Revisional surgery for malnutrition after SADI-S: prevalence, indications, techniques and outcomes.

KEY POINTS: SADIS with short common limb (< 250 cm) is a malabsorptive operation. Reoperation is advised in patients requiring admission for severe malnutrition. Elongation of the common channel is the preferred revisional technique Introduction: Single-Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal bypass with Sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) is a modification of the duodenal switch. Initial common channel's length was 200, and after malnutrition was detected in some patients, it was elongated to 250 or 300 cm. The present study analyzes presentation and treatment of malnutrition after SADI-S. MATERIALS: Three hundred and thirty-three consecutive patients undergoing SADI-S between May 2007 and February 2019 were included. The common limb length was 200 cm in 50 cases, 250 cm in 211, 300 in 71 and 350 in 1. Thirty-one patients were admitted for severe hypoalbuminemia and 17 patients were submitted to revisional surgery, and constitute the series of our study. Mean weight before reoperation was 57 kg and mean body mass index (BMI) was 21 kg/m2. Mean number of daily bowel movements was 5,6. RESULTS: Mean time to reoperation was 56 months. The limb was found shorter than expected in 6 cases. Revisional surgery was conversion into a Roux en Y duodenal switch in 3 cases, elongation of the common limb in 11 patients, duodeno-duodenostomy in 1 and duodeno-jejunostomy to the first jejunal loop in 2. Mean weight regain was 14 kg, and mean final BMI 26 kg/m2. Daily bowel movements were reduced to 1,3. Factors related to hypoalbuminemia were hypertension, poor-controlled diabetes, shorter common limb and liver-test alterations. CONCLUSION: SADI-S is expected to be less malabsorptive than previous biliopancreatic diversions. However, caution must be taken with certain patients to avoid postoperative malnutrition. Adequate follow up with long-term supplementation is required.

Gastroesophageal reflux after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: Is it just related to technical details?

Although it is uncommon, gastroesophageal reflux disease can present after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and it is usually related to technical errors. Hiatal hernia, a narrow calibrated gastrojejunostomy and a long gastric pouch are all factors associated with the development of pathologic gastroesophageal reflux. Techniques are available to treat this condition, such as fundoplications with the gastric remnant, gastropexy to the arcuate ligament, teres ligament repair, or sphincter augmentation with the LINX device. Despite the growing number of reports of gastroesophageal reflux after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, it should be still considered the best surgical option for patients with obesity and a large hiatal hernia or complications secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Long-Term Results of Single-Anastomosis Duodeno-ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy (SADI-S).

BACKGROUND: Single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) is a simplification of the duodenal switch (DS) in which the alimentary limb is eliminated, and the common channel is lengthened from 200 to 300 cm. Short-term results have demonstrated that SADI-S is safe and reproducible and that weight loss and comorbidities resolution are comparable to biliopancreatic diversion or DS. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the long-term outcomes of SADI-S. METHODS: From May 2007 to December 2015, 164 patients were consecutively submitted to a one-step SADI-S. The mean age was 47 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 45.8 kg/m2. A total of 101 patients had type 2 diabetes, 91 arterial hypertension, 81 obstructive apnea, and 118 dyslipidemia. Limb length was 200 cm in 50 cases, 250 cm in 99, and 300 cm in 15. RESULTS: There was no mortality. One patient had a gastric leak, and 2 patients had an anastomotic leak. A total of 25% of the patients were lost to follow-up at 10 years. Excess weight loss and total weight loss were 87% and 38% at 5 years and 80% and 34% at 10 years. A total of 12 patients were submitted to revisional surgery for hypoproteinemia. Preoperatively 41 diabetics were under insulin treatment; at 5 years, 7 remained with insulin and 12 at 10 years. Mean glycemia was 104 mg/dL at 5 years and 118 mg/dL at 10 years. Mean HbA1c was 5.51% at 5 years and 5.86 at 10 years. CONCLUSION: In the long term, SADI-S offers satisfactory weight loss and comorbidities resolution.

Single Anastomosis Duodeno-ileal Bypass As a Revisional Procedure Following Sleeve Gastrectomy: Review of the Literature.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (LSGs) can experience weight-loss failure and conversion to another bariatric procedure. An analysis of the bariatric literature concerning the single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) as revisional surgery after LSG in terms of safety and efficacy identified 607 studies. Fifty-nine studies were analyzed for full content review and 9 primary studies (398 patients) were included. Revisional single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI) was performed in 294 patients at a mean interval of 37.7 months (range 11-179). Total weight loss (%) varies from 20.5% to 46.2%. Early complications after surgery occurred in 4.1% surgeries including leak (7 cases -1.9%). Mortality was nil. SADI after LSG, after failed sleeve gastrectomy or as a sequential procedure, offers a satisfactory weight loss result. Both early and late term complications are acceptable.

Single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass as a revisional or second-step operation after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: One-loop duodenal switch leads to weight loss and improvement or resolution of co-morbidities similar to standard duodenal switch, and it is technically less demanding. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the weight loss and metabolic improvement after conversion of sleeve gastrectomy to single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass. SETTING: University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients submitted to sleeve gastrectomy with insufficient weight loss or programmed for a 2-step surgical approach were included. Single-anastomosis duodenoileostomy was completed if there was no stricture in the stomach and no severe symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients with a mean initial body mass index of 52 kg/m2 were included. Maximum excess weight loss after the sleeve procedure was 63%. Mean time to the second operation was 36 months. The common channel was 250 cm in 41 patients and 300 cm in 10 patients. The follow-up rate was 77% at 5 years. Excess weight loss and total weight loss were 79% and 39%, respectively, at 1 year from the second surgery and 79% and 41%, respectively, at 5 years. Furthermore, 47% of the patients with diabetes achieved complete remission after sleeve gastrectomy, and 94% achieved remission after conversion to single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass. Final weight loss was significantly higher in those patients who achieved better weight loss after the sleeve gastrectomy than those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass is a beneficial procedure after sleeve gastrectomy for those who fail to lose weight or those with co-morbidities or as a planned second step.

The Clinical Significance of PIWIL3 and PIWIL4 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer.

P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI) proteins have been described in several cancers. PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 have been recently evaluated in pancreatic cancer, and elevated expression of PIWIL2 conferred longer survival to patients. However, PIWIL3's and PIWIL4's role in carcinogenesis is rather controversial, and their clinical implication in pancreatic cancer has not yet been investigated. In the present study, we evaluated PIWIL1, PIWIL2, PIWIL3 and PIWIL4 expression in pancreatic cancer-derived cell lines and in one non-tumor cell line as healthy control. Here, we show a differential expression in tumor and non-tumor cell lines of PIWIL3 and PIWIL4. Subsequently, functional experiments with PIWIL3 and/or PIWIL4 knockdown revealed a decrease in the motility ratio of tumor and non-tumor cell lines through downregulation of mesenchymal factors in pro of epithelial factors. We also observed that PIWIL3 and/or PIWIL4 silencing impaired undifferentiated phenotype and enhanced drug toxicity in both tumor- and non-tumor-derived cell lines. Finally, PIWIL3 and PIWIL4 evaluation in human pancreatic cancer samples showed that patients with low levels of PIWIL4 protein expression presented poor prognosis. Therefore, PIWIL3 and PIWIL4 proteins may play crucial roles to keep pancreatic cell homeostasis not only in tumors but also in healthy tissues.

Does the Artery-first Approach Improve the Rate of R0 Resection in Pancreatoduodenectomy?: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the rates of R0 resection in pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic and periampullary malignant tumors by means of standard (ST-PD) versus artery-first approach (AFA-PD). BACKGROUND: Standardized histological examination of PD specimens has shown that most pancreatic resections thought to be R0 resections are R1. "Artery-first approach" is a surgical technique characterized by meticulous dissection of arterial planes and clearing of retropancreatic tissue in an attempt to achieve a higher rate of R0. To date, studies comparing AFA-PD versus ST-PD are retrospective cohort or case-control studies. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 10 University Hospitals (NCT02803814, ClinicalTrials.gov). Eligible patients were those who presented with pancreatic head adenocarcinoma and periampullary tumors (ampulloma, distal cholangiocarcinoma, duodenal adenocarcinoma). Assignment to each group (ST-PD or AFA-PD) was randomized by blocks and stratified by centers. The primary end-point was the rate of tumor-free resection margins (R0); secondary end-points were postoperative complications and mortality. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-nine patients were assessed for eligibility and 176 randomized. After exclusions, the final analysis included 75 ST-PD and 78 AFA-PD. R0 resection rates were 77.3% (95% CI: 68.4-87.4) with ST-PD and 67.9% (95% CI: 58.3-79.1) with AFA-PD, P=0.194. There were no significant differences in postoperative complication rates, overall 73.3% versus 67.9%, and perioperative mortality 4% versus 6.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite theoretical oncological advantages associated with AFA-PD and evidence coming from low-level studies, this multicenter, randomized, controlled trial has found no difference neither in R0 resection rates nor in postoperative complications in patients undergoing ST-PD versus AFA-PD for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma and other periampullary tumors.

The Prognosis Value of PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive manifestation of cancer, and currently presents poor clinical outcome due to its late diagnosis with metastasic disease. Surgery is the only approach with a curative intend; however, the survival rates seen in this type of patient are still low. After surgery, there is a lack of predictive prognosis biomarkers to predict treatment response and survival to establish a personalized medicine. Human P-element-induced wimpy testis 1 (PIWIL1) and P-element-induced wimpy testis 2 (PIWIL2) proteins act as protectors of germline, and their aberrant expression has been described in several types of tumors. In this study, we aimed to assess an association between PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 expression and the prognosis of biliopancreatic cancer patients. For this, we analyzed protein expression in complete resected tumor samples, and found a significant association between PIWIL2 expression and both progression-free and overall survival (p = 0.036 and p = 0.012, respectively). However, PIWIL2 expression was significantly associated with progression-free survival (p = 0.029), and overall survival (p = 0.025) of such tumors originated in the pancreas, but not in the bile duct or ampulla of Vater. Further analysis revealed that PIWIL1 and PIWIL2, at both mRNA and protein expression levels, correlated positively with factors associated to the progenitor molecular subtype of pancreatic cancer. Based on these findings, PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 expression may be considered a potential prognostic biomarker for resectable pancreatic cancer and may serve to guide subsequent adjuvant treatment decisions.

Safety and feasibility of cholecystectomy in octogenarians. Analysis of a single center series of 316 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis. However, outcomes for patients over 80years of age are not well studied. The primary aim of this study was to describe the safety and feasibility of cholecystectomy, including in the acute setting, in a cohort of patients≥80 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients aged≥80 years submitted to cholecystectomy at a single institution from January 2013 to January 2018 was performed. Severity of acute cholecystitis was graded according to the updated Tokyo Guidelines 18. Early cholecystectomy was defined as being performed within the first 48h after admission and delayed when performed beyond 48h of the admission. RESULTS: In total 316 patients underwent cholecystectomy. The indication was acute cholecystitis in 113 (36%) patients. Of the 316 patients 289 (92%) were attempted laparoscopically and 30 (10%) were converted to open. Major complications occurred in 44 patients (14%) and mortality rate was 4%. No bile duct injuries were observed. For those patients with mild or moderate acute cholecystitis (n = 103), there was no differences in outcomes when comparing early vs delayed surgery. CONCLUSION: Cholecystectomy in patients≥80 years of age is safe and feasible. Outcomes did not differ between early and delayed surgery for mild/moderate acute cholecystitis.

[Prognostic factors in adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater]. / Factores pronósticos en el adenocarcinoma de ampolla duodenal.

INTRODUCTION: Ampullary adenocarcinoma seems less aggressive than other pancreato-biliary neoplasms. The aim of this study is to define determining prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective case series from a large tertiary Hospital including all patients diagnosed with ampullary adenocarcinoma who underwent cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy with curative intent. Outcome variables have been progression free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: 24 patients were included. 54.2% were females and the mean age was 72.5 (45-85). Most cases were of intestinal type (50%), followed by pancreatobiliary (37.5%) and mucinous. Only 8.3% were high histopathological grade. Vessel invasion was detected in 31.8% of the cases and perineural infiltration in 20.8%. A large percentage of cases showed no lymph node involvement at the time of diagnosis (54.1%). Most cases were stage T1 or T3 (39.1 y 43.5%, respectively). 34.8% of the patients recurred, mainly in regional lymph nodes (62.5% of the recurrences) and they all died of tumor, mainly during the first year after diagnosis. Multivariate analysis with Cox regression model revealed that only lymph node involvement was independently associated to a shorter disease free progression interval and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node involvement was the most important predictive factor for ampullary adenocarcinoma in this series.

Technique of Hill's Gastropexy Combined with Sleeve Gastrectomy for Patients with Morbid Obesity and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or Hiatal Hernia.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies based on quality-of-life and endoscopy relate sleeve gastrectomy (SG) to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), while some functional studies have demonstrated a decrease in esophageal exposure to gastric acid after SG. Currently, it is recommended to treat hiatal hernia along with the SG. However, as the sleeve gastrectomy involves the resection of the fundus, it is not possible to add a traditional fundoplication to the closure of the hiatus. METHODS: Based on the classic works of Hill et al., and more recent studies by Swänstrom and Aye, our group has incorporated a modified Hill's gastropexy to the sleeve gastrectomy for patients with pathologic GERD and/or huge hiatal hernia submitted to weight loss surgery. RESULTS: A 28-year-old male patient, 43 kg/m(2) BMI, with a small hiatal hernia and pathologic GERD was scheduled for sleeve gastrectomy. After complete fundus and left crus dissection, the phrenoesophageal membrane was opened and the distal esophagus dissected. The hiatus was closed with interrupted sutures. The sleeve was completed over a 42-French bougie. The preaortic fascia was dissected at the root of the crura and three interrupted sutures placed approximating the gastroesophageal junction to the aforementioned fascia. At 6 months from the operation, weight loss has been satisfactory and the patient does not complaint GERD. Barium swallow demonstrates absence of gastroesophageal reflux, pHmetry and manometry have normalized, and endoscopy shows no esophagitis. CONCLUSIONS: Gastropexy to the preaortic fascia is a possible antireflux technique to combine with SG.

Single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) for obese diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric operations achieve a high remission rate of type 2 diabetes in patients with morbid obesity. Malabsorptive operations usually are followed by a higher rate of metabolic improvement, though complications and secondary effects of these operations are usually higher. OBJECTIVES: Analyze the results of a simplified duodenal switch, the single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) on patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM). SETTING: University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. METHODS: Ninety-seven T2 DM patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 44.3 kg/m(2) were included. Mean preoperative glycated hemoglobin was 7.6%, and mean duration of the disease was 8.5 years. Forty patients were under insulin treatment. SADI-S was completed with a sleeve gastrectomy performed over a 54 French bougie and a 200 cm common limb in 28 cases and 250 cm in 69. RESULTS: Follow up was possible for 86 patients (95.5%) in the first postoperative year, 74 (92.5%) in the second, 66 (91.6%) in the third, 46 (86.7%) in the fourth and 25 out of 32 (78%) in the fifht postoperative year. Mean glycemia and glycated hemoglobin decreased immediately. Control of the disease, with HbA1c below 6%, was obtained in 70 to 84% in the long term, depending on the initial antidiabetic therapy. Most patients abandoned antidiabetic therapy after the operation. Absolute remission rate was higher for patients under oral therapy than for those under initial insulin therapy, 92.5% versus 47% in the first postoperative year, 96.4% versus 56% in the third and 75% versus 38.4% in the fifth. A short diabetes history and no need for insulin were related to a higher remission rate. Three patients had to be reoperated for recurrent hypoproteinemia. CONCLUSION: SADI-S is an effective therapeutic option for obese patients with diabetes mellitus.

Single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass as a second step after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: After sleeve gastrectomy, many surgical options are available in patients with insufficient weight loss. Duodenal switch is typically considered the operation that results in higher weight loss, although it is, perhaps unjustly, considered technically difficult and may be accompanied by severe side effects. Single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy is a simplification of the duodenal switch that may behave as a standard biliopancreatic diversion but is easier and quicker to perform. Given its effectiveness as a primary surgery we hypothesized that it would be successful as a second-step operation. The objective of this study was to analyze the weight loss and co-morbidities resolution after a single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass (SADI) performed as a second step after sleeve gastrectomy. METHODS: Sixteen patients with an initial body mass index of 56.4 kg/m(2) and a mean excess weight loss of 39.5% after a sleeve gastrectomy were submitted to a single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass with a 250-cm common channel. RESULTS: There were no postoperative complications. The mean excess weight loss was 72% 2 years after the second-step surgery. The complete remission rate was 88% for diabetes, 60% for hypertension, and 40% for dyslipidemia. The mean number of daily bowel movements was 2.1. One patient suffered an isolated episode of clinical hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSION: SADI is a safe operation that offers a satisfactory weight loss for patients subjected to a previous sleeve gastrectomy. The side effects are well tolerated, and complications are minimal.

Aortic injury during laparoscopic esophageal hiatoplasty.

A 75-year-old female patient with a type III hiatal hernia was submitted to laparoscopic mesh hiatoplasty. Soon after the last suture fixed the mesh to the left crura, a hemorrhage was observed. Conversion to open surgery was not performed. The most common sources of bleeding (liver, phrenic arteries, crura, spleen, and short gastric vessels) were discarded as the cause of the hemorrhage. The mesh was set free in order to explore the lower mediastinum. The source of the hemorrhage was identified: it was the last suture fixing the mesh to the left crura, which was found passing through the aortic wall. The hemorrhage stopped as soon as the suture was removed. When facing a hemorrhage during this kind of surgery, it is essential to be methodical to discover the source of the bleeding. First of all, the most common sources of bleeding must be checked out. Injury of the inferior vena cava must also be ruled out, because it is an uncommon but potentially lethal complication. Afterwards, the lower mediastinum must be explored. Conversion to an open approach is needed if the patient becomes unstable or the surgeon does not have enough laparoscopic skills to find and solve the bleeding. Most of the reported cases of aortic injury during laparoscopic hiatoplasty are secondary to vascular injuries during port insertion. When a suture is the cause of bleeding, the removal of the stitch should be enough to stop the bleeding. If there is a tear of the aortic wall, a patch should be employed for the repair. In conclusion, left crura and thoracic aorta are very close to one another. The surgeon must be very careful when working near the left crura, mostly in old patients with a dilated and aneurysmatic aorta.

Single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy: metabolic improvement and weight loss in first 100 patients.

BACKGROUND: Single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy is a simplified 1-loop duodenal switch with a 200-250 common channel. Our objective was to analyze the weight loss and metabolic results of the technique on a series of 100 consecutively operated patients at a tertiary center university hospital. METHODS: A total of 100 patients consecutively underwent surgery. The criteria of inclusion were morbid obesity or metabolic disease. In the first 50 cases, the common/efferent limb measured 200 cm. The length was changed to 250 cm to reduce the hypoproteinemia rate. RESULTS: No mortality and no severe complications developed. The mean excess weight loss was >95% maintained during the follow-up period. More than 90% of the patients experimented complete remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Two conversions to a standard duodenal switch with a longer alimentary channel were required because of recurrent hypoproteinemia. Hypertension was controlled in 98% of the patients, with a 58% remission rate. The mean number of bowel movements was 2.5/d. CONCLUSION: Single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy is a simplified duodenal switch procedure that is safe and quicker to perform and offers good results for the treatment of both morbid obesity and its metabolic complications.

Unusual late-onset Wernicke's encephalopathy following vertical banded gastroplasty.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) related to bariatric surgery is the consequence of thiamine depletion occurring usually after restrictive surgical procedures with gastric outlet impairment causing frequent vomiting. We present a 35-year-old man with body mass index of 47.2 who developed a WE 7 years after a vertical banded gastroplasty. Late stenosis of the outlet due to gastric band inclusion was the precipitating mechanism. Poor compliance of dietary pattern and vitamin supplementation along with episodic vomiting both contributed to progressive symptoms of instable gait and mental changes. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of WE by showing hyperintense T2 signals at the mammillary bodies. Recovery of symptoms was possible after early thiamine therapy. Unusual late-onset symptoms and contributing factors to WE are discussed.

Prophylactic closure of trocar orifices with an intraperitoneal mesh (ventralex) in laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery reduces, but not eliminates, the rate of incisional hernia. It is accepted that large trocar orifices should be sutured, in order to prevent future herniation. In morbidly obese patients, the closure of the anterior fascia is a very difficult job, and it does not prevent from preperitoneal herniation. Ventralex composite mesh is a very easy-to-place device, which closes satisfactorily both the peritoneal opening and the subcutaneous trocar pathway. We recommend its use for large diameter orifices and Hasson orifices in bariatric patients.