Evaluation of CPAP adherence in bariatric patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea: outcomes of a multicenter cohort study.

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent but mostly undiagnosed in obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery. To prevent cardiopulmonary complications, many clinics perform preoperative OSA screening. Consequently, adequate adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is essential but challenging. We aimed to evaluate CPAP adherence and its influence on postoperative outcomes. METHODS: In a prospective multicenter cohort study, we compared different perioperative strategies for handling undiagnosed OSA in bariatric patients. In this subgroup analysis, patients newly diagnosed with OSA were compared to those with pre-existing OSA. We assessed inadequate CPAP adherence, defined as < 4 h/night, between the preoperative period and 6 months postoperative. Cardiopulmonary complications and (un)scheduled ICU admissions were also evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 272 patients with newly diagnosed OSA (67.4%) and 132 patients with pre-existing OSA (32.6%) were included. Before surgery, 41 newly diagnosed patients used CPAP inadequately, compared to 5 patients with pre-existing OSA (15% vs. 4%, p = 0.049). Six months after surgery, inadequate CPAP use increased to 73% for newly diagnosed patients and 39% for patients with pre-existing OSA, respectively (p < 0.001). Incidences of cardiopulmonary complications, scheduled, and unscheduled ICU admissions were similar in the two study groups (p = 0.600, p = 0.972, and p = 0.980, respectively). CONCLUSION: Inadequate CPAP adherence is higher in bariatric patients newly diagnosed with OSA when compared to patients with pre-existing OSA. Strategies to increase CPAP adherence may be valuable when considering routine OSA screening and CPAP therapy in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Further studies are needed to improve current guidelines on perioperative OSA management of obese patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: POPCORN study, registered at Netherlands Trial Register, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6805 . ID no: 6805.

Traumatic rupture of a Meckel's diverticulum due to blunt abdominal trauma in a soccer game: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: a Meckel's diverticulum is one of the most common congenital anomalies of the digestive tract. The reported lifetime complication rate is 4%, mostly due to hemorrhage, obstruction, perforation or inflammation. A symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum due to rupture after blunt abdominal trauma is very rare. We believe this case report is the first reporting a rupture of a Meckel's diverticulum after a low velocity blunt abdominal trauma and outlining the importance of a thorough and complete examination of the patient after blunt abdominal trauma. PRESENTATION OF CASE: a 17-year-old male presented with abdominal pain after blunt abdominal trauma during a soccer game. Physical examination showed signs of peritonitis in all quadrants of the abdomen. During admission the patient deteriorated with decreasing blood pressure and raising pulse rate. A CT-scan showed free abdominal fluid. Our patient was scheduled for an emergent laparotomy where a perforated Meckel's diverticulum with fecal spill was found. A segmental ileal resection was performed. Post-operative, patient developed a pneumonia and also intra-abdominal abscesses treated with percutaneous drainage. After an admission period of 17-days the patient was discharged. CONCLUSION: perforation of a Meckel's diverticulum is rarely suspected as a cause of acute deterioration following blunt abdominal trauma. This case shows the importance of awareness of this kind of injury especially in male patients.

Reduction, regrowth, and de novo formation of abdominal adhesions after laparoscopic adhesiolysis: a prospective analysis.

AIM: A significant reduction of abdominal adhesions at second-look relaparoscopy after adhesiolysis in patients with chronic abdominal pain. METHODS: 368 patients underwent laparoscopic adhesiolysis because of chronic abdominal pain. Regrowth and de novo abdominal adhesions were determined in a qualitative and quantitative way in 24 patients who underwent a second-look re-laparoscopy because of recurrent pain after a mean period of 16 months after the first laparoscopic adhesiolysis. Reduction of incidence, extent, type, and severity of abdominal adhesions between organs and abdominal wall and de novo adhesion formation were determined. RESULTS: Incidence (40 vs. 26), extent, type, and severity of abdominal adhesions between organs and abdominal wall are significantly reduced after laparoscopic adhesiolysis. After adhesiolysis of adhesions between organs themselves, no significant reduction could be demonstrated (incidence 40 vs. 32). De novo adhesions were present in 5 (5/24) patients. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adhesiolysis results in a significant reduction of adhesions between organs and abdominal wall, despite the occurrence of de novo adhesions in about 20% of the patients.

Randomized clinical trial of ultrasonic versus electrocautery dissection of the gallbladder in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is frequently complicated by gallbladder perforation and loss of bile or stones into the peritoneal cavity. The aim of this study was to compare the use of ultrasonic dissection and electrocautery with respect to the incidence of gallbladder perforation and intraoperative consequences. METHODS: Between January 1998 and January 2000, 200 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to electrocautery or ultrasonic dissection of the gallbladder. The main outcome measures were gallbladder perforation, operating time and the number of times the lens was cleaned. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: The perforation rate differed significantly: 16 per cent for ultrasonic dissection (n = 96) and 50 per cent for electrocautery (n = 103) (P < 0.001). The operating time of the least experienced surgeons, who had performed fewer than ten laparoscopic cholecystectomies, was significantly shorter when ultrasonic dissection was used, compared with electrocautery. The number of times the lens needed to be cleaned was significantly lower when ultrasonic dissection was used in complicated gallbladders (P < 0.035). At logistic regression analysis, the risk of perforation in the electrocautery group was about four times higher (odds ratio 0.26, P < 0.001) than that in the ultrasonic group. When the groups were matched for prognostic factors, including body mass index and surgical experience, the results were similar to those obtained with univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The use of ultrasonic dissection in laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces the incidence of gallbladder perforation and helps the operation to progress. Less experienced surgeons benefit most from ultrasonic dissection, particularly in complicated intraoperative circumstances.

Laparoscopic adhesiolysis in patients with chronic abdominal pain: a blinded randomised controlled multi-centre trial.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adhesiolysis for chronic abdominal pain is controversial and is not evidence based. We aimed to test our hypothesis that laparoscopic adhesiolysis leads to substantial pain relief and improvement in quality of life in patients with adhesions and chronic abdominal pain. METHODS: Patients had diagnostic laparoscopy for chronic abdominal pain attributed to adhesions; other causes for their pain had been excluded. If adhesions were confirmed during diagnostic laparoscopy, patients were randomly assigned either to laparoscopic adhesiolysis or no treatment. Treatment allocation was concealed from patients, and assessors were unaware of patients' treatment and outcome. Pain was assessed for 1 year by visual analogue score (VAS) score (scale 0-100), pain change score, use of analgesics, and quality of life score. Analysis was by intention to treat. FINDINGS: Of 116 patients enrolled for diagnostic laparoscopy, 100 were randomly allocated either laparoscopic adhesiolysis (52) or no treatment (48). Both groups reported substantial pain relief and a significantly improved quality of life, but there was no difference between the groups (mean change from baseline of VAS score at 12 months: difference 3 points, p=0.53; 95% CI -7 to 13). INTERPRETATION: Although laparoscopic adhesiolysis relieves chronic abdominal pain, it is not more beneficial than diagnostic laparoscopy alone. Therefore, laparoscopic adhesiolysis cannot be recommended as a treatment for adhesions in patients with chronic abdominal pain.

Abdominal adhesions: intestinal obstruction, pain, and infertility.

Adhesions cause bowel obstruction, chronic abdominal pain, and infertility. In this review, the incidence, clinical signs, diagnostic procedures, and treatment of these sequels of abdominal surgery are discussed. Laparoscopic treatment of bowel obstruction, chronic pain, and infertility is feasible in selected patients and has been reported to cause fewer newly formed adhesions. Randomized controlled trials to compare open and laparoscopic surgery for adhesions should be executed with long-term follow-up to assess the success rates of adhesiolysis and compare the morbidity and mortality.

Safe laparoscopic adhesiolysis with optical access trocar and ultrasonic dissection. A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this clinical study was to examine the feasibility, safety, and adequacy of hemostasis of combined use of an optical trocar and ultrasonic dissection in laparoscopic adhesiolysis in patients with chronic abdominal pain. METHODS: In 105 patients, identification of anatomic layers of the abdominal wall, establishment of pneumoperitoneum, completeness of adhesiolysis, hemostasis, and complications and pain relief were studied. RESULTS: All abdominal wall layers could be determined during introduction as well as adherence of intraabdominal organs at the introduction site. Ultrasonic dissection enables an (almost) complete adhesiolysis in 103 (98%) patients and offered adequate hemostasis in 101 (96%) patients. Four perforations during laparoscopic adhesiolysis and no late (thermal) perforations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: With an optical trocar a safe introduction site of the abdominal wall can be chosen. The ultrasonic technique offers a sound adhesiolysis with adequate hemostasis and fewer thermal perforations and adds to feasibility and safety of laparoscopic adhesiolysis.

Complications and feasibility of laparoscopic adhesiolysis in patients with chronic abdominal pain. A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was done to determine whether laparoscopic adhesiolysis benefits patients with chronic abdominal pain. Factors that influence complications and feasibility of laparoscopic adhesiolysis were evaluated. METHODS: 174 consecutive operations in 157 patients were retrospectively analyzed for factors which might influence the complication rate and the feasibility of laparoscopic adhesiolysis. RESULTS: In 128 out of 174 procedures a complete adhesiolysis was performed. We had to accept an incomplete adhesiolysis in 39 other patients and in 7 patients a primary conversion was needed. We noticed 16 major complications. Two patients died. Relief of pain was recorded in 80% of patients after short follow-up. The number of previous abdominal operations and patient age significantly affected the outcome of surgery. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adhesiolysis in patients with chronic abdominal pain seems to be a feasible and effective operation with considerable risk.

[An adolescent with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria]. / Een adolescent met paroxismale nachtelijke hemoglobinurie.

Prompted by the case history of a 17 year old girl with anaemia, mononucleosis infectiosa and abdominal pain, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is described. After a mononucleosis infectiosa infection she developed many complications of which the most prominent were hemolysis and thrombosis. Severe abdominal pain and episodic bowel obstruction occurred as a result of micro-infarction of the mesentery; bone marrow aplasia and lysis of platelets resulted in progressive thrombopenia. Pathogenesis and therapeutical possibilities are discussed. Coexistence of a necrotising enterocolitis with rectovaginal fistula, a heart infarction and the striking weight loss and hyponatremia during exacerbations, as seen in our patient, have not previously been described in PNH.