Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in the South Pacific. Retrospective evaluation of 510 patients in a single institution.

INTRODUCTION: The South Pacific has a high prevalence of obesity and super-obesity. We reviewed our experience with laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) to evaluate its efficacy and safety. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of LSGs carried out by one surgeon in one center. The percentage of excess weight loss and the rate of resolution or improvement of comorbidities reflected efficacy, and major complications or mortalities reflected safety. RESULTS: From January 2008 to February 2013, we performed 510 surgeries and included 494 consecutive patients (367 females) (45.5 ± 11.2 years) in our study. LSG was the primary procedure in 384 patients, 6 patients had redo bariatric surgery after failure of initial LSG, 57 patients had a history of gastric banding with insufficient weight loss or band-related complications, and 46 super-obese patients had an intragastric balloon placed before LSG. Average starting body mass index was 47.8 kg m(-2). Mean percent excess weight loss was 64.3% at 1 year; 67.3% at 2 years and 66.4% at 3 years. The percentages of resolved comorbidities were as follows: hypertension: 48.3%, type 2 diabetes mellitus: 72.5%, dyslipidemia: 61.0%, and obstructive sleep apnea: 77.8%. The mortality rate was 1/494. The postoperative morbidity included gastric fistula in 3.0%, hemorrhaging in 2.4%, and postoperative gastroesophageal reflux in 9.4%. CONCLUSIONS: In the South Pacific, LSG is a safe and effective means of treating morbid obesity with sustained weight loss and resolution of comorbid medical conditions.

Impact of a prophylactic combination of dexamethasone-ondansetron on postoperative nausea and vomiting in obese adult patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy during closed-loop propofol-remifentanil anaesthesia: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: In obese patients, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following sleeve gastrectomy under titration of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and the relevance of risk factors to indicate prophylaxis is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The hypothesis was that after automated TIVA, prophylaxis reduces PONV following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Our objective was to determine the incidence of PONV and evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone and ondansetron as prophylaxis when automated intravenous anaesthesia is employed. DESIGN: A randomised, placebo-controlled, single-centre, double-blinded study. SETTING: Secondary care centre in New Caledonia from June 2013 to January 2014. PATIENTS: A total of 122 patients were randomised and 117 (92 women) were included in the analysis (58 in the prophylaxis group and 59 in the placebo group). Eligibility criteria included at least two of the known risk factors for PONV: female sex, nonsmoking status, prior history of PONV or motion sickness and expected postoperative opioid analgesia. Exclusion criteria included disorders limiting the use of the bispectral index. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received propofol and remifentanil controlled by the same automated system during induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia. The controller modifies the calculated effect-site concentrations according to bispectral index values. Patients received either intravenous dexamethasone 4 mg after tracheal intubation and ondansetron 4 mg during skin closure, or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidences of 24-h PONV and severe PONV (vomiting or nausea with a score of ≥4 on an 11-point verbal rating scale). Data are presented as percentage (95% confidence interval). RESULTS: PONV in the first 24 h occurred in 45 (34 to 60)% of patients who received prophylaxis and 54 (41 to 67)% in the placebo group (P = 0.35). The numbers of patients who suffered severe PONV [19 (10 to 32)% in the prophylaxis group vs. 20 (11 to 33)%, P = 1, in the placebo group] and who required rescue antiemetic drugs [55 (41 to 68) vs. 63 (49 to 75)%, P = 0.46] were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of dexamethasone and ondansetron was not effective in preventing PONV or severe PONV in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy after TIVA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01876290.

Extracorporeal life support as a bridge to bridge: a strategy to optimize ventricular assist device results.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) devices provide temporary mechanical circulatory assistance and are usually implanted under emergency conditions in critical patients. If weaning off ECLS is not possible, heart transplantation or implantation of long-term mechanical circulatory support (LTMCS) is required. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the bridge-to-bridge (BTB) concept. METHODS: Between 1 January 2004 and 1 August 2010, 97 patients were assisted by LTMCS. The implantation was the first-line intervention in 48 patients (the bridge group), and was performed after a period of ECLS support in 49 others (the BTB group). RESULTS: The long-term survival rate was 51.6%, with a mean follow-up of 30.7 months, and there were no differences for biological parameters between the two groups. Patients in the BTB group whose condition was initially more severe, improved under ECLS support, and those in whom biological parameters did not revert to normal died after LTMCS. Risk factors for mortality in the BTB group were total bilirubin and lactate before LTMCS, and alkaline phosphatase before ECLS support. CONCLUSIONS: The BTB concept allows the implementation of LTMCS in severe patients, for whom it was not originally envisaged, with the same long-term survival as in first-line settings. ECLS in the evolution of patients is predictive of survival after LTMCS.

Temporary right ventricular support following left ventricle assist device implantation: a comparison of two techniques.

OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular failure (RVF) after implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a dramatic complication. We compared retrospectively two techniques of temporary right ventricular support after LVAD (HeartMate II, Thoratec Corp, Pleasonton, CA, USA) implantation. METHODS: From 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2012, 78 patients [mean age 52 ± 1.34 years; 15 women (19%)] received a HeartMate II at our institution. Among these, 18 patients (23%) suffered postimplant RVF treated by peripheral temporary right ventricular support. Aetiology of heart failure was ischaemic in 12 (67%) and dilated cardiomyopathy in 6 (33%) patients. The preimplant RV risk score averaged 5.1 ± 0.59. Ten patients were treated using a femorofemoral venoarterial extracorporeal life support (ECLS) and 8 patients were treated using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a right ventricular assist device (RVAD) established between a femoral vein and the pulmonary artery via a Dacron prosthesis (RVAD). RESULTS: Duration of RV support was 7.12 ± 5.4 days and 9.57 ± 3.5 days in venoarterial ECLS and vein and the pulmonary artery RVAD groups, respectively (P = 0.32). Three patients (17%) died while under RV support (venoarterial ECLS, n = 2; and vein and the pulmonary artery RVAD, n = 1, P = 0.58). In the venoarterial ECLS group, 6 (60%) patients suffered major thromboembolic complications including thrombosis of the ECLS arterial line (n = 2), ischaemic stroke (n = 2) and thrombosis of the ascending aorta (n = 2). No major complication was observed in the vein and the pulmonary artery RVAD group (P = 0.01). RV support was successfully weaned in 8 (80%) patients of the venoarterial ECLS group and in 7 (87.5%) of the vein and the pulmonary artery RVAD group (P = 0.58). The duration of postimplant intensive care unit stay was not different (respectively, 27.5 ± 18.7 days and 20.0 ± 12.0 days; P = 0.38) between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Temporary support of the failing RV after LVAD implantation using temporary vein and the pulmonary artery RVAD is a promising therapeutic option. This approach provides adequate LVAD pre- and afterload and is associated with significantly less thromboembolic complications.

SynCardia temporary total artificial heart as bridge to transplantation: current results at la pitié hospital.

BACKGROUND: The SynCardia temporary total artificial heart (t-TAH) provides complete circulatory support by replacing both native cardiac ventricles and all cardiac valves. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of demographics, clinical characteristics and survival of patients bridged to transplantation using the SynCardia t-TAH (SynCardia Systems Inc, Tucson, AZ). RESULTS: From 2000 to 2010, the SynCardia t-TAH was implanted in 90 consecutive patients (80 males; mean age, 46 ± 13 years) suffering cardiogenic shock secondary to idiopathic (n = 40, 46%) or ischemic (n = 24, 27%) cardiomyopathy or other causes. Before implantation, 7 (9%) patients had cardiac arrest, 27 (33%) were on ventilator, and 18 (22%) were on extracorporeal life support. Pre-implant creatinine values were 1.7 ± 0.97 mg/dL and total bilirubin levels were 45 ± 32 µmol/L; mean duration of support was 84 ± 102 days. Thirty-five (39%) patients died while on support after a mean of 62 ± 107 days. Actuarial survival on device was 74% ± 5%, 63% ± 6%, and 47% ± 8% at 30, 60, and 180 days after implantation. While on support, 9 (10%) patients suffered stroke, 13 (14%) had mediastinitis, and 35 (39%) required surgical reexploration for bleeding, hematoma, or infection. Multivariate analysis revealed that older recipient age and preoperative mechanical ventilation were risk factors for death while on support. Fifty-five (61%) patients were transplanted after a mean of 97 ± 98 days of support. Actuarial survival rates were 78% ± 6%, 71% ± 6%, and 63% ± 8% at 1, 5, and 8 years after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The SynCardia t-TAH provided acceptable survival to transplantation rates with a remarkably low incidence of neurologic events. Posttransplant survival was similar to that of patients undergoing primary heart transplantation in France.

Implantation of left ventricular support under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used to manage patients with end-stage heart failure. Protection of right ventricular (RV) function is important during LVAD implantation, but sometimes patients require temporary RV support. We describe the technique of LVAD implantation under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) we use in our center. This technique allows soft loading of the right ventricle once LVAD is started and even short-term RV support if required.

Prevalence of unknown peripheral arterial disease in patients with coronary artery disease: data in primary care from the IPSILON study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a marker of increased risk of cardiovascular events and of poor prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The prevalence of unknown PAD among patients with CAD varies between studies according to the mode of diagnosis. AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of unknown PAD, diagnosed using the ankle-brachial index (ABI), in patients from the IPSILON study with a CAD diagnosis; to assess the profile of these patients; and to determine predictors of PAD. METHODS: IPSILON was an observational, cross-sectional study. General practitioners measured ABI in 5679 consecutive adults aged 55 years or over with signs or symptoms suggestive of PAD (21.3%), a history of an atherothrombotic event (42.1%) or two or more cardiovascular risk factors (36.6%). This analysis focuses on the subgroup of patients with CAD and no other known overt atherothrombotic disease. RESULTS: A total of 1340 patients presented with isolated CAD. PAD (ABI<0.90) was diagnosed in 26.6% of these patients; 16.2% were asymptomatic. Older age, symptoms suggestive of PAD and cardiovascular risk factors were found to be independent predictors of PAD in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Over 26% of patients with CAD present with unknown PAD, as diagnosed using ABI measurement. More than half of these patients are asymptomatic. Screening for PAD in patients with CAD will allow detection of a subpopulation at particularly high cardiovascular risk. An aggressive medical treatment strategy could help to improve their outcome.

Paracorporeal pulsatile biventricular assist device versus extracorporal membrane oxygenation-extracorporal life support in adult fulminant myocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: Biventricular assist device support with a paracorporeal pulsatile device is known to be an efficient bridge to recovery for patients with fulminant myocarditis-related cardiogenic shock. Whether these patients can be as efficiently supported with femorofemoral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation remains unclear. METHODS: From 2001 to 2006, 11 patients were referred to our cardiac surgery department for fulminant myocarditis-related cardiogenic shock. The first 5 patients (mean age, 32 +/- 2 years) were supported with a biventricular assist device (Thoratec, Pleasanton, Calif; group I), whereas the remaining patients (40 +/- 4 years) were supported with femorofemoral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (group II). Preimplantation probability of death was calculated by using the APACHE II score, which was 11 +/- 9 in group I versus 24 +/- 18 in group II. RESULTS: One patient in each group died while receiving support. In group I the death occurred after 18 days of support in a patient who had 45 minutes of external resuscitation before biventricular assist device implantation. In group II a patient who remained unstable during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was switched to a biventricular assist device 13 days later and eventually died of tamponade after 45 days. All other patients were weaned from the device after a mean duration of support of 21 +/- 5 days in group I versus 13 +/- 4 days in group II. At hospital discharge, the mean ejection fraction was 45% +/- 5% in both groups, and at 6 months' follow-up, it was 65% and 75%, respectively, in groups I and II. CONCLUSION: In our experience extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is as efficient as use of a biventricular assist device as a bridge to recovery for patients with fulminant myocarditis-related cardiogenic shock and facilitates renal and hepatic recovery on support.

Survey: retrospective survey of monitoring/safety devices and incidents of cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery in France.

Several surveys showed that cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with incidents that negatively affect outcome and suggested that improved monitoring and safety could be associated with a decreased rate of incidents. In 2004, the French "Haute Autorité de Santé" (an independent French government advisory agency) and the French College of Perfusion issued recommendations concerning safety and monitoring devices for CPB. The aims of this study were to investigate the difference between the recommendations and the clinical practice of CPB shortly after publication of the recommendations and compare the 2005 situation with the results of a previous survey performed in France and to investigate the rate of perfusion incidents and their outcome. A 62-item questionnaire was sent in January 2006 to all 66 centers performing cardiac surgery and CPB in France. The survey investigated the use of safety and monitoring devices as well as perfusion incidents for 2005. Fifty-seven centers (response rate, 86%) returned the questionnaire, totaling 34,496 CPB procedures. There was a wide difference between the recommendations and the reported use of safety and monitoring devices with no clinically relevant change from the previous French survey concerning 2001. An incident was reported for every 198 CPB procedures with death at a frequency of 1:4864 and permanent sequelae of 1:11,349, respectively (a permanent injury or death in 1:3220 procedures). The three most frequent perfusion incidents were adverse effects to protamine (1:1702), dissection at the arterial cannulation site (1:1792), and coagulation of the circuit (1:4864). In conclusion, this survey showed that an important effort must be made in France to implement into clinical practice the recommendations concerning CPB monitoring and safety devices. The analysis of CPB-related incidents suggest that, with the exception of protamine adverse effects, the majority of deaths and severe permanent injuries in this survey could probably be avoided by improved use of the monitoring and safety devices.

Impact of aspirin with or without clopidogrel on postoperative bleeding and blood transfusion in coronary surgical patients treated prophylactically with a low-dose of aprotinin.

AIMS: Aspirin combined with clopidogrel is the treatment of choice for acute coronary syndromes. Although the maintenance of aspirin until surgery does not affect postoperative bleeding after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, the latter may be dramatically increased when clopidogrel is continued over a period of 5 days preoperatively. METHODS AND RESULTS: This prospective observational study included 217 consecutive patients scheduled for first-time CABG. Postoperative bleeding and blood transfusion requirements were compared (equivalence) between patients pretreated during a period of 5 days prior surgery by either aspirin alone (n = 157) or combined with clopidogrel (n = 60). Aprotinin was systematically used in all these patients considered as high risk for bleeding. We found no significant difference between both groups concerning the preoperative characteristics except for unstable angina (33 vs. 19%, P = 0.02) and left main coronary artery stenosis (27 vs. 13%, P = 0.02), which were more frequent in patients receiving clopidogrel. The median chest tube output was similar in both groups 24 h postoperatively at 350 mL (95% CI 150-850) vs. 375 mL (95% CI 175-875), and the difference between groups (7%, 95% CI -9 to 22) did not encompass the predetermined margins of equivalence (25%). No significant difference was found on blood transfusion use (38 vs. 38%, P = 0.99). After adjustment by a propensity score, we found that clopidogrel was not associated with an increased risk of excessive bleeding. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing first-time CABG and treated prophylactically with aprotinin, aspirin and clopidogrel may be continued until surgery without increasing postoperative bleeding or transfusion requirements.

Circulatory support for fulminant myocarditis: consideration for implantation, weaning and explantation.

OBJECTIVE: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is an uncommon but life-threatening condition for which a mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device can be life-saving. However, device selection, weaning and explantation procedures remain poorly defined. METHODS: Four patients were bridged to recovery using the Thoratec biventricular support device. All four were in a state of cardiogenic shock with rapid deterioration of their clinical status despite increasing doses of inotropes. Three patients required mechanical respiratory support, three were anuric and one was dialyzed. Echocardiography showed a mean ejection fraction of 12+/-8%. RESULTS: Each Thoratec implantation was performed on cardiopulmonary bypass with a beating heart. Three patients underwent biventricular cannulation. The fourth patient underwent left ventricular and right atrial cannulation. All patients manifested evidence of moderate to severe end organ dysfunction after device implantation. However, by explantation, end organ function had recovered in all patients. After a mean duration of 17+/-10 days, all the patients showed evidence of myocardial recovery. Recovery was confirmed on echocardiography which showed opening of the aortic valve and contraction of both ventricles. The weaning process was performed in 2-5 days by setting the device in a fixed mode and increasing the rate. Device explantation was uneventful in the four patients. At the 6 months echocardiography follow-up, all had normal systolic function. CONCLUSION: In patients with FM, biventricular support allows full circulatory support and unloads both ventricles until recovery occurs. In this set of patients, weaning and removal procedures are straight-forward. These results suggest an aggressive stance toward implantation of MCS in patients with FM.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis: results in 102 cases.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term outcome of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for idiopathic palmar hyperhidrosis. Between January 1996 and December 2000, a total of 67 patients underwent 102 sympathectomy procedures with excision of the sympathetic chain between the second and fourth sympathetic ganglion. The mean duration of hospitalization was 1.7 +/- 0.6 days. Five patients were lost to follow-up. Mean duration of follow-up for the 96 sympathectomy procedures in the remaining 62 patients was 38 +/- 6.3 months. Patient outcome showed that video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy is the treatment of choice for idiopathic palmar hyperhidrosis. Long-term patient satisfaction is excellent.