Tailoring limb length based on total small bowel length in one anastomosis gastric bypass surgery (TAILOR study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is being performed by an increasing number of bariatric centers over the world. However, the optimal length of the biliopancreatic (BP) limb remains a topic of discussion. Retrospective studies suggest the benefit of tailoring BP-limb length; however, randomized trials are lacking. The aim of this study is to investigate whether tailoring the length of the BP-limb based on total small bowel length (TSBL) leads to better results in terms of weight loss, vitamin deficiencies, and bowel movements compared to a fixed BP-limb length. METHODS: The TAILOR study is a double-blind single-center randomized controlled trial. Patients scheduled for primary OAGB surgery will be randomly allocated either to a standard BP-limb of 150 cm or to a BP-limb length based on their TSBL: TSBL < 500 cm, BP-limb 150 cm; TSBL 500-700 cm, BP-limb 180 cm; TSBL > 700 cm, BP-limb 210 cm. The primary outcome is to compare the percent total weight loss (%TWL) at 5 years between the two groups. Secondary outcomes include nutritional deficiencies, remission of comorbidities, symptoms of dumping, quality of life, and daily bowel movements. The study includes a total of 212 patients and is designed to detect a 5% difference in the primary endpoint. DISCUSSION: The TAILOR study will provide new insights into the effect of different BP-limb lengths and the role of the TSBL in the OAGB. The study is designed to provide guidance for bariatric surgeons to determine the optimal BP-limb length in the OAGB. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register NL7945. Prospectively registered on 08 September 2019. NTR (trialregister.nl ).

Laparoscopic Small Bowel Length Measurement in Bariatric Surgery Using a Hand-Over-Hand Technique with Marked Graspers: an Ex Vivo Experiment.

INTRODUCTION: Tailoring limb length in bariatric surgery is a subject of many studies. To acquire the optimal limb length, accurate measurement of the small bowel length is essential. OBJECTIVE: To assess the intra- and inter-individual variability of laparoscopic bowel length measurement using a hand-over-hand technique with marked graspers. METHOD: Four bariatric surgeons and four surgical residents performed measurements on cadaver porcine intestine in a laparoscopic box using marked graspers. Each participant performed 10 times a measurement of three different lengths: 150, 180, and 210 cm. Acceptable percentage deviation from the goal lengths was defined as less than 10%, while unacceptable deviations were defined as more than 15%. RESULTS: The bariatric surgeons measured the 150-, 180-, and 210-cm tasks with 4% (CI 0.4, 9), - 6% (CI - 11, - 0.8), and 1% (CI - 4, 6) deviation, respectively. In total, the bariatric surgeons estimated 58 out of 119 times (49%) between the margins of 10% deviation and 36 times (30%) outside the 15% margin. Considerable inter-individual differences were found between the surgeons. The surgical residents underestimated the tasks with 12% (CI - 18, - 6), 16% (CI - 19, - 13), and 18% (CI - 22, - 13), respectively. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgeons estimated bowel length with on average less than 10% deviation. However, this still resulted in 30% of the measurements with more than 15% deviation. There were considerable inter-individual differences between the surgeons and residents structurally underestimated the bowel length. Ascertainment of measurement accuracy and adequate training is essential for bariatric procedures in which limb length is of importance.

Outcomes of the One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass with Various Biliopancreatic Limb Lengths: a Retrospective Single-Center Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is an effective and safe treatment for morbidly obese patients. Longer biliopancreatic (BP) limb length is suggested to result in better weight loss outcomes, but to date, no data are available for the OAGB to substantiate this. We hypothesized that applying a longer BP-limb length in the higher BMI classes would result in more weight reduction so that the attained BMI would be comparable to patients with a lower BMI, thereby compensating for differences in baseline BMI. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study in patients who underwent a primary OAGB at a teaching hospital in the Netherlands between January 2015 and December 2016. BP-limb length was tailored based on preoperative BMI. Patients were divided into three different groups depending on the length of the BP-limb: 150, 180, and 200 cm. Weight loss outcomes after 1 and 3 years and resolution of comorbidities were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Of the 632 included patients, a BP-limb length of 150 cm was used in 172 (27.2%), 180 cm in 388 (61.4%), and 200 cm in 72 (11.4%) patients. Despite more BMI loss, %EWL was lower and attained BMI remained higher in the groups with longer BP-limb lengths. After adjustment for the confounder preoperative BMI, longer BP-limb lengths were not associated with higher BMI loss. There was no difference in remission rates of comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Attained BMI remained higher in spite of tailoring BP-limb length according to baseline BMI with no differences in remission rates of comorbidities.

Applying an Anti-reflux Suture in the One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass to Prevent Biliary Reflux: a Long-Term Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: The one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is an effective treatment to induce sustained weight loss in morbidly obese patients. Concerns remain regarding the development of reflux. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an "anti-reflux suture" as anti-reflux modification to prevent reflux. METHOD: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent a primary OAGB at the Center Obesity North-Netherlands (CON) between January 2015 and December 2016. Reflux was defined as symptoms of acid/bilious regurgitation or pyrosis. This was consequently asked and reported at each follow-up visit. Outcomes of patients with an anti-reflux suture were compared to those without. RESULTS: In 414 (59%) of the 703 included patients, an anti-reflux suture was applied. Follow-up at 3 years was 74%. The incidence of reflux did not differ between patients with or without an anti-reflux suture (57 versus 56%, respectively; P = 0.9). The presence of an anti-reflux suture was significantly associated with a lower incidence of conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for reflux (OR 0.56, 95%CI 0.34-0.91). Patients preoperatively diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were 5.2 times more likely to need a conversion to RYGB for reflux (95%CI 2.7-10.1). CONCLUSION: The presence of preoperative GERD should be weighted heavily in the decision to perform an OAGB as this is a major risk factor for conversion surgery due to reflux. The anti-reflux suture might be a valuable addition to the procedure of the OAGB because it results in fewer conversion surgeries for reflux.

The Use of Intraperitoneal Bupivacaine in Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: a Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown a reduction in postoperative pain and length of hospital stay when using intraperitoneal local anesthetics during laparoscopic surgery. In morbidly obese patients, respiratory depression due to opioid use is a serious side effect. Any different type of analgesia is therefore clinically relevant. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of intraperitoneal bupivacaine on postoperative pain after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). METHODS: Between March and November 2017, 130 patients were included and randomly assigned to receive 20 ml or 0 ml of 2.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride sprayed onto the diaphragm. Pain scores for abdominal and shoulder pain were conducted using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain score at 0, 1, 6, and 24 h postoperatively. The length of hospital stay and use of analgesics was recorded in digital patient records. The primary outcome is the pain scores and the secondary outcomes are postoperative use of opioids or antiemetics and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The study and control group contained respectively 66 and 61 patients. Patient characteristics were equal in both groups (p < 0.05), except for age. No significant reduction of postoperative pain or opioid use was seen with the use of intraperitoneal bupivacaine. There was also no significant reduction in the use of antiemetics and length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The use of intraperitoneal bupivacaine in LRYGB does not show a statistically significant reduction in postoperative pain or postoperative opioid use. Therefore, using intraperitoneal bupivacaine has no clinical relevance and should no longer be used in LRYGB.