Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for High-Risk Patients in a Monocentric Series: Long-Term Outcomes and Predictors of Success.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has gained popularity as a stand-alone bariatric procedure, but only a few reports provide data of long-term outcomes on high-risk patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term efficacy of LSG as a definitive management on high-risk obese patients and to study factors that predict its success. SETTING: University hospital in Spain. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 134 high-risk patients undergoing LSG from January 2007 through December 2016. Long-term weight loss, resolution of comorbidities, morbidity, and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four high-risk patients underwent LSG. The mean overall follow-up time was 70.9 ± 4.5 months. The mean age was 47 ± 11.0 years. The mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 55.9 ± 6.7 kg/m2 (83.5% were super-obese and 24.6% had BMI ≥ 60). The incidence of postoperative complications was 15%. Mean percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) at 5, 6, 7, and 8 years was 30.7 ± 12.8%, 28.7 ± 14.0%, 29.7 ± 12.3%, and 27.9 ± 11.1%, respectively. Differences were found in age, preoperative BMI, time to reach nadir weight and percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) at 1 year between patients considered a failure compared to those considered a success. Using multivariate regression analysis, only age (p = 0.009) and time to reach nadir weight after surgery (p = 0.008) correlated with %EWL at 4 years. Resolution of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) was achieved in 62.2% of patients. CONCLUSION: This study supports effectiveness and durability of LSG as a definitive bariatric procedure in high-risk patients.

[Use of fibrin based biological adhesives in the prevention of anastomotic leaks in the high risk digestive tract: preliminary results of the multicentre, prospective, randomised, controlled, and simple blind phase IV clinical trial: Protissucol001]. / Utilización de adhesivos biológicos a base de fibrina en la prevención de fugas anastomóticas en anastomosis del tubo digestivo de alto riesgo: resultados preliminares del ensayo clínico fase iv multicéntrico, prospectivo, aleatorizado y controlado simple ciego: Protissucol001.

INTRODUCTION: A multicentre, prospective, randomised, controlled, and simple blind clinical trial was started in January 2007, with the aim of demonstrating the efficacy of fibrin-based biological adhesives in the prevention of anastomotic leaks in the high risk digestive tract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study on the prevention of anastomotic healing defects by applying biological adhesives along the suture line began in January 2007, and included the hospitals, Gregorio Marañón, Universitario de San Carlos, and Hospital del Sureste, in Madrid. The enrolled patients were randomised to one of 2 groups: the study group in which the adhesive was applied to the suture line, and a control group in which it was not applied. The primary outcome of the study was the presence or absence of leaks. The trial was approved by the corresponding Clinical Research Ethics Committees and the Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPS) and registered www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01306851). The authors declared not to have any conflict of interests with the company, Baxter, which markets the product in Spain. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were recruited between January 2007 and November 2010, of whom 52 were randomised to the study group, and 52 to the control group. A total of 22 anastomotic leaks were recorded, of which 7 (13.4%) were in the study group, and 15 (28.8%) in the control group (P=.046). The leak risk index was 0.384, which means that there was a 61% reduction in leaks in the patients who had the fibrin-based biological adhesive applied. There were 3 (5.7%) further surgeries in the study group, compared to 12 (23%) in the control group (P=.12). On analysing the mortality, it was observed that 3 patients in the study group and 4 patients in the control group died (5.7% vs. 7.7%, P=.5). No other significant differences were found as regards the type of suture, surgical time, or pre-surgical history, except that the use of drainages appeared to be a protective factor of anastomotic leak (P=.041), although the use or not of a drainage was not a controlled factor, but at the discretion of each surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates, significantly, that in the 104 patients in the study that fibrin based biological adhesives are capable of preventing anastomotic leaks in the high risk digestive tract, reducing the risk of leaks by 61% and a further surgeries. This is the first clinical trial that shows these significant results. If our results are maintained at the end of the study, it will show that anastomotic leaks can be prevented with the application of these adhesives, thus their application may be recommended in all the anastomosis of the high risk digestive tract.

[Single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy in major ambulatory surgery (MAS)]. / Colecistectomía laparoscópica de puerto único en un programa de CMA.

INTRODUCTION: Natural orifice endoscopic surgery is a new surgical procedure still in the development phase. The most natural entry for surgeons is to use an already existing scar, such as the navel. The recent introduction of trocars designed for this purpose has made it possible to put this into practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present our preliminary experience in single trans-umbilical incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy, by means of a prospective study which included 26 patients operated on between January 2009 and January 2010. We also attempt to find out whether it can be performed in a MAS programme. RESULTS: All patients had uncomplicated cholelithiasis, although in 5 of them cholecystitis was identified during the surgery. The mean surgical time was 51.2 min. The mean hospital stay was 25.7h, and 76.92% of patients were admitted for less than 24h. There were no re-admissions or significant intra-operative or post-operative complications. CONCLUSIONS: On looking at our results, single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy could be included in a major ambulatory surgery programme.

[Predictive factors of mortality in severe ischaemic colitis: post-operative analysis of 101 patients]. / Factores predictores de mortalidad en la colitis isquémica grave: análisis de 101 pacientes intervenidos.

INTRODUCTION: Ischaemic colitis (IC) is the most common form of bowel ischaemia and is often under-diagnosed. OBJECTIVES: To report the results obtained in patients with IC who required surgical intervention in our Hospital, and to evaluate the predictive factors of mortality. METHODS: The data were obtained from the Gregorio Marañon Hospital CI database. The demographic and clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, surgical techniques employed and mortality were analysed statistically, using the chi(2) and Student t test. RESULTS: One-hundred and one patients with CI were operated on between 1991 and 2006. The majority of them had cardiovascular histories and 35 cases were diagnosed during their hospital stay due to another cause. The signs and the symptoms were non-specific in 40% of the cases. Total morbidity and mortality was 39.6% and 41.6% respectively. In the post-operative IC cases, the death rate increased to 68% (p<0.01); 93% of the patients who died had transmural necrosis during the surgery (p<0.05) and 69% had a metabolic acidosis. CONCLUSIONS: The death rate in patients with IC that requires surgery is high, particularly if the diagnosis is made in the post-operative period after surgery for another cause, or if there is evidence of transmural necrosis during the intervention. Early diagnosis is the best tool to improve these results.