Early safety outcomes of laparoscopic one anastomosis gastric bypass in patients with class III, IV, and V obesity.

BACKGROUND: The extremely obese patient deserves special consideration: significant comorbidities, technical difficulties, and increased postoperative morbidity and mortality are all expected in this patient population. The study compared early postoperative complications (≤30-day) following one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) morbidity in patients with morbid obesity class IV obesity, body mass index (BMI) ≥50-59.9 kg/m2, and class V obesity, BMI ≥60 patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed perioperative OAGB outcomes in three BMI groups. Operative time, length of stay (LOS), and overall early postoperative complication rates were studied. Patient-reported complications were ranked by Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC). RESULTS: Between January 2017-December 2021, consecutive patients with obesity class III (n = 2950), IV (n = 256), and V (n = 23) underwent OAGB. BMI groups were comparable in sex, age, and associated comorbidities. Mean operative time was significantly longer in the higher BMI groups: class III (66.5 ± 25.6 min), IV (70.5 ± 28.7 min), and V (80.0 ± 34.7 min), respectively (p = 0.018); no difference in LOS. In respective BMI classes, ≤30-day complication rates were 3.2%, 3.5%, and 4.3% (p = 0.926). The respective number of patients with CDC grades of one to two were 45 (1.5%), 6 (2.3%), and 1 (4.3%), p = 0.500; and in grade ≥3a, 25 (0.8%), 1 (0.4%), 0 (0.0%), p = 0.669. There was 0.06% mortality (n = 2 in 3229), both in BMI class III. CONCLUSIONS: OAGB is a safe BS procedure in patients with class III, IV, and V obesity in the perioperative term with comparable ≤30-day morbidity in the three BMI groups.

ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR TREATMENT IN DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: RESULTS FROM A LARGE SINGLE-CENTER COHORT WITH BEVACIZUMAB AS FIRST-LINE THERAPY.

PURPOSE: To explore visual acuity (VA) outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections in treatment-naive eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME), with bevacizumab as first-line treatment. METHODS: Retrospective single-center cohort study over a three-year follow-up. Overall, 1765 eyes from 1179 patients treated with intravitreal injections were evaluated. The cohort was divided according to the treatment given: (1) bevacizumab monotherapy, (2) eyes switched to a second-line agent, and (3) eyes switched to a third-line agent. RESULTS: In total, 644 eyes of 444 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age at presentation was 64.0 ± 11.1 years. The mean follow-up period was 24.6 ± 12.4 months. Furthermore, 67.1% of eyes were treated with bevacizumab monotherapy, 25.45% switched to a second-line agent, and 7.45% were switched to a third-line agent. The mean number of injections decreased significantly during each treatment year in the total cohort and within each treatment group ( P < 0.001). Mean VA for the total cohort and within each treatment group improved significantly throughout follow-up ( P < 0.001). No significant difference in VA was found between the groups ( P = 0.373). CONCLUSION: This real-world study demonstrates robust and consistent VA gains over long-term follow-up in eyes with DME treated with either bevacizumab monotherapy or switching to alternative anti-VEGF agents in cases of suboptimal response.

Drainless thyroid surgeries including goiter or central neck dissection: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Despite ample of evidence regarding feasibility of simple drainless thyroid surgeries, the evidence of feasibility of such procedures in goiters and central neck dissections remains limited. METHODS: Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) between January 2017 and July 2022 were included. The study included two study groups: drainless TT with central neck dissection (CND) and drainless TT due to goiter, which were compared to two controls: non-goiter drainless TT and drained TT for goiter or with CND. Main outcome was post-operative seroma rate. RESULTS: 156 patients met the inclusion criteria for each of the group. No significant differences between groups were found for permanent hypocalcemia, and other complications. Post-operative seroma was found in nine patients (5.8%), all from study groups. No significant differences between groups were found for local infections, aspirations, post-discharge drain insertion. CONCLUSIONS: Complex drainless thyroid surgeries, including goiter and CND, are feasible and do not seem to significantly increase rate of post-operative seromas or infections.

The Oncological and Surgical Outcomes of Immediate Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction With Contralateral Breast Adjustment.

BACKGROUND: Oncoplastic surgery is an expanding approach for managing breast conservation because it offers improved cosmetic outcomes while maintaining oncological safety. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the oncological and surgical outcomes of patients who underwent oncoplastic procedures at a single institution. METHODS: The study population includes all consecutive breast cancer patients who underwent lumpectomy followed by immediate oncoplastic breast reconstruction with contralateral breast adjustment between 2010 and 2021. Following IRB approval, patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical details, complications, and follow-up were evaluated for this group. Quality of life (QOL) and patient-reported outcome measures were assessed through questionnaires. RESULTS: Following multidisciplinary tumor board discussion, 77 patients (82 breasts) underwent oncoplastic surgery. Of these, 92.2% underwent breast MRI prior to surgery with mean mass enhancement of 2.35 cm (range, 0-8.5 cm) and non-mass enhancement of 5.77 cm (range, 0-14 cm), and 44% presented with multifocal disease. The final positive surgical margin rate was 2.4%, and all conserved breasts received adjuvant radiation therapy. The 5-year local recurrence rate for invasive tumors was 4.1%. QOL scores were generally high, with most patients reporting good to excellent cosmetic outcomes and high personal satisfaction with breast appearance and softness. Physicians reported breast symmetry in 89.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that oncoplastic surgery with contralateral breast adjustment is safe, effective, and an excellent option for breast cancer patients wishing for breast conservation even for large or multifocal masses, with favorable oncologic and cosmetic outcomes. The QOL analysis indicates high patient satisfaction. These results support the use of oncoplastic surgery in the management of breast cancer.

Impact of drainless neck dissection on surgical outcome: a matched case-control study.

PURPOSE: The safety of drainless lateral neck dissection (ND) remains to be proven. Hereby, we describe outcomes of drainless ND using fibrin sealant (FS). METHODS: A retrospective, single academic institute, matched cased control. The study group included patients who underwent drainless ND (drainless group), matched to control patients by age, sex, body mass index, laterality and median number of levels dissected. Additional comparison of patients who underwent at least II-IV lateral ND for a thyroid cancer indication was also conducted. Outcomes were post-operative seroma\infections. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients (42 cases and 76 controls) were included in the study. Groups did not differ in pre-operative characteristics, percentage of bilateral ND, and extension of ND. No significant difference was found in terms of post-operative infections, seroma, aspirations, and post-operative antibiotic use. The additional analysis included 23 drainless lateral ND and matched controls, of which 91% underwent concomitant level V dissection. No significant difference was found in terms of post-operative seroma or infection. These findings were confirmed with a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Drainless ND using FS in non-violating mucosa surgeries appears to be feasible and safe, without significantly increasing post-operative seroma and its associated complications.

Comparison of intravenous 5-Fluorouracil with Oral Capecitabine in the Treatment of Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Modern Radiation Techniques.

BACKGROUND: Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASqCC) is a rare malignancy, traditionally treated with combined chemoradiation, with a continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C (MMC). Replacing intravenous (IV) 5-FU with oral capecitabine (oral fluoropyrimidine) has been reported as a non-inferior treatment option. However, these data are scarce, with variable results. OBJECTIVES: To examine the outcome of patients with ASqCC treated with either IV 5-FU or capecitabine concomitantly with radiation therapy. To compare treatment side effects, local recurrence, and general outcome. METHODS: We reviewed charts of patients who were diagnosed with stage I-III ASqCC. All participating patients received chemoradiation at the Assuta Medical Center between 2011 and 2019. RESULTS: In this study, 43 patients with ASqCC were eligible; 14 received 5-FU and 29 were treated with capecitabine. Basic characteristics were similar between the two groups, with longer follow-up for the 5-FU group. Six months following treatment, 100% (13/13 with adequate follow-up) of the 5-FU group had complete clinical response, compared to 84% in the capecitabine group (21/24), P = 0.143. The local recurrence incidence was higher in the 5-FU group at 23% (7, 10, 26 months following therapy, and none in the capecitabine group (P = 0.088). Although local and hematological toxicities were similar between groups, one patient receiving capecitabine died during chemoradiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Oral capecitabine demonstrated non-inferior disease control in ASqCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. We recommend oral capecitabine over continuous IV 5-FU in locally and locally advanced ASqCC. Close monitoring of side effects is required to reduce major toxicity.

Characteristics and differences of strabismus surgeries performed in private versus public settings: a national multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the demographics, diagnoses, and surgical procedure types of strabismus repair in public and private hospitals in Israel in order to highlight possible disparities between them. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study included all strabismus surgeries in seven private hospitals, compared with two large public university-affiliated hospitals from June 2016 to June 2021. Electronic medical records were directly retrieved to produce an anonymized database. RESULTS: During the study period 2420 operations were performed. Patients who underwent strabismus surgery in public hospitals were older and had shorter procedures (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). The median number of operated muscles and the prevalence of bilateral procedures were higher in private hospitals (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Surgery for common strabismus, especially esotropia, was more prevalent in private (p < 0.001), whereas surgery for vertical strabismus, cranial nerve palsies and complex syndromes were performed more often in public hospitals (p < 0.001, p = 0.008, and p < 0.001, respectively). Rectus recession and inferior oblique (IO) anteriorization were more predominant in private hospitals (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively), while recuts advancement and IO myectomies were more prevalent in public ones (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Reoperations were far more common in public hospitals (27.2% vs 6.2%, p < 0.0001). This was true across most age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Candidates for strabismus surgery in private hospitals in Israel are often younger, with more common diagnoses, and are usually referred for simpler procedures.

Post COVID-19 irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection on the gastrointestinal tract remain unclear. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and post-COVID-19 disorders of gut-brain interaction after hospitalisation for SARS-CoV-2 infection. DESIGN: GI-COVID-19 is a prospective, multicentre, controlled study. Patients with and without COVID-19 diagnosis were evaluated on hospital admission and after 1, 6 and 12 months post hospitalisation. Gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety and depression were assessed using validated questionnaires. RESULTS: The study included 2183 hospitalised patients. The primary analysis included a total of 883 patients (614 patients with COVID-19 and 269 controls) due to the exclusion of patients with pre-existing gastrointestinal symptoms and/or surgery. At enrolment, gastrointestinal symptoms were more frequent among patients with COVID-19 than in the control group (59.3% vs 39.7%, p<0.001). At the 12-month follow-up, constipation and hard stools were significantly more prevalent in controls than in patients with COVID-19 (16% vs 9.6%, p=0.019 and 17.7% vs 10.9%, p=0.011, respectively). Compared with controls, patients with COVID-19 reported higher rates of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) according to Rome IV criteria: 0.5% versus 3.2%, p=0.045. Factors significantly associated with IBS diagnosis included history of allergies, chronic intake of proton pump inhibitors and presence of dyspnoea. At the 6-month follow-up, the rate of patients with COVID-19 fulfilling the criteria for depression was higher than among controls. CONCLUSION: Compared with controls, hospitalised patients with COVID-19 had fewer problems of constipation and hard stools at 12 months after acute infection. Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher rates of IBS than controls. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04691895.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Results of the Prospective Controlled Multinational GI-COVID-19 Study.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) have been reported with great variability and without standardization. In hospitalized patients, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of GI symptoms, factors associated with their occurrence, and variation at 1 month. METHODS: The GI-COVID-19 is a prospective, multicenter, controlled study. Patients with and without COVID-19 diagnosis were recruited at hospital admission and asked for GI symptoms at admission and after 1 month, using the validated Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire. RESULTS: The study included 2036 hospitalized patients. A total of 871 patients (575 COVID+ and 296 COVID-) were included for the primary analysis. GI symptoms occurred more frequently in patients with COVID-19 (59.7%; 343/575 patients) than in the control group (43.2%; 128/296 patients) (P < 0.001). Patients with COVID-19 complained of higher presence or intensity of nausea, diarrhea, loose stools, and urgency as compared with controls. At a 1-month follow-up, a reduction in the presence or intensity of GI symptoms was found in COVID-19 patients with GI symptoms at hospital admission. Nausea remained increased over controls. Factors significantly associated with nausea persistence in COVID-19 were female sex, high body mass index, the presence of dyspnea, and increased C-reactive protein levels. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of GI symptoms in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is higher than previously reported. Systemic and respiratory symptoms are often associated with GI complaints. Nausea may persist after the resolution of COVID-19 infection.

Impact of high-quality ultrasound following community ultrasound on surgical planning and active surveillance in patients with thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Ultrasound (US) has gained a critical role in thyroid cancer treatment planning, yet it is limited by its user-dependent nature. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of US performed by radiologists specializing in thyroid imaging (hqUS) and US performed by radiographers in the community (cUS) on treatment plans of patients diagnosed with well-differentiated thyroid malignancies. DESIGN: Retrospective single-centre case series with chart review. PATIENTS: Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer during 2017-2019 that had cUS followed by hqUS pre-operative counselling were included in this retrospective analysis. MEASUREMENTS: The main outcome was management alternations based on one of two sonographic measures: (1) extrathyroid extension (ETE); (2) The presence of central or lateral lymph nodes suspicious for metastases (LNM), which were compared with the final pathology. RESULTS: Among those with non-recurrent tumour (n = 76), ETE was reported 22 times more by hqUS compared with cUS (28.9% vs 1.3%, P < .001). Central and lateral LNM were reported approximately 6.5 and 1.5 times more by hqUS, respectively (25.0% vs 3.9%, P < .001 and 15.8% vs., 9.2%, P = .227, respectively). Overall, hqUS altered the initial treatment plan of 35.5% of patients. In 27.6% of patients, hqUS and its subsequent surgery resulted in a change to the patients' 2015 ATA risk stratification system. In 40% of patients with microcarcinomas, hqUS findings mandated surgery according to findings that were not reported by cUS. False-positive rate was 5.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Community US may under-diagnose important features such as ETE and LNM, leading to potential under-treatment in many patients. High-quality US of the neck should be considered in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma before making any treatment decisions.

Can laboratory evaluation differentiate between coronavirus disease-2019, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus infections? A retrospective cohort study.

AIM: To identify clinical and laboratory parameters that can assist in the differential diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we obtained basic demographics and laboratory data from all 685 hospitalized patients confirmed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus, or RSV from 2018 to 2020. A multiple logistic regression was employed to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 patients were significantly younger than RSV (P=0.001) and influenza virus (P=0.022) patients. SARS-CoV-2 patients also displayed a significant male predominance over influenza virus patients (P=0.047). They also had significantly lower white blood cell count (median 6.3×106 cells/µ) compared with influenza virus (P<0.001) and RSV (P=0.001) patients. Differences were also observed in other laboratory values but were insignificant in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Male sex, younger age, and low white blood cell count can assist in the diagnosis of COVID-19 over other viral infections. However, the differences between the groups were not substantial enough and would probably not suffice to distinguish between the viral illnesses in the emergency department.

Bloating in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Is Associated with Symptoms Severity, Psychological Factors, and Comorbidities.

BACKGROUND: Bloating is one of the most bothersome symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but its association with other symptoms is not well described. AIMS: We investigated the association between symptoms of abdominal bloating, other IBS symptoms, psychological distress, and comorbid pain conditions. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a large cohort of IBS patients with and without symptoms of abdominal bloating and healthy controls. Subjects were assessed for IBS and its subtypes, pain severity, symptoms severity, psychological disturbances, comorbidities, and dietary restrictions of three fluid groups. RESULTS: A total of 484 subjects were investigated. Compared with IBS - B, IBS + B subjects had higher rates of constipation (30% vs. 15%, p = 0.191) and lower rates of diarrhea, (70% vs. 85%, p = 0.191) although these were not statistically significant. Bloating severity correlated with IBS symptoms severity (r = 0.397, p = 0.000), pain severity (r = 0.364, p = 0.000), and both anxiety and somatization scores (r = 0.167, p = 0.015 and r = 0.219, p = 0.001, respectively). Prevalence of fibromyalgia and depression and somatization scores was significantly higher in IBS with bloating than in IBS without bloating. IBS patients with bloating reported more dietary restriction of three fluid groups to control their symptoms compared with healthy controls and IBS patients without bloating. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal bloating in IBS is associated with increased symptoms and pain severity, somatization, depression, fibromyalgia, and altered dietary fluids composition. Recognizing and addressing these factors in the diagnosis and management of patients with IBS may improve clinical outcome.

High-sensitive C-Reactive Protein as a Marker for Inflammation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies demonstrated low-grade inflammation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, these studies have been relatively small and do not enable examination of this factor in different subtypes of IBS and the possibility of confounding effects of comorbidities that may be associated with inflammatory responses. GOALS: To investigate the association between high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the diagnosis of IBS, IBS subtypes, symptoms' severity, and IBS-associated comorbidities. STUDY: This cross-sectional study uses data from a large matched case-control study of IBS subjects and healthy controls (HC). hs-CRP levels were measured in all subjects. IBS diagnosis was determined by Rome III criteria, negative screening blood tests, and normal colonoscopy. Subjects were evaluated for IBS severity and associated pain and psychological comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 242 IBS patients and 244 HC were studied. Median hs-CRP levels in the IBS group were significantly higher than in HC (1.80; interquartile range, 0.7 to 4.04 mg/L vs. 1.20, interquartile range, 0.5 to 2.97 mg/L respectively, P<0.006). Levels were highest in IBS-D patients with greater disease severity. Hs-CRP levels mildly correlated with symptoms severity (r=0.169, P=0.009); this correlation was stronger for the IBS-D patients (r=0.27, P=0.006). IBS was a significant independent predictor (P=0.025) for higher hs-CRP levels, whereas other pain and psychological comorbidities were not. CONCLUSIONS: Given these observations of cross-sectional differences in hs-CRP between IBS subtypes and severity, independent of pain and comorbidities, more research is needed to explore a possible role of low-grade inflammation in the pathogenesis and/or clinical presentation of IBS.

Early outcomes of one-anastomosis gastric bypass in the elderly population at high-volume bariatric centers.

The increasing rate of obesity and life expectancy will lead to increasing numbers of bariatric procedures in the elderly. We aim to report the early (≤ 30 days) adverse events of One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) in this patient population. Assuta Bariatric Centers in Israel. Retrospective review of perioperative OAGB outcomes between elderly group (≥ 65 years) and non-elderly group (18-64 years) at high-volume bariatric centers between January 2017-December 2021. Operative time, length of stay (LOS), and overall ≤ 30 days complication rates, as ranked by the Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) were compared. There were 6618 patients (non-elderly group) and 104 (elderly group) who underwent OAGB. Gender and preoperative BMI were comparable between the two age groups. The elderly group had significantly higher rate of ischemic heart disease and chronic renal failure. The number of patients with LOS ≥ 3 days was significantly higher in the elderly group [19.4% (n = 20) vs. 6.6% (n = 331), respectively; p < 0.001]. The total early adverse events were higher in the elderly group with no statistical significance [7.7% (n = 8) vs. 3.8% (n = 250), respectively; p = 0.062]. The rate of minor and major adverse events and reoperation rate was comparable between the two groups. The rate of readmissions was significantly higher in the elderly group 5.8% (n = 6) vs. 1.9% (n = 124), respectively p = 0.015. There was 0.06% mortality (n = 2) in the non-elderly group. OAGB is a relatively safe metabolic and bariatric surgery for elderly obese patients with early (≤ 30 days) morbidity rates similar to the non-elderly population.

Characteristics of pediatric ocular trauma in a tertiary hospital in Israel 2011-2020 - How can public prevention policy be improved?

PURPOSE: To describe and analyze characteristics and trends of pediatric ocular trauma during 2011-2020. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study. Data were collected on all pediatric ocular trauma cases that presented to a Rambam Health Care Campus during 2011-2020. Data included age, gender, visual acuity, diagnosis, injury mechanism and surgical repair. RESULTS: Median BCVA at presentation was 0.96 (logMAR). Males and non-adolescent males specifically were the most prominent groups (70.6% and 44.7%, respectively). The ratio of ocular trauma cases to total pediatric emergency department (ED) visits was stable during 2011-2020 (p = 0.714) regardless of gender (p = 0.832 and p = 0.545 for boys and girls, respectively). The leading causes were partial thickness eyelid laceration, periorbital hematoma, and extraocular muscle contusion, all of which were stable over the study period (p = 0.678, p = 0.203 and p = 0.398, respectively). Falls and children play were the most common mechanisms (25.8% and 18.4%, respectively), but differed between age groups. Most patients did not require consecutive operation and were treated conservatively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Pediatric ocular injuries to pediatric ED visits ratio remained stable during 2011-2020, regardless of gender. Non-adolescent males accounted for nearly half of all cases, with different mechanisms for each age group. Consecutive surgery was rarely necessary.

One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass in 6722 Patients: Early Outcomes from a Private Hospital Registry.

BACKGROUND: One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is an emerging metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) type used in both primary OAGB (pOAGB) and revisional OAGB (rOAGB). We studied ≤30-day outcomes of pOAGB and rOAGB and identified predictors of early complications. METHODS: Electronic medical records of all OAGBs performed between January 2017 and December 2021 at a high-volume bariatric clinic in Israel comprising four hospital centers were scanned retrospectively using specialized data software (MDClone software, version 6.1). Data gathered were patients' characteristics, surgical procedure, and ≤30-day complications with Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors related to early complications of pOAGB and rOAGB. RESULTS: A total of 6722 patients underwent a pOAGB (n = 5088, 75.7%) or rOAGB (n = 1634, 24.3%) procedure at our institution. Preoperative mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 40.6 ± 11.5 years and 41.2 ± 4.6 kg/m2, respectively. Early complications occurred in 258 (3.8%) patients (176 pOAGB and 82 rOAGB) and included mainly bleeding (n = 133, 2.0%), leaks (n = 31, 0.5%), and obstruction/strictures (n = 19, 0.3%). CDC complications for grades 1-2 and grades 3a--5 were 1.5% and 1.6%, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 0.03% (n = 2). Age, operative time ≥3 h, and any additional concomitant procedure were independent predictors of early complications following pOAGB, while a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and operative time ≥3 h were independent predictors of early complications following rOAGB. CONCLUSIONS: OAGB was found to be a safe primary and revisional MBS procedure in the ≤30-postoperative day term. The most common complications were gastrointestinal bleeding, leaks, and obstruction/stricture.

Long-Term Matched Comparison of Primary and Revisional Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Reports of long-term (> 5-15-year) outcomes assessing the safety and efficacy of primary revisional laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are few. METHODS: Retrospective long-term comparisons of primary (pLSG) and revisional (rLSG) procedures were matched for gender, age ± 5 years, and body mass index (BMI) ± 5 kg/m2. Weight loss, associated medical condition status, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: Between May 1, 2006, and December 31, 2016, 194 matched patients with severe obesity (mean BMI 44.1 ± 6.7 kg/m2; age 44.2 ± 10.0 years, 67.0% female) underwent pLSG (n = 97) or rLSG (n = 97) and were followed for a mean 12.1 ± 1.5 vs 7.6 ± 2.1 years. Respective mean weight regain from nadir was 15.0 ± 14.4 kg vs 11.9 ± 12.2 kg. Respective percent mean total weight loss and excess weight loss were 20.9 ± 12.7% and 51.8 ± 33.1%, and 18.3 ± 12.8% and 43.4 ± 31.6% at last follow-up, with no significant difference between groups. Resolution of type 2 diabetes (HbA1C < 6.5%, off medications) was 23.1% vs 11.1%; hypertension 36.0% vs 16.0%; and hyperlipidemia 37.1% vs 35.3%. Patients in the pLSG group were significantly more satisfied with LSG (59.8% vs 43.3%, p < 0.05) and more likely to choose the procedure again. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in long-term weight loss or associated medical condition outcomes in matched pLSG and rLSG patients.

Long-term Reported Outcomes Following Primary Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Long-term laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) outcomes in patients with obesity are scarce. We aimed to examine the outcomes and subjective experience of patients who underwent primary LSG with long-term follow-up. METHODS: The study is a retrospective observational analysis of patients who underwent primary LSG in a single center with 5-15 years of follow-up. Patients' hospital chart data supplemented by a detailed follow-up online questionnaire and telephone interview were evaluated. RESULTS: The study sample included 578 patients (67.0% female) with 8.8 ± 2.5 years of mean follow-up, with a response rate to the survey of 82.8%. Mean baseline age and body mass index (BMI) were 41.9 ± 10.6 years and 42.5 ± 5.5 kg/m2, respectively. BMI at nadir was 27.5 ± 4.9 kg/m2, corresponding to a mean excess weight loss (EWL) of 86.9 ± 22.8%. Proportion of patients with weight regain, defined as nadir ≥ 50.0% EWL, but at follow-up < 50.0% EWL, was 34.6% (n = 200) and the mean weight regain from nadir was 13.3 ± 11.1 kg. BMI and EWL at follow-up were 32.6 ± 6.4 kg/m2 and 58.9 ± 30.1%, respectively. The main reasons for weight regain given by patients included "not following guidelines," "lack of exercise," "subjective impression of being able to ingest larger quantities of food in a meal," and "not meeting with the dietitian." Resolution of obesity-related conditions at follow-up was reported for hypertension (51.7%), dyslipidemia (58.1%) and type 2 diabetes (72.2%). The majority of patients (62.3%) reported satisfaction with LSG. CONCLUSIONS: In the long term, primary LSG was associated with satisfactory weight and health outcomes. However, weight regain was notable.

Outcome of the first 200 patients with prostate cancer treated with MRI-Linac at Assuta MC.

Background: We present our experience with MR-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for 200 consecutive patients with prostate cancer with minimum 3-month follow-up. Methods: Treatment planning included fusion of the 0.35-Tesla planning MRI with multiparametric MRI and PET-PSMA for Group Grade (GG) 2 or higher and contour review with an expert MRI radiologist. No fiducials or rectal spacers were used. Prescription dose was 36.25 Gy in 5 fractions over 2 weeks to the entire prostate with 3-mm margins. Daily plan was adapted if tumor and organs at risk (OAR) doses differed significantly from the original plan. The prostate was monitored during treatment that was automatically interrupted if the target moved out of the PTV range. Results: Mean age was 72 years. Clinical stage was T1c, 85.5%; T2, 13%; and T3, 1.5%. In addition, 20% were GG1, 50% were GG2, 14.5% were GG3, 13% were GG4, and one patient was GG5. PSA ranged from 1 to 77 (median, 6.2). Median prostate volume was 57cc, and 888/1000 (88%) fractions required plan adaptation. The most common acute GU toxicity was Grade I, 31%; dysuria and acute gastrointestinal toxicity were rare. Three patients required temporary catheterization. Prostate size of over 100cc was associated with acute fatigue, urinary hesitance, and catheter insertion. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) decreased in 99% of patients, and one patient had regional recurrence. Conclusion: MR-guided prostate SBRT shows low acute toxicity and excellent short-term outcomes. Real-time MRI ensures accurate positioning and SBRT delivery.

Pancreatic cancer outcome-local treatment with radiation using MRI-LINAC.

Introduction: Stereotactic MR-guided on-table adaptive radiotherapy (SMART) allows the precise delivery of high-dose radiation to tumors in great proximity to radiation-sensitive organs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the toxicity and clinical outcome in locally advanced or recurrent pancreatic tumors, with or without prior irradiation, treated with SMART. Methods: Patients were treated for pancreatic cancer (PC) using SMART technology to a prescribed dose of 50 Gy (BED10, 100 Gy) in five fractions, with daily on-table adaptation of treatment plan. Endpoints were acute and late toxicities, local control, local disease-free period, and overall survival. Results: A total of 54 PC patients were treated between August 2019 and September 2022, with a median follow-up of 8.9 months from SMART. The median age was 70.4 (45.2-86.9) years. A total of 40 patients had upfront inoperable PC (55% were locally advanced and 45% metastatic), and 14 had local recurrence following prior pancreatectomy (six patients also had prior adjuvant RT). Of the patients, 87% received at least one chemotherapy regimen (Oxaliplatin based, 72.2%), and 25.9% received ≥2 regimens. Except from lower CA 19-9 serum level at the time of diagnosis and 6 weeks prior to SMART in previously operated patients, there were no significant differences in baseline parameters between prior pancreatectomy and the inoperable group. On-table adaptive replanning was performed for 100% of the fractions. No patient reported grade ≥2 acute GI toxicity. All previously irradiated patients reported only low-grade toxicities during RT. A total of 48 patients (88.9%) were available for evaluation. Complete local control was achieved in 21.7% (10 patients) for a median of 9 months (2.8-28.8); three had later local progression. Eight patients had regional or marginal recurrence. Six- and 12-month OS were 75.0% and 52.1%, respectively. Apart from mild diarrhea 1-3 months after SMART and general fatigue, there were no significant differences in toxicity and outcomes between post-pancreatectomy and inoperable groups. Conclusion: SMART allows safe delivery of an ablative dose of radiotherapy, with minimal treatment-related toxicity, even in previously resected or irradiated patients. In this real-world cohort, local control with complete response was achieved by 20% of the patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcome and late toxicity.