Physical function and properties of quadriceps femoris muscle after bariatric surgery and subsequent weight loss.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of bariatric surgery-induced weight loss on physical function, the properties of quadriceps femoris muscle (QFM), and the subjective disabilities of the subjects with excessive weight. METHODS: Thirteen female and three male subjects were studied before and 8.8 months after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGP) operation. The health-related quality of life (RAND-36) and the self-reported disease-specific joint symptoms (WOMAC) were estimated. The objective physical function was evaluated with sock, repeated sit-to-stand, 6-minute walk, stair ascending and descending and timed up and go tests and the properties of the QFM were measured with ultrasound. RESULTS: The average weight loss was 27.3 kg. Objectively measured physical function improved after RYGP operation. Physical functioning, physical role functioning and general health domain scores of the RAND-36 were significantly improved. The stiffness and function scores were lower after RYGP operation in knee OA subjects. The subcutaneous fat thickness and the absolute muscle thickness of QFM decreased, but the ratio of muscle cross sectional area/total body weight did not change. The fat and connective tissue proportion in the QFM muscle were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: The RYPG-surgery-induced weight loss exerts a positive impact on physical function but a negative impact on a muscle structure.

Feasibility of minilaparotomy versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy for day surgery: a prospective randomised study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: minilaparotomy (MC) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) are commonly applied surgical techniques in the management of symptomatic gallstone disease. Both techniques are used in day surgery patients, but to our knowledge MC and LC have not been compared in randomised trials as day surgery procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: in this randomised parallel group clinical trial we compared the suc-cess rate of day surgery of MC with that of LC in 60 consecutive patients with non-complicated symptomatic gallstones presented for elective surgery at the Kuusankoski District Hospital (n = 38) and the Kuopio University Hospital (n = 22). Twenty nine patients underwent MC and 31 LC. The patients' outcome was recorded up to four weeks after the operation. RESULTS: the success rate as a day surgery for MC was 66% (19/29) and that for LC 55% (17/31) with no difference between the two groups. Chronic cholecystitis, postoperative nausea and vomiting were significant variables associated with failure in day surgery. There was no difference between the two groups in operation time, perioperative bleeding, conversion to conventional open cholecystectomy (one with MC and three with LC), length of hospital stay or sick leave. Three patients developed superficial infection (two with MC and one with LC). One patient with conversion in the LC-group developed a common bile duct stricture and was readmitted at the 10th postoperative day. DISCUSSION: both MC and LC are feasible surgical techniques for day surgery. However, appropriate prevention and prompt management of established postoperative nausea and vomit-ing and careful patient selection are important aspects for success of short-stay approach. If there is a sign of chronic cholecystitis preoperatively, it might be considered as a contraindication for day surgery.

Minilaparotomy cholecystectomy as a day surgery procedure: a prospective clinical pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In some studies minilaparotomy cholecystectomy (MC) has been shown to be as good as laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in the surgical treatment of cholecystolithiasis. To our knowledge, the MC operation is rarely considered as a day surgery procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty elective symptomatic non-complicated patients were included in the study during the end of the year 2004 to June 2005. The mean age of patients was 52 years (range 27-68), the mean body mass index 29 kg/m2 (range 19-41). Gallstones were confirmed with ultrasound and the preoperative liver laboratory tests were normal in all patients. A five (+/-2) centimetre-long incision was used avoiding to split the rectus abdominis muscle. All patients were re-evaluated four weeks postoperatively with the follow-up letter. RESULTS: The average operating time was 51 minutes (range 30-105 minutes). Day surgery was possible in 25 cases (83%). Five patients (17%) stayed over night at the hospital. There were four (13%) conversions to conventional cholecystectomy. The average postoperative sick leave was 16 days (range 14-30). Two patients returned to hospital. One patient had wound pain, but no complication was found, and the patient was not admitted. One patient had a wound infection and spent 6 days in the hospital. Twenty-nine (97%) patients were satisfied with the operation and were ready to recommend it for other patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the suitability of MC as a day surgery procedure, but a prospective randomised trial is needed to evaluate the relative advantages of MC and LC.

Minilaparotomy cholecystectomy versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized study with special reference to obesity.

BACKGROUND: Minilaparotomy cholecystectomy (MC) has recently challenged the role of the laparoscopic approach (LC) for cholecystectomies. However, the situation is far from clear when operating times and recovery are evaluated. METHODS: Altogether 157 patients with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones were randomized into MC (n = 85) and LC (n = 72) groups. Both groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical fitness classification, and operating surgeon. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 55 +/- 19.5 min in the MC group and 79 +/- 27.0 min in the LC group (p < 0.0001). The postoperative hospital stay and length of sick leave did not differ between the two groups. There were no significant differences in postoperative pain, analgesic consumption, or postoperative pulmonary function between the groups. The body mass index did not influence operating time or patient recovery in either group. No major complications occurred in either groups. CONCLUSION: The MC procedure seems to be a faster technique than the LC approach for noncomplicated gallstone disease, with no difference in recovery times. The MC procedure also seems to be suitable for the obese patient.

Apelin, orexin-A and leptin plasma levels in morbid obesity and effect of gastric banding.

UNLABELLED: Maintenance of human energy homeostasis is regulated by a complex network. Peptides secreted from the gastrointestinal tract (GI) are signaling to the brain and other organs initiating or terminating food intake and energy expenditure. In the present study we investigated basal plasma levels of apelin, orexin-A, and leptin in morbid obese patients. In addition, we measured in a subgroup of these patients in the same individual orexin-A and leptin plasma levels one year after gastric banding surgery. METHODS: Basal plasma values were determined in obese patients (BMI=48+/-1 kg/m2n=32) after an overnight fast and compared to healthy, normal weighted (BMI=22+/-2 kg/m2n=12) controls. In addition, blood samples were collected in a subgroup of patients (BMI=48+/-1 kg/m2n=8) the day before surgery and 1 year after the operation. Apelin, orexin-A, and leptin levels were analysed using ELISAs. RESULTS: One year after the operation obese patients significantly lost weight (from 48+/-2 kg/m2 to 39+/-2 kg/m2; p<0,001). Apelin, orexin-A and leptin levels in obese patients were significantly higher compared to control individuals (736+/-50 pg/ml vs. 174+/-14 pg/ml, p<0.0001; 75.3+/-24.1 pg/ml vs. 0.8+/-0.4 pg/ml, p<0.0001; 79.0+/-2.4 ng/ml vs. 5.8+/-0.8 ng/ml, p<0.0001, respectively). Apelin and leptin plasma concentrations also correlated significantly with BMI (r=0.769, p<0.0001; r=0.778; p<0.0001, respectively), while orexin-A correlation was rather weak (r=0.335, p<0.03). No difference between pre- and post-operative orexin-A levels was observed, while leptin plasma levels significantly decreased from 45.1+/-5.4 ng/ml to 27.3+/-6.0 ng/ml (p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Apelin, orexin-A, and leptin plasma levels correlated positively with the BMI. One year after gastric banding with significant loss in BMI basal plasma levels of leptin decreased, while orexin-A remained unchanged.

Bone mineral metabolism after total gastrectomy.

Gastric surgery is mostly needed for treatment of gastric malignancy. To investigate the effect of total gastrectomy on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral metabolism we evaluated 18 patients after total gastrectomy. Mean interval since operation was 71 +/- 20 months. BMD results were compared with age- and gender-matched controls (n = 46) and also expressed as T and Z scores. Bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was found to be significantly lower in patients after total gastrectomy compared with healthy controls in the lumbar spine (p = 0.017 for women, p = 0.002 for men), femoral neck (p = 0.004 for women, p = 0.001 for men), Ward's triangle (p = 0.031 for women, p = 0.003 for men), and greater trochanter (p = 0.001 for women, p = 0.001 for men). Z scores for lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and greater trochanter were -0.83, -1.54, -1.02, and -1.19, respectively. Biochemical measurements correlated poorly with BMD and were found to be of lesser value in diagnosing reduced bone mass as well as in differential diagnosis of etiology of osteopenia. The results of our study show the deleterious effect of total gastrectomy on bone mineral status and suggest an increased fracture risk in these patients.

Sucralfate as maintenance treatment for the prevention of duodenal ulcer recurrence.

Eighty-eight patients with endoscopically proven and healed duodenal or pyloric ulcer were randomly allocated into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-month maintenance trial to determine whether sucralfate, 1 g twice daily, can be used to prevent a recurrence of ulceration. The patients were assessed endoscopically at three, six, and 12 months, or earlier if a symptomatic relapse occurred. Serum aluminum levels were also monitored. Sixteen patients were excluded from the study during the follow-up: nine of 41 in the sucralfate group, and seven of 47 in the placebo group. The groups did not differ with respect to age, sex, or smoking. The cumulative relapse rates in the sucralfate group were 28 percent after three months, 33 percent after six months, and 45 percent after 12 months, as compared with 49 percent (p less than 0.05), 64 percent (p less than 0.01), and 68 percent (p less than 0.05), respectively, in the placebo group. It is concluded that 1 g sucralfate twice daily is more effective than a placebo and is safe for the maintenance treatment of duodenal and pyloric ulcer disease.

Clinical evaluation of serum tumour markers CEA, CA 50 and CA 242 in colorectal cancer.

The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the clinical value ol serum tumour markers CEA, CA 50 and CA 242 in patients with colorectal cancer (n = 138) and patients with benign gastrointestinal disease (n = 104). The cutoff levels (90% specificity) determined for each test were 2.5 ng/ml for CEA, 17 U/ml for CA 50 and 17 U/ml for CA 242. The diagnostic sensitivity of the CEA test was 0.63, that of the CA 50 test was 0.30 and 0.30 for the CA 242 test in detecting colorectal cancer. CEA, CA 50 and CA 242 tests were tested in a multivariate analysis to find the best combination of independent predictors of colorectal cancer. The most important predictor of colorectal cancer was CEA followed by CA 242. In order to calculate the contributions of tumour marker tests, a diagnostic score (DS) was developed. The sensitivity of the DS in detecting colorectal cancer was 0.47 with a specificity of 0.88 and an efficiency of 0.67. On the basis of this study, serum CEA and CA 242 seem to possess diagnostic value in preoperative evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer.

The adverse hemodynamic effects of anesthesia, head-up tilt, and carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: The increased intra-abdominal pressure during pneumoperitoneum, together with the head-up tilt used in upper abdominal laparoscopies, would be expected to decrease venous return to the heart. The goal of our study was to determine whether laparoscopy impairs cardiac performance when preventive measures to improve venous return are taken, and to analyze the effects of positioning, anesthesia, and increased intra-abdominal pressure. METHODS: Using invasive monitoring, hemodynamic changes were investigated in 15 ASA class I or II patients under isoflurane-fentanyl anesthesia during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Before laparoscopy, the patients received an intravenous (IV) infusion of colloid solution if cardiac filling pressures were low, and their legs were wrapped from toes to groin with elastic bandages. Measurements were taken while the patients were awake in the supine (baseline) and head-up tilt (15-20 degrees) positions, and after the induction of anesthesia in the same positions. Measurements were repeated at regular intervals during laparoscopy (intra-abdominal pressure at 13-16 mm Hg), after deflation of the gas, and in the recovery room. RESULTS: With the passive head-up tilt in awake and anesthetized patients, the cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI), central venous pressure (CVP), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) decreased, and systemic vascular resistance increased. With the patient under anesthesia, SI decreased, but CI did not change significantly as a result of the compensatory increase in heart rate. Carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation at the start of laparoscopy produced increases in CVP and PCWP as well as mean systemic and mean pulmonary arterial pressures without changes in CI or SI. Toward the end of the laparoscopy, CI decreased by 15%. The hemodynamic values returned to nearly prelaparoscopic levels after deflation of the gas, and CI was elevated during the recovery period, whereas systemic vascular resistance was decreased in comparison with the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: By correcting relative dehydration and preventing the pooling of blood, CI decreased less than 20% during pneumoperitoneum as compared with the baseline awake level. The head-up positioning accounts for many of the adverse effects in hemodynamics during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Quantitative radioisotope measurement of duodenogastric reflux in patients with ulcer or gastrectomized for ulcer.

In this work the duodenogastric reflux was quantified as the amount of radioactivity entering the stomach after an i.v. administration of 99mTc-HIDA in ulcer patients and in patients who had undergone BI gastrectomy. The results were compared with visual evidence of gastric activity in the gamma camera images and biochemical determination of gastric bile reflux. The method is useful in quantifying the reflux if the activity is above the background activity. It allows the determination of an upper limit for the reflux when the reflux is evident visually. Only two or three images are needed for the quantitation. No correlation was found between biochemical measurement of fasting bile reflux in the stomach and radioisotopic quantification.

Sucralfate, and cimetidine for gastric ulcer.

Eighty consecutive patients with endoscopically proven gastric ulcer were randomly assigned to treatment with sucralfate, 1 g four times daily, or cimetidine, 200 mg three times daily and 400 mg at night. The patients were endoscoped after four and eight weeks by an examiner who was unaware of the treatment in use. Of the 40 patients assigned to each treatment group, 2 in the sucralfate and 4 in the cimetidine group were withdrawn due to the finding of gastric cancer in the biopsies. Two patients in the sucralfate and 3 patients in the cimetidine group interrupted treatment. Complete ulcer healing was found after four weeks of treatment in 17 of the 36 patients (47%) in the sucralfate and in 16 of the 33 patients (48%) in the cimetidine group. The cumulative healing rate after 8 weeks of treatment was 80% in the sucralfate group and 73% in the cimetidine group. There were no serious side effects, but it was necessary to discontinue treatment with cimetidine in two subjects because of rash in one and dizziness in the other. The results suggest that sucralfate is an effective and safe drug for the treatment of gastric ulcer and that its efficacy is equivalent to that of cimetidine.

Genetic risk score does not predict the outcome of obesity surgery.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the benefit of using combined genetic risk score (GRS) of known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio (WHR) in the prediction of weight loss and weight regain after obesity surgery. METHODS: A total of 163 consecutive morbidly obese individuals undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) in a single bariatric center in Finland were recruited. Fasting blood samples were drawn after 12 h of fasting before and 1 year after bariatric operation. Data for weight regain and medication were collected with a questionnaire after 3.1 ± 2.7 years (mean ± SD) follow-up. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was diagnosed with liver histology. Twenty BMI- and 13 WHR-related SNPs were genotyped. Linear regression was used to identify factors predicting weight loss and weight regain. RESULTS: Lower baseline BMI predicted greater decline in BMI (p = 0.0005) and excess weight loss (EWL) (p = 0.009). In the multiple linear regression analysis age and BMI, explained the variance of EWL during the first year while GRS, sex, fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin and NASH diagnosis did not have any effect. None of the baseline clinical variables explained BMI regain. The combined GRS did not associate with weight or BMI at baseline, with 1-year changes or with weight regain between 1 year and an average of 3.1 years follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that the genotype risk score does not predict weight loss after obesity surgery while lower baseline BMI predicted the greater weight loss.

Management of a child with suspected acute septic arthritis.

Acute septic arthritis of childhood is a potentially devastating disease that causes permanent disability and can result in death. Traditional treatment consists of a prolonged course of intravenous antibiotics combined with aggressive surgery. However, this approach is challenged by trials showing satisfactory outcomes with shorter treatment and less invasive surgery. Diagnostic arthrocentesis alone and an antibiotic for a fortnight, including initial intravenous administration for 2-4 days, suffice in most non-neonatal cases. A good penetrating agent, such as clindamycin or a first-generation cephalosporin, exceptionally high doses, and administration four times a day are probably key factors. If the symptoms and signs subside within a few days, and the serum C-reactive protein level drops below 20 mg/l, the antibiotic can usually be safely discontinued. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a concern, but fortunately, most strains have retained susceptibility to clindamycin. The above guidance is not applicable to neonates and immunocompromised patients who may require a different approach.

Clindamycin vs. first-generation cephalosporins for acute osteoarticular infections of childhood--a prospective quasi-randomized controlled trial.

No sufficiently powered trial has examined two antimicrobials in acute osteoarticular infections of childhood. We conducted a prospective, multicentre, quasi-randomized trial in Finland, comparing clindamycin with first-generation cephalosporins. The age of patients ranged between 3 months and 15 years, and all cases were culture-positive. We assigned antibiotic treatment intravenously for the first 2-4 days, and continued oral treatment with clindamycin 40 mg/kg/24 h or first-generation cephalosporin 150 mg/kg/24 h in four doses. Surgery was kept to a minimum. Subsiding symptoms and signs and normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) level were preconditions for the discontinuation of antimicrobials. The main outcome was full recovery without further antimicrobials because of an osteoarticular indication during 12 months after therapy. The intention-to-treat analysis comprised 252 children, 169 of whom were analysed per-protocol: 82 cases of osteomyelitis, 80 of septic arthritis, and seven of osteomyelitis-arthritis. Staphylococcus aureus strains (all methicillin-sensitive) caused 84% of the cases. Except for one non-serious sequela during convalescence in both groups, and two late infections caused by dissimilar agents in one child, all patients recovered. The entire courses (medians) of clindamycin and cephalosporin lasted for 23 and 24 days, respectively. CRP normalized in both groups in 9 days. The patients were discharged, on average, on day 10. Loose stools were reported less often (1%) in the clindamycin group than in the cephalosporin group (7%), but two clindamycin recipients developed rash. Clindamycin or a first-generation cephalosporin, administered mostly orally, perform equally well in childhood osteoarticular infections, provided that high doses and administration four times daily are used. As most methicillin-resistant staphylococci remain clindamycin-sensitive, clindamycin remains an option instead of costly alternatives.

Does preoperative radiotherapy with postoperative chemotherapy increase acute side-effects and postoperative complications of total mesorectal excision? Report of the randomized Finnish rectal cancer trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In a randomized trial the effect of short-term preoperative radiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy was studied in patients undergoing total mesorectal excision (TME) for clinically resectable rectal cancer. The primary endpoint was overall survival. The secondary endpoints published herein were the incidence of postoperative complications and adverse events with perioperative adjuvant therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 1995-2002, 278 eligible patients with stage II and stage III rectal cancer were randomly assigned to TME alone (surgery group) or to preoperative 25 Gy radio-therapy in 5 fractions and postoperative 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin chemotherapy in addition (RT+CT group). RESULTS: Anastomotic leakage rate did not significantly differ between the surgery and the RT + CT group, 20.6% vs. 27.4%. Postoperative infections (15.5 vs. 26.2%, p = 0.037) and perineal wound dehiscence (15.9 vs. 38.5%, p = 0.045) were more common after radiotherapy. Grade 3-5 adverse events were uncommon with preoperative radiotherapy (one, 0.7% with reversible lumbar plexopathy) and postoperative chemotherapy (hematologic in 10.8%, with one septic death, and gastrointestinal in 4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative adjuvant therapy was generally well tolerated and did not lead to an increase in serious surgical complications. Wound infections and perineal wound dehiscence were more common in irradiated patients.

Conjugated bile acids associate with altered rates of glucose and lipid oxidation after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) induces a more favorable metabolic profile than expected by weight loss alone. In this study, we investigated the effect of RYGB on serum bile acid levels and their relation to clinical outcomes. METHODS: We included 30 obese patients who underwent RYGB (BMI = 46.1 ± 5.9 kg/m(2)). Clinical measurements and laboratory determinations were performed before surgery and 1 year after surgery. Fasting serum bile acids were measured by an enzymatic method and individual bile acids were quantified by HLPC-tandem mass spectrometry. Indirect calorimetry was performed to measure the rates of energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. RESULTS: Fasting total serum bile acid levels increased twofold after RYGB (pre, 3.68 ± 2.03 vs. post, 7.06 ± 9.65 µmol/l, +92 %, p = 0.002). This increase in total bile acids was accompanied by a decrease in conjugated bile acids, which correlated with decreased glucose oxidation (r = 0.571, p = 0.002) and with increased lipid oxidation (r = -0.626, p = 0.0004). The change in taurine-conjugated bile acids correlated with altered DIO2 mRNA expression in adipose tissue (r = -0.498, p = 0.013) potentially linking bile acid conjugation to substrate oxidation through DIO2. CONCLUSIONS: Fasting serum bile acid levels increase after RYGB. More specifically, changes in bile acid conjugation after RYGB associate with altered energy metabolism.

Antibiotic treatment for acute haematogenous osteomyelitis of childhood: moving towards shorter courses and oral administration.

Acute haematogenous osteomyelitis (AHOM) of childhood usually affects the long bones of the lower limbs. Although almost any agent may cause AHOM, Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacterium, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae and, in some countries, Salmonella spp. and Kingella kingae. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has improved the diagnostic accuracy of traditional radiography and scintigraphy. Except for the pre-treatment diagnostic sample from bone before the institution of antibiotic therapy, no other surgery is usually required. Traditionally, non-neonatal AHOM has been treated with a 1-3-month course of antibiotics, including an intravenous (i.v.) phase for the first weeks, but recent prospective randomised studies challenge this approach. For most uncomplicated cases, a course of 20 days including an i.v. period of 2-4 days suffices, provided large enough doses of a well-absorbed agent (clindamycin or a first-generation cephalosporin, local resistance permitting) are used, administration is four times daily and most symptoms and signs subside within a few days. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is a good guide in monitoring the course of illness, and the antimicrobial can usually be discontinued if CRP has decreased to <20 mg/L. Newer and costly agents, such as linezolid, should be reserved for cases due to resistant S. aureus strains. AHOM in neonates and immunocompromised patients probably requires a different approach. Because sequelae may develop slowly, follow-up for at least 1 year post hospitalisation is recommended.

Fracture dislocation of the lumbar spine without paraplegia. A case report.

A 17-year-old boy sustained a complete fracture-dislocation of the lumbar spine. Immediately after the injury there was motor paralysis of the lower limbs; 17 hours post-injury, operative reduction and fixation were carried out. Nearly full neurological recovery was obtained.