30-Day Post-Discharge Prophylaxis with Rivaroxaban Prevents Porto-mesenteric Venous Thrombosis Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Porto-mesenteric venous thrombosis (PMVT) is a significant complication that occurs more frequently after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) than other bariatric procedures and presents later than other venous thromboembolic (VTE) events often 2 weeks after the operation. The common current practice in bariatric surgery of perioperative chemoprophylaxis until discharge may not adequately prevent PMVT. Therefore, a 30-day post-discharge chemoprophylaxis (PDC) might reduce the incidence of PMVT. The objective of this study is to determine whether 30-day PDC with rivaroxaban 10 mg daily following SG can reduce the incidence of PMVT. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, 292 consecutive patients undergoing SG by a single surgeon were either prescribed rivaroxaban 10 mg daily for 30 days upon discharge (group A) or did not receive any PDC (group B). Primary outcome was PMVT and secondary outcome was bleeding. Patients on chronic anticoagulation therapy were excluded from the study. RESULTS: PMVT events differences were significant between the groups while bleeding events were not. Group A had zero PMVT events, while group B had four (p = .045). There were 4 bleeding events in group A and 7 bleeding events on group B (p = .341). CONCLUSION: A 30-day PDC regimen of rivaroxaban 10 mg daily is both safe and effective. This study demonstrated zero PMVT events without an increased risk of bleeding using this regimen.

Bile reflux after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: an unrecognized cause of postoperative pain.

BACKGROUND: To determine, in a private practice, whether symptomatic bile reflux can occur after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for morbid obesity and the outcome after laparoscopic alimentary (Roux) limb lengthening. Bile reflux as a cause of pain after laparoscopic RYGB has not been previously described. We report on a series of patients with chronic pain after RYGB as a result of bile reflux owing an abnormally short alimentary limb. METHODS: A prospective database of patients who underwent revisional surgery to treat symptomatic bile reflux at our center was retrospectively reviewed and analyzed for the onset of symptoms, interval to revision, length of alimentary limb, and outcome after revision. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients were diagnosed with bile reflux and underwent revisional surgery. The onset of symptoms occurred at 58.3 +/- 22.2 months after RYGB. All patients complained of pain, 13 (81.3%) had vomiting, and 7 (43.8%) had dysphagia. Endoscopy was performed in all patients and confirmed the presence of bile in all patients and detected marginal ulceration in 5 (31.3%) and gastritis in 8 (50.0%). At revisional surgery, the mean alimentary limb length was 37.7 +/- 12.4 cm (range 20-62 cm). At a mean follow-up of 14.9 months after revision, all patients had reported resolution of their symptoms. CONCLUSION: Although previously unreported after RYGB, bile reflux can be an important possible cause of chronic pain. Bile reflux, however, responds favorably to alimentary limb lengthening to 100 cm and was not been seen in patients with an alimentary limb length >62 cm.

Anastomotic stenosis after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: A rational approach to treatment.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic stenosis, a common sequela to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, has a reported incidence of 1.6-27% and recurs in 17-33%. No universal guidelines for optimal treatment exist. The aim of this study was to develop guidelines to treat stenosis that achieve the lowest rate of recurrence while avoiding the complications of excessive dilation. METHODS: This prospective 2-part study enlisted consecutive patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass who developed an anastomotic stenosis. In the first part, all patients, regardless of the grade of stenosis, underwent dilation to 12 mm and were followed up for recurrence. In the second part, patients underwent dilation according to the grade of stenosis (12 mm for low, 13.5 mm for medium, 15 mm for high) and were followed up for recurrence. RESULTS: Among 1345 consecutive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients, 204 developed an anastomotic stenosis (15.2%). No differences were found in gender, mean age, preoperative body mass index, or weight loss at 1 year. In part 1, the recurrence rate for low-, medium-, and high-grade stenosis was 2.6%, 34.4%, and 35.9%. In part 2, the corresponding rates were 9.7%, 26.3%, and 43.6%. The corresponding mean number of additional dilations per patient with recurrence in part 1 was 1.0, 1.5, and 2.1 and, in part 2, were 1.0, 1.0 and 1.2. CONCLUSION: The results of this study have shown that the stenosis grade can predict the risk of recurrence and determine the optimal balloon size. Definitive treatment was achieved in >90% of patients with low-grade stenosis dilated to 12 mm. Medium- and high-grade stenosis predicted > or =25% recurrence, but increasing the balloon size reduced the number of additional dilations required for patients with recurrence.

Elective cholecystectomy after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: why should asymptomatic gallstones be treated differently in morbidly obese patients?

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder management in bariatric surgery varies. Some surgeons perform routine cholecystectomy with bariatric surgery, and others selectively base that decision on routine preoperative ultrasound findings. Both approaches treat bariatric patients differently than the normal-weight population in whom cholecystectomy is not performed in asymptomatic patients. We hypothesized that it is possible to apply the commonly used indications for cholecystectomy in the nonobese population safely to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass cohort. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively and retrospectively on consecutive patients at our center undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004. Asymptomatic patients underwent neither preoperative gallbladder ultrasonography nor concomitant cholecystectomy. Age, body mass index, gender, length of follow-up, compliance to ursodiol therapy for 6 months, need for subsequent cholecystectomy, complications, and pathologic diagnoses were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 692 primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures were performed, of which 661 (95.5%) were completed laparoscopically. Complete data were collected on 417 patients (60.3%). A total of 98 patients (23.5%) had had prior or concomitant cholecystectomy and were excluded from additional study. Of the remaining 319 patients, 47 (14.7%) required subsequent cholecystectomy and 272 (85.3%) did not. The risk of subsequent cholecystectomy correlated inversely with the duration of ursodiol prophylaxis. All pathologic specimens had cholecystitis but gallstones were present in only 48.8%. Two complications (abscess and port-site bleed) occurred, but no common duct stones developed and no patient died. The mean follow-up was 7.5 months (range 13-25). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic gallstones in bariatric patients may be treated safely with secondary cholecystectomy. After a 6-month regimen of ursodiol prophylaxis, 14.7% will require subsequent cholecystectomy. Asymptomatic gallstones in the bariatric patient may be safely managed identically to those in the nonobese population.

Conversion of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: To determine the incidence and causes of conversion from a laparoscopic to an open gastric bypass for morbid obesity, we reviewed the experience of our bariatric center. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the records of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at our center. RESULTS: In all, 1,236 consecutive patients with body mass indes (BMI) from 35 to 82 were approached laparoscopically. In 97%, bypasses were completed laparoscopically and in 3% (40 patients), a conversion was required to complete the procedure. Older age and male sex were greater in the converted group, whereas BMI was not different nor was the proportion of super obese patients. The cause of conversion was technical in 80%, bleeding in 10%, and a massive liver in 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Our risk of conversion was generally low, but increased in older patients and males. In 33% of patients, conversions could have been avoided with technical lessons learned by experience.

Acute mesenteric venous thrombosis following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute mesenteric venous thrombosis has not been previously reported as a complication following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. METHODS: The authors present 3 cases from a single-center experience of over 1500 patients as well as a review of the literature. RESULTS: The presenting symptoms are nonspecific, and the diagnosis is often made after infarction of the intestine has occurred. A high index of clinical suspicion is required for timely diagnosis and treatment. A computed tomography scan combined with diagnostic laparoscopy are the gold standard diagnostic tests, and early anticoagulation is the optimal treatment. Diagnostic laparoscopy is essential to evaluate the degree of bowel ischemia and the need for resection. CONCLUSION: Acute mesenteric venous thrombosis following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a severe and potentially life-threatening complication that requires early exploration and anticoagulation.