Investigating the distribution of primary and secondary care referrals for public-funded bariatric surgery at Counties Manukau Health (CMH).

AIMS: This study investigated variations in referral rates for bariatric surgery from primary and secondary care providers across the Counties Manukau district health board (CMDHB), with the aim of identifying "hot spots" for referrals so that intervention to help achieve equitable access to bariatric surgery can be implemented. METHODS: Referral data was gathered from hospital referral records from January 2017 to January 2019 (n=1,440). Referral rate per geographical location within the CMDHB catchment was calculated using 2018 census figures. RESULTS: Of the 1,195 referrals included, 1040 (87%) referrals were from primary care. The referrals came from 328 general practitioners (GPs) across 158 practices. There was considerable regional variation in referral rates per 1000 people, from a peak of 71.5/1000 to a low of 0.2/1000. Eighty-six percent of secondary care referrals were received from the public system and the remainder from private practice. The most common referral specialty was diabetes, followed by general surgery and orthopaedics. Out of these referrals, 434 (36%) proceeded to bariatric surgery. Pakeha (50%) were more likely to proceed to surgery than Maori (31%) and Pasifika (22%), despite similar referral numbers. CONCLUSION: There is significant variation in referrals for bariatric surgery across CMDHB. Systematic discussion of bariatric surgery with every patient who is likely to benefit is not occurring, given relatively low referral volumes.

Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Management of Chyle Leak Following Esophagectomy for Cancers: An International Consensus Statement.

This Delphi exercise aimed to gather consensus surrounding risk factors, diagnosis, and management of chyle leaks after esophagectomy and to develop recommendations for clinical practice. Background: Chyle leaks following esophagectomy for malignancy are uncommon. Although they are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, diagnosis and management of these patients remain controversial and a challenge globally. Methods: This was a modified Delphi exercise was delivered to clinicians across the oesophagogastric anastomosis collaborative. A 5-staged iterative process was used to gather consensus on clinical practice, including a scoping systematic review (stage 1), 2 rounds of anonymous electronic voting (stages 2 and 3), data-based analysis (stage 4), and guideline and consensus development (stage 5). Stratified analyses were performed by surgeon specialty and surgeon volume. Results: In stage 1, the steering committee proposed areas of uncertainty across 5 domains: risk factors, intraoperative techniques, and postoperative management (ie, diagnosis, severity, and treatment). In stages 2 and 3, 275 and 250 respondents respectively participated in online voting. Consensus was achieved on intraoperative thoracic duct ligation, postoperative diagnosis by milky chest drain output and biochemical testing with triglycerides and chylomicrons, assessing severity with volume of chest drain over 24 hours and a step-up approach in the management of chyle leaks. Stratified analyses demonstrated consistent results. In stage 4, data from the Oesophagogastric Anastomosis Audit demonstrated that chyle leaks occurred in 5.4% (122/2247). Increasing chyle leak grades were associated with higher rates of pulmonary complications, return to theater, prolonged length of stay, and 90-day mortality. In stage 5, 41 surgeons developed a set of recommendations in the intraoperative techniques, diagnosis, and management of chyle leaks. Conclusions: Several areas of consensus were reached surrounding diagnosis and management of chyle leaks following esophagectomy for malignancy. Guidance in clinical practice through adaptation of recommendations from this consensus may help in the prevention of, timely diagnosis, and management of chyle leaks.

Recurrent loss of heterozygosity correlates with clinical outcome in pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are uncommon cancers arising from pancreatic islet cells. Here we report the analysis of gene mutation, copy number, and RNA expression of 57 sporadic well-differentiated pNETs. pNET genomes are dominated by aneuploidy, leading to concordant changes in RNA expression at the level of whole chromosomes and chromosome segments. We observed two distinct patterns of somatic pNET aneuploidy that are associated with tumor pathology and patient prognosis. Approximately 26% of the patients in this series had pNETs with genomes characterized by recurrent loss of heterozygosity (LoH) of 10 specific chromosomes, accompanied by bi-allelic MEN1 inactivation and generally poor clinical outcome. Another ~40% of patients had pNETs that lacked this recurrent LoH pattern but had chromosome 11 LoH, bi-allelic MEN1 inactivation, and universally good clinical outcome. The somatic aneuploidy allowed pathogenic germline variants (e.g., ATM) to be expressed unopposed, with RNA expression patterns showing inactivation of downstream tumor suppressor pathways. No prognostic associations were found with tumor morphology, single gene mutation, or expression of RNAs reflecting the activity of immune, differentiation, proliferative or tumor suppressor pathways. In pNETs, single gene mutations appear to be less important than aneuploidy, with MEN1 the only statistically significant recurrently mutated driver gene. In addition, only one pNET in the series had clearly actionable single nucleotide variants (SNVs) (in PTEN and FLCN) confirmed by corroborating RNA expression changes. The two clinically relevant patterns of LoH described here define a novel oncogenic mechanism and a plausible route to genomic precision oncology for this tumor type.

Differential Acute Impacts of Sleeve Gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery and Matched Caloric Restriction Diet on Insulin Secretion, Insulin Effectiveness and Non-Esterified Fatty Acid Levels Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is an increasingly common option for control of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. Mechanisms underlying rapid improvement of T2D after different types of bariatric surgery are not clear. Caloric deprivation and altered levels of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) have been proposed. This study examines how sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP) or matched hypocaloric diet (DT) achieves improvements in T2D by characterising components of the glucose metabolism and NEFA levels before and 3 days after each intervention. METHODS: Plasma samples at five time points during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) from subjects with T2D undergoing GBP (N = 11) or SG (N = 12) were analysed for C-peptide, insulin and glucose before surgery and 3-day post-intervention or after DT (N = 5). Fasting palmitic, linoleic, oleic and stearic acid were measured. C-peptide measurements were used to model insulin secretion rate (ISR) using deconvolution. RESULTS: Subjects who underwent GBP surgery experienced the greatest improvement in glycaemia (median reduction in blood glucose (BG) from basal by 29 % [IQR -57, -18]) and the greatest reduction in all NEFA measured. SG achieved improvement in glycaemia with lower ISR and reduction in all but palmitoleic acid. DT subjects achieved improvement in glycaemia with an increase in ISR, 105 % [IQR, 20, 220] and stearic acid. CONCLUSIONS: GBP, SG and DT each improve glucose metabolism through different effects on pancreatic beta cell function, insulin sensitivity and free fatty acids.

Five-year results after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Whilst the early to mid-term efficacy of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is well established, there is comparatively less detailing of long-term efficacy. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing SG at the authors' institution. METHODS: All patients undergoing SG during the past 5 or more years were eligible. Outcomes included baseline demographic data, preoperative characteristics, percentage excess weight loss (%EWL), co-morbidity improvement and resolution, serum hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)), serum lipid profile, and the Bariatric Analysis Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) questionnaire. A subset analysis was also performed with patients stratified in to super obese (body mass index ≥ 50 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: There were 96 patients who underwent surgery between March 2007 and July 2008. Of these, 10 declined to participate, 28 were unable to be contacted, and 3 were deceased; therefore, 55 patients were included in the analysis. The mean yearly %EWL to postoperative year 5 was 56% (year 1), 55% (year 2), 46% (year 3), 43% (year 4), and 40% (year 5). Combined improvement and resolution rates at 5 years were 79%, 61%, and 73% for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea, respectively. The HbA(1c) was significantly reduced at long-term follow-up. The mean BAROS score was 3.13 (95% CI: 2.4, 3.9). Weight loss outcomes were less favorable in super obese patients. CONCLUSION: Weight loss outcomes at 5 year follow-up were modest after SG though improvement in co-morbidity status was maintained.

Lower fetuin-A, retinol binding protein 4 and several metabolites after gastric bypass compared to sleeve gastrectomy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Bypass of foregut secreted factors promoting insulin resistance is hypothesized to be one of the mechanisms by which resolution of type 2 diabetes (T2D) follows roux-en-y gastric bypass (GBP) surgery. AIM: To identify insulin resistance-associated proteins and metabolites which decrease more after GBP than after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) prior to diabetes remission. METHODS: Fasting plasma from 15 subjects with T2D undergoing GBP or SG was analyzed by proteomic and metabolomic methods 3 days before and 3 days after surgery. Subjects were matched for age, BMI, metformin therapy and glycemic control. Insulin resistance was calculated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). For proteomics, samples were depleted of abundant plasma proteins, digested with trypsin and labeled with iTRAQ isobaric tags prior to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Metabolomic analysis was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effect of the respective bariatric surgery on identified proteins and metabolites was evaluated using two-way analysis of variance and appropriate post-hoc tests. RESULTS: HOMA-IR improved, albeit not significantly, in both groups after surgery. Proteomic analysis yielded seven proteins which decreased significantly after GBP only, including Fetuin-A and Retinol binding protein 4, both previously linked to insulin resistance. Significant decrease in Fetuin-A and Retinol binding protein 4 after GBP was confirmed using ELISA and immunoassay. Metabolomic analysis identified significant decrease of citrate, proline, histidine and decanoic acid specifically after GBP. CONCLUSION: Greater early decrease was seen for Fetuin-A, Retinol binding protein 4, and several metabolites after GBP compared to SG, preceding significant weight loss. This may contribute to enhanced T2D remission observed following foregut bypass procedures.

Single-stage laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: safety and efficacy in the super-obese.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is increasingly used as a single-stage bariatric procedure. However, its safety and efficacy in super-obese patients (body mass index [BMI] > 50 kg/m(2)) is less well defined. This series reports on 400 consecutive patients who underwent LSG at our institution, to evaluate safety and efficacy in the super-obese. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on 400 consecutive patients who underwent LSG at our institution. We analyzed baseline demographic data, median length of hospital stay, complications, length of follow-up, weight loss, and comorbidity resolution. We graded complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system. We classified patients as super-obese and non-super-obese and compared outcomes between groups. We used the two-tailed t-test and Fisher's exact test as necessary. RESULTS: There were 400 patients, 291 of whom were female (73%). The mean age was 44 y (standard deviation [SD] ± 9 y). The mean preoperative weight and BMI were 140 kg (SD ± 31 kg) and 49 kg/m(2) (SD ± 9 kg/m(2)), respectively. There were 67 complications (16%) in total. The major complication rate was 7.2%, with one recorded death. The median length of hospital stay was 3 d, and the mean follow-up period was 1 y. A total of 170 patients (43%) were super-obese, with a mean preoperative BMI of 56 kg/m(2) (SD ± 5 kg/m(2)). The mean absolute weight loss (59 versus 36.7 kg; P < 0.01) and percentage excess weight loss (58.9% versus 45.9%; P < 0.01) was significantly higher in the super-obese. The mean postoperative BMI for super-obese patients was 38.9 kg/m(2). There was no difference between groups in the incidence of major complications (8.2% versus 6.5%; P = 0.56). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is safe and effective in the super-obese, with acceptable weight loss and no increase in the major complication rate.

Gastric cancer location and histological subtype in Pacific people and Maori defies international trends.

AIMS: Gastric cancer location and histopathology in Pacific people (mostly of Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, or Cook Islands origin) and Maori in New Zealand has not been specifically examined. METHODS: A retrospective review of all histologically-proven new cases of gastric adenocarcinoma and gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma at Middlemore Hospital (Auckland, New Zealand) from June 2003-June 2009 was conducted. Demographic data, clinical presentation, diagnostic/ staging investigations and surgical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: There were 133 patients of whom 79 (59%) were male. Forty-nine (37%) patients were of Pacific ethnicity and 34 (26%) were Maori. Maori (59.3 years; p=0.01) and Pacific (64.5 years; p=0.01) patients were significantly younger at diagnosis compared to European patients (77.2 years). European patients had more proximal tumours (n=18; 47%) compared to Pacific (n=5; 10%) and Maori (n=4; 12%) patients (p= 0.01). Pacific (n=25; 51%) and Maori (n=21; 62%) patients had a significantly higher percentage of diffuse-type gastric cancer compared to European (n=7; 18%) patients. There was no difference in stage of presentation between ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maori and Pacific patients present with gastric cancer at higher rates and at a younger age. They have a predominance of diffuse-type antral and gastric body cancers which stand in contrast to global trends in gastric cancer.

Early and mid-term outcomes of single-stage laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: This is the largest single-centre series of single-stage laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) reporting on perioperative outcomes, weight loss, comorbidity resolution including urological outcomes and results in the super obese. Review of prospectively collected data for patients who underwent LSG from March 2007-August 2009. METHODS: There were 253 patients with a mean age of 44 years (SD, 9) and a mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) of 50 kg/m(2) (SD, 7). There were 17 (7%) major complications and no deaths. The mean follow-up was 9 months. One hundred and seventy-one patients with a mean follow-up of 12 months had a mean postoperative weight loss of 41 kg (SD, 16) and mean excess BMI (meBMI) loss of 59% (SD, 22). RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients were super obese (BMI, >50 kg/m(2)). The mean weight loss was 45 kg (SD, 18), and the meBMI lost was 49% (SD, 21). Super-obese patients experienced more complications (p = 0.02) and lost less eBMI (49% vs. 61%; p < 0.01). Fifty-three patients (46%) remained morbidly obese (BMI, >40 kg/m(2)) postoperatively. Hypertension and diabetes improved or resolved in 73 (79%) and 73 (90%) patients, respectively. Stress urinary incontinence was reported preoperatively in 60 (32%) females, and complete resolution or improvement was reported in 54 (90%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: LSG provides satisfactory weight loss and resolution of comorbidities in the short- and medium-term with inferior, though acceptable, results in the super obese.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a single-stage bariatric procedure.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is increasingly being used as a stand-alone procedure in bariatric surgery, with medium-term follow-up data now emerging. We present our early experience in patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) in the super-obese range. METHODS: Review of prospectively collected data for the first 100 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at Counties Manukau District Health Board between March 2007 and July 2008. RESULTS: One hundred patients were identified, with a mean age of 43 years (range, 20-60 years). Maori and Pacific Islanders made up 31% of the patient subset. Patients had a mean BMI of 50.3 kg/m(2) (range, 34.5-72.8 kg/m(2)). Forty-five patients were super-obese. The median hospital stay was 2 days (range, 1-7 days). Mean follow-up was 12.0 months (range, 0.9-23.3 months). Mean excess weight loss was 62.9% (range, 7.2-129.0%). Twenty-five percent of patients were diabetic and 45% of patients were hypertensive pre-operatively. Diabetics and hypertension resolved or improved in 72% and 60% of patients, respectively. There was a major complication rate of 7%, including three staple-line leaks (one requiring laparotomy), two staple-line bleeds (one requiring laparotomy) and one infected haematoma. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: In this public hospital setting, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has achieved satisfactory weight loss results with an acceptable complication rate in the medium-term.

Treatment of upper gastrointestinal leaks with a removable, covered, self-expanding metallic stent.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic and staple line leaks are serious complications after upper gastrointestinal and bariatric procedures. In patients who are actively septic "diversion and drainage" with aspiration of esophageal and gastric secretions, operative placement of perianastomotic drains, bowel rest, and parenteral nutrition form the conventional management strategy of leaks. Treatment of leaks by direct suture repair, revision, patching, and application of fibrin glue to leaks have failed to gain widespread acceptance owing to a high failure rate in the septic patient. This report describes a case series where anastomotic leaks in patients with established sepsis after upper gastrointestinal resections and bariatric procedures as well as Boerhaave syndrome were managed with a combination of surgical drainage and stent placement. A new technique where the stent is sutured into place transluminally to prevent migration is described. METHOD: Seven patients with staple line and anastomotic dehiscences and a single case of Boerhaave syndrome were treated at St George Hospital, Sydney, over the period January 2003 to December 2006 by using a removable, polyester covered self-expanding metal stent (ELLA Boubella, Ella-CS, Hradec, Czech Republic). All patients had active severe sepsis and significant contamination in the abdomen or thorax at the time of stenting. In 4 cases, the stent was sutured in place with dissolvable synthetic sutures with suture bites incorporating the full thickness of the gut wall and the stent itself to prevent stent migration. RESULTS: All patients showed resolution of their intra-abdominal sepsis and were able to resume an oral diet after stenting. All stents were retrieved endoscopically after clinical resolution of the leak. Stent migration after leak resolution was observed in 3 patients. In patients with large defects or minimal anatomic barriers to stent migration, suture fixation stabilized the stent. There were no episodes of persistent leak or development of stricture in this series. CONCLUSIONS: In this small series, the use of a removable covered stent in the setting of anastomotic leak or spontaneous perforation, alone or as an adjunct to conventional surgical management, is feasible in sealing the leak, resolving sepsis, and expediting return to enteral nutrition. Stenting is feasible in cases with substantial tissue loss or contamination. Suturing the stent transluminally stabilizes the stent where risk of migration is high.

Outcomes after oesophagogastrectomy for carcinoma of the oesophagus.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the oesophagus is a rare but a highly lethal malignancy. The incidence of adenocarcinoma in particular is increasing in the Western world. Despite improvements in staging, perioperative care and the use of adjuvant/neoadjuvant regimen the prognosis remains poor. METHODS: All patients who had biopsy-proven oesophageal carcinoma between the years 1992 and 2004 in the Wellington region, New Zealand, were retrospectively reviewed. The personal and tumour characteristics, operation details, complications and the details of hospital stay of patients who had had a resection were recorded in a database . Survival data were recovered from the notes, hospital database or general practitioner records and were available for all patients who had surgery. Survival analyses were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-one patients were diagnosed with oesophageal carcinoma during the study period (59% adenocarcinoma, 32% squamous cell carcinoma). Only 35% (n = 67) had a resection (81% adenocarcinoma, 13% squamous cell carcinoma). Fifty-one (77%) had an Ivor Lewis procedure, 9 (14%) had only a laparotomy and 6 (9%) had a laparotomy, right thoracotomy and cervical incision. Forty-six (70%) tumours were in the distal third of the oesophagus and 13 (20%) were at the oesophagogastric junction. Perioperative mortality was 10% (n = 7) and anastomotic leak rate 9% (n = 6). Five-year survival was 23%. CONCLUSION: Results from our institution for the resection of oesophageal cancer compare favourably with those in the published work. Staging with computed tomography and laparoscopy has resulted in acceptable resection and survival rates. Survival for this disease is still largely stage dependent and earlier diagnosis probably holds the key to improved prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma of the gastric pouch 26 years after loop gastric bypass.

A 61-year-old woman presented 29 years after loop gastric bypass with a cancer of the gastric pouch. The cancer was removed by en bloc resection of the pouch, residual stomach and involved transverse colon with Roux-en-Y esophago-jejunal reconstruction. Very few cases of gastric cancer have been reported following gastric bypass for obesity. This case represents the first reported gastric cancer arising in the gastric pouch following loop gastric bypass.