports the notion that earlier intervention in younger patients results in long-term health benefits. The development of a multidisciplinary care model and best practice guidelines are central to providing optimal care for this vulnerable patient population. Although the outcomes of metabolic and bariatric surgery in pediatric patients are reassuring and support the ongoing utilization of this important treatment paradigm, a number of significant challenges remain regarding access to care. As the literature continues to support earlier intervention for youth with severe obesity, future efforts should address these challenges to ensure that eligible patients are referred in timely fashion.