Is weight regaining significant post laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery? - A 5-year follow-up study on Indian patients.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has been proven to induce significant weight loss and remission of related co-morbidities in patients with morbid obesity. The long-term follow-up data show weight regain or failure to achieve complete remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in some patients. In this study, we report weight loss patterns and remission of T2DM in patients with morbid obesity during a 5-year follow-up after RYGB. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate outcomes during the follow-up on excess weight loss (EWL) and remission of T2DM after laparoscopic RYGB among Indian patients. SETTING: The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, Kerala, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study in patients who underwent surgery between 2007 and 2010. The patient demographics, pre- and post-operative body mass index (BMI), co-morbidities and EWL were recorded from the medical records. These data were compared between pre-operative and follow-up intervals till 5 years using statistical approaches. RESULTS: The study included 157 patients (91 males and 66 females) having a mean pre-operative BMI of 47.91 ± 7.01 kg/m2. A significant reduction in the BMI was observed at each follow-up point (P < 0.01) till 5 years after the surgery. The mean percentage of EWL increased from 34.57% ± 12.62% to 71.50% ± 15.41% from 3 months to 5 years after the surgery. Twelve per cent (n = 19) of patients achieved normal BMI (<25 mg/kg2) by 3rd year after the surgery. However, the remission of T2DM was achieved in >50% of patients within a year of surgery. During the 5th year, weight regain (1-22 kg) was observed in 36.70% (n = 58) patients, and recurrence of T2DM was observed in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term durability of RYGB in the study population was satisfactory with significant weight loss and remission of T2DM.

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair of recurrent inguinal hernias.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the outcome and morbidity parameters of laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) repair for recurrent and primary inguinal hernias. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted over a 3-year period. The recurrence rate; pain scores at 24 h, 1 week, and 4 weeks; hospital stay; days to resumption of normal activities; seroma formation; and urinary retention rates were noted. RESULTS: Of 937 patients, 52 underwent recurrent and 885 underwent primary hernia repair. The follow-up period was 12 to 40 months (median, 25 months). The mean operating time was longer in the recurrent group (32.7 +/- 6.3 min) than in the primary group (30.1 +/- 6.1 min; p = 0.015). The mean pain scores at 24 h were similar in the two groups (2.28 +/- 0.5 for the recurrent group vs. 2.20 +/- 0.4 for the primary group; nonsignificant difference). However the pain scores at 1 week were significantly higher in the recurrent group (1.35 +/- 0.5) than in the primary group (1.20 +/- 0.4; p = 0.017). The hospital stay (1.19 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.07 +/- 0.3 days; p = 0.002) and the time to resumption of normal activities (8.62 +/- 2.6 vs. 7.67 +/- 1.4 days; p < 0.0001) were significantly longer in the recurrent group than in the primary group. The urinary retention (9.6% vs. 5.4%; nonsignificant difference) and seroma formation (3.8% vs. 3.5%; p = 0.5) were similar in the recurrent and the primary groups, respectively. There were two recurrences and two conversions to open procedure in the primary group and none in the recurrent group. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic TEP repair of recurrent inguinal hernia is safe and effective, with recurrence and conversion rates similar to those for primary hernia repair. However, the operative time, pain at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively, hospital stay, and time to resumption of normal activities with recurrent repair were significantly greater than with laparoscopic primary hernia repair.

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair with nonfixation of the mesh for 1,692 hernias.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the recurrence rate and postoperative pain in total extraperitoneal repair (TEP) performed without fixation of the mesh and to compare the rates with those for repairs using fixation of mesh. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted over a 3-year period for 929 patients (1,753 hernias) who had undergone TEP. The recurrence rate, pain scores at 24 h and 1 week, hospital stay, days until resumption of normal activities, seroma formation, and urinary retention rates were noted. RESULTS: Of the 929 patients (1,753 hernias), the mesh was fixed (Fx) for 33 (61 hernias) and not fixed (NFx) for 896 (1,692 hernias). The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 40 months (mean, 17 months). The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of mean operating time, proportion of patients who had minimal or no pain (score, 1 or 2) 24 h after surgery, or proportion of patients who were totally pain free (score = 1) 1 week postoperatively. The proportions of patients reporting pain at the end of 1 month, the incidence of seroma formation and urinary retention, the hospital stay, and the days until resumption of normal activities were significantly greater in the Fx group than in the NFx group (p < 0.0001). Two patients (0.22%) in the NFx group had recurrence and one patient in the Fx group underwent conversion to open hernia repair. CONCLUSIONS: This study found TEP without mesh fixation to be safe and feasible with no increase in recurrence rates. The TEP procedure is associated with significantly less pain at 4 weeks, lower incidence of urinary retention and seroma formation, shorter hospital stay, and early resumption of normal activities.

Seven-Year Outcomes of Laproscopic Sleeve Gastectomy in Indian Patients with Different Classes of Obesity.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the long-term outcome in terms of weight loss and remission of comorbidities among the patients who had undergone LSG in an Indian setting. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of patients (BMI > 30 kg/m2) who underwent LSG having a minimum 6 months of follow-up data. Based on preoperative BMI, patients were grouped as class 1, 30 < BMI < 35 kg/m2; class 2, 35 < BMI < 40 kg/m2; and class 3, BMI > 40 kg/m2. Data on BMI and %EWL between three classes and among genders at different follow-up points for 7 years were compared. RESULT: Study included 95 patients (mean age of 33.7 ± 11 years), and the preoperative mean BMI was 40.2 ± 5.1 kg/m2. At one year of surgery, 85.5% patients achieved > 50%EWL. The highest mean %EWL was found in class 1 (66.19%), followed by class 2 (56.73%) and class 3 (46.59%) at the sixth month follow-up. At the seventh year, %EWLs were 85.11% (class 1), 76.69% (class 2), and 62.98% (class 3) and the mean BMIs were 25.13 ± 3.09 kg/m2 (class 1), 26.86 ± 2.12 kg/m2 (class 2), and 31.07 ± 3.39 kg/m2 (class 3) and were significantly different (p < 0.05). At the last follow-up, though, the males showed slight weight regain; however, there were no statistical differences between the genders (p = 0.065). CONCLUSION: Outcome from LSG was better in patients with BMI < 40 kg/m2 compared to the patients with BMI > 40 kg/m2. Remission of obesity-related comorbidities was observed with LSG in all groups and gender did not influence the outcome significantly.

Impact of closed-suction drain in preperitoneal space on the incidence of seroma formation after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of closed suction drain in preperitoneal space on seroma formation after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair (TEP). METHODS: A closed suction drain-12G was put through the midline 5 mm port incision and removed with in 24 hours of operation in TEP repair. The results were compared with a group with TEP without any drain. RESULTS: In 929 patients (1753 hernias), drain was put in 849 patients (1607 hernias) and no drain was put in 80 patients (146 hernias). Follow-up ranged from 9 to 45 months. Seroma formation was significantly lower in the drain group (12/1607; 0.75%) compared with the nondrain group (22/146; 15.1%) (P<0.0001). Both the groups were comparable in pain scores, conversion to open, hospital stay, and days taken to return to normal activity and recurrence rates. There was no infection in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Drain after TEP significantly reduces the incidence of seroma formation without increasing the risk of infection or recurrence.