Beyond Restrictive: Sleeve Gastrectomy to Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy as a Spectrum of One Single Procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) is a restrictive/hypoabsorptive procedure recommended for patients with obesity class 3. For safety reasons, SADI-S can be split into a two-step procedure by performing a sleeve gastrectomy (SG) first. This stepwise approach also provides an unprecedented opportunity to disentangle the weight loss mechanisms triggered by each component. The objective was to compare weight trajectories and post-prandial endocrine and metabolic responses of patients with obesity class 3 submitted to SADI-S or SG as the first step of SADI-S. METHODS: Subjects submitted to SADI-S (n = 7) or SG (n = 7) at a tertiary referral public academic hospital underwent anthropometric evaluation and a liquid mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) pre-operatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-operatively. RESULTS: Anthropometric parameters, as well as metabolic and micronutrient profiles, were not significantly different between groups, neither before nor after surgery. There were no significant differences in fasting or post-prandial glucose, insulin, C-peptide, ghrelin, insulin secretion rate, and insulin clearance during the MMTT between subjects submitted to SADI-S and SG. There was no lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The restrictive component seems to be the main driver for weight loss and metabolic adaptations observed during the first 12 months after SADI-S, given that the weight trajectories and metabolic profiles do not differ from SG. These data provide support for surgeons' choice of a two-step SADI-S without jeopardizing the weight loss outcomes.

Simultaneous stoma closure and type IV parastomal hernia repair after botulinum toxin and progressive pneumoperitoneum.

Surgery is the only treatment for parastomal hernia (PH). When possible, stoma closure is the best way to manage this type of hernia, however, whether to perform it in a single approach with abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) is still debatable. A 58-year-old woman with a type IV PH with loss of domain was submitted to preoperative optimization [botulinum toxin type A and progressive pneumoperitoneum (PPP)], followed by simultaneous stoma closure and AWR. Hospital discharge was on the eighth day with no complications. Six months later, no clinical evidence of recurrence or other complication was observed. Large PHs are technically challenging. Stoma closure and simultaneous AWR increase surgical risk. Preoperative optimization with a combination of adjuvants (including PPP) is feasible in PH and may overcome technical complexity, even though patient selection remains the key when choosing a PH repair with synchronous stoma closure.

Diffuse Peritonitis Caused by Splenic Abscess After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Case Report.

A splenic abscess (SA) following sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a rare manifestation of a gastric leak (GL). The clinical findings include fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis, and an elevated C-reactive protein. A computed tomography scan is diagnostic and can show signs of GL, or diffuse peritonitis. Treatment can either be non-operative (including large-spectrum antibiotics and percutaneous drainage) or surgical (including splenectomy). We present the case of a 41-year-old female patient with SA, with septic shock and diffuse peritonitis, successfully treated with a splenectomy three months post-SG.

The Impact of Early-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease on Weight Loss Outcomes After Gastric Bypass.

PURPOSE: Weight loss achieved through bariatric metabolic surgery was demonstrated to be effective at reversing chronic kidney dysfunction associated with obesity-related glomerulopathy. However, robust data on how pre-operative kidney status impacts on bariatric metabolic surgery weight loss outcomes is still lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of kidney dysfunction on weight loss outcomes after bariatric metabolic surgery. METHODS: Patients with obesity to be submitted to gastric bypass surgery underwent a pre-operative evaluation of creatinine clearance, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria, and albuminuria in 24-hour urine. Body mass index (BMI), % total weight loss (%TWL), and % excess BMI loss (%EBMIL) were assessed at 6 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Before surgery, patients (N=127) had a mean BMI of 39.6 ± 3.0 kg/m2, and 56.7% (n=72) had a creatinine clearance > 130 mL/min, 23.6% (n= 30) presented proteinuria > 150 mg/24h, and 15.0% (n= 19) presented albuminuria > 30 mg/24h. After surgery, the mean BMI was 27.7 kg/m2 and 25.0 kg/m2 at 6 and 12 months, respectively (p<0.0001). The %TWL was lower in patients with pre-operative eGFR < percentile 25 (34.4 ± 5.8% vs 39.4 ± 4.9%, p=0.0007, at 12 months). There were no significant correlations between weight loss metrics and pre-operative creatinine clearance rate, proteinuria, or albuminuria. CONCLUSION: Early-stage chronic kidney disease (G2) has a negative impact on short-term weight loss outcomes after bariatric metabolic surgery, albeit in a magnitude inferior to the clinically relevant threshold.

Dysglycemia Shapes Visceral Adipose Tissue's Response to GIP, GLP-1 and Glucagon in Individuals with Obesity.

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) metabolic fingerprints differ according to body mass index (BMI) and glycemic status. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon are gut-associated hormones that play an important role in regulating energy and glucose homeostasis, although their metabolic actions in VAT are still poorly characterized. Our aim was to assess whether GLP-1, GIP and glucagon influence the VAT metabolite profile. To achieve this goal, VAT harvested during elective surgical procedures from individuals (N = 19) with different BMIs and glycemic statuses was stimulated with GLP-1, GIP or glucagon, and culture media was analyzed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance. In the VAT of individuals with obesity and prediabetes, GLP-1 shifted its metabolic profile by increasing alanine and lactate production while also decreasing isoleucine consumption, whereas GIP and glucagon decreased lactate and alanine production and increased pyruvate consumption. In summary, GLP-1, GIP and glucagon were shown to distinctively modulate the VAT metabolic profile depending on the subject's BMI and glycemic status. In VAT from patients with obesity and prediabetes, these hormones induced metabolic shifts toward gluconeogenesis suppression and oxidative phosphorylation enhancement, suggesting an overall improvement in AT mitochondrial function.

Renal Dysfunction Phenotypes in Patients Undergoing Obesity Surgery.

Obesity surgery candidates are at an increased risk of kidney injury, but pre-operative evaluation usually neglects kidney function assessment. This study aimed to identify renal dysfunction in candidates for bariatric surgery. To reduce the sources of bias, subjects with diabetes, prediabetes under metformin treatment, neoplastic or inflammatory diseases were excluded. Patients' (n = 192) average body mass index was 41.7 ± 5.4 kg/m2. Among these, 51% (n = 94) had creatinine clearance over 140 mL/min, 22.4% (n = 43) had proteinuria over 150 mg/day and 14.6% (n = 28) albuminuria over 30 mg/day. A creatinine clearance higher than 140 mL/min was associated with higher levels of proteinuria and albuminuria. Univariate analysis identified sex, glycated hemoglobin, uric acid, HDL and VLDL cholesterol as being associated with albuminuria, but not with proteinuria. On multivariate analysis, glycated hemoglobin and creatinine clearance as continuous variables were significantly associated with albuminuria. In summary, in our patient population prediabetes, lipid abnormalities and hyperuricemia were associated with albuminuria, but not with proteinuria, suggesting different disease mechanisms might be implicated. Data suggest that in obesity-associated kidney disease, tubulointerstitial injury precedes glomerulopathy. A significant proportion of obesity surgery candidates present clinically relevant albuminuria and proteinuria along with renal hyperfiltration, suggesting that routine pre-operative assessment of these parameters should be considered.

Accuracy of prediction models for long-term type 2 diabetes remission after gastric bypass.

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of DiaBetter, DiaRem, Ad-DiaRem and 5y-Ad-DiaRem scores' at predicting T2D remission 10 or more years after surgery. METHODS: Patients with obesity and T2D (n = 126) submitted to RYGB with 10 or more years of follow-up. It was a unicentric trial. Pre-operative anthropometric and clinical data was retrieved to calculate DiaRem, DiaBetter, Ad-DiaRem and 5y-Ad-DiaRem scores, while a hospital visit was conducted to assess current diabetes status. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated as estimate of the scores' accuracy to predict long-term T2D remission. RESULTS: Among the entire cohort (n = 126), 70 subjects (55.6%) achieved and maintained T2D remission 10 or more years after RYGB. The 5y-Ad-DiaRem score was the one that depicted the highest discriminative power (AUROC = 0.838) to predict long-term T2D remission when compared to DiaBetter (AUROC = 0.735), DiaRem (AUROC = 0.721) and Ad-DiaRem (AUROC = 0.720). CONCLUSION: The score with highest accuracy to predict long-term T2D remission after RYGB surgery was the 5y-Ad-DiaRem. Yet, the available scores accuracy to predict T2D remission in the long term is still suboptimal, highlighting the unmet need for a better scoring system.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes have higher density of small intestinal neurotensin-expressing cells.

Neurotensin (NT) is a gastro-intestinal hormone involved in several pathways that regulate energy and glucose homeostasis. NT was hypothesized to act in synergy with incretin hormones to potentiate its anti-diabetic effects. Additionally, circulating NT levels were shown to rise after bariatric surgery-induced weight loss. Knowledge of NT-secreting cells distribution along the small intestine and its variation according to diabetes status could provide insights on NT role in mediating type 2 diabetes (T2D) improvement after bariatric surgery. So, our aims were to characterize NT-expressing cell distribution along the human small intestine and to compare the relative density of NT-expressing cells in the small intestine of individuals with and without T2D undergoing bariatric surgery for obesity treatment. Autopsy-derived small intestine fragments (n = 30) were obtained at every 20 cm along the entire intestinal length. Additionally, jejunum biopsies (n = 29) were obtained during elective gastric bypass interventions from patients with (n = 10) or without T2D (n = 18). NT-expressing cells were identified by immunohistochemistry and quantified via computerized morphometric analysis. NT-expressing cell density increased along the human small intestine. NT-expressing cell density was significantly higher from 200 cm distal to the duodenojejunal flexure onward, as well as in subjects with T2D when compared to those without T2D. NT-expressing cell density increases along the human small gut, and a higher density is found in individuals with T2D. This finding suggests a potential role for NT in the mechanisms of disease and T2D improvement observed after bariatric surgery.

Are SADI-S and BPD/DS bariatric procedures identical twins or distant relatives? - A case report.

Given the common anatomical features and similar short-term weight loss outcomes, Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS) and Single-Anastomosis Duodenoileal bypass with Sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) are considered identical bariatric procedures, apart from technical complexity being lower for SADI-S. In the absence of prospective randomized trials or long-term comparative studies the rationale for choosing between procedures is hampered. Post-bariatric hormonal profiles could contribute to understand the underlying mechanisms and potentially be used as a decision aid when choosing between procedures. The main aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of BPD/DS and SADI-S, in genetically identical individuals exposed to similar environmental factors. Two identical twin (T) female patients, one submitted to BPD/DS (T_BPD/DS) and another to SADIS-S (T_SADI-S) were followed up to one year after surgery. Before surgery and at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, both patients underwent mixed meal tolerance tests (MMTT) to evaluate postprandial glucose, glucagon and GLP-1 response. In addition, 3 months after surgery, glucose dynamics were assessed using a Flash Glucose Monitoring (FGM) system for 14 days. The percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) was higher for T_BPD/DS compared to T_SADI-S (34.03 vs 29.03 %). During MMTT, T_BPD/DS presented lower glucose, glucagon, insulin and C-peptide excursions at all timepoints when compared to SADI-S; along with a greater percentage of time within the low glucose range (55.97 vs 39.93 %) and numerically lower glucose variability indexes on FGM (MAG change:0.51 vs 0.63 mmol/l×h-1). In patients with the same genetic background, BPD/DS was shown to result in greater weight loss than SADI-S. The differences in glucose and enteropancreatic hormone profiles observed after BPD/DS and SADI-S suggest that different mechanisms underlie weight loss.

Thromboembolic Complications After Bariatric Surgery: Is the High Risk Real?

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, a large number of bariatric surgery (BS) procedures are undertaken worldwide as surgery has become an efficient strategy to treat the obesity epidemic. The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increased in patients undergoing BS not only due to the intrinsic surgical risk but also because patients with obesity have a 2-3-fold higher risk of VTE. The optimal strategy for VTE prevention in BS setting, including optimal dose and thromboprophylaxis regimen, is still not fully clarified. The aim of this study was to report a bariatric high-volume center experience and to propose a practical thromboprophylaxis protocol for this population. METHODS: A single-center, observational, retrospective, and longitudinal study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020, a total of 901 patients who underwent primary and revisional bariatric surgery were included. RESULTS: The overall frequency of VTE events was 0.44% (n=4), one patient had pulmonary embolism (PE) during index hospital admission; another patient had simultaneous deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and PE, two months after surgery; and two other patients had DVT, nine and 16 months after surgery. The median time for VTE was four months. The incidence of females was 75% (n=3) and the median age was 57 years. Only one female patient was using oral contraception. None had a previous history of thromboembolic events, chronic venous insufficiency, or other known diseases that could increase the VTE risk. CONCLUSION: Considering the outcomes reported by this experienced center with low rates of thromboembolic events, we suggest a thromboprophylaxis protocol that can be easily applied to the majority of bariatric patients.

Fungating Breast Wound: A Rare Manifestation of Primary Breast Leiomyosarcoma.

Leiomyosarcomas are the least frequent primary breast sarcomas, making it an extraordinarily rare malignancy. The clinical manifestation of this entity as a fungating breast wound is, on its own, highly unusual in developed nations, mainly due to the improvement of worldwide screening programs and easier access to health care. Management of this breast wound remains challenging, and an accurate histopathological diagnosis is essential for a proper treatment plan. Thus, we present this rare case of metastatic breast leiomyosarcoma to contribute to the scarce literature regarding this disease.

Duodenal Switch vs. Single-Anastomosis Duodenal Switch (SADI-S) for the Treatment of Grade IV Obesity: 5-Year Outcomes of a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Comparative Study.

PURPOSE: The aims were to compare the 5-year outcomes of duodenal switch (DS) and single-anastomosis duodenal switch (SADI-S) in terms of weight loss; remission of comorbidities; nutritional status short- and long-term complications; postoperative mortality; and need for revisional surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multicenter prospective observational study of all consecutive patients undergoing DS or SADI-S in three high-volume hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were included in the study, 43 submitted to DS and 44 to SADI-S, with similar basal characteristics, nutritional parameters, and BMI (52.9 kg/m2 DS vs. 52.5 kg/m2 SADI-S). Operative time was 152 min (± 32.6) in DS vs. 116 min (± 21.9) in SADI-S (p = 0.043). Short-term complications were similar for DS and SADI-S, both overall (11.8% vs. 11.6%), and ranged as Clavien-Dindo > II (4.5% vs. 4.7%), with no mortality. At 5 years, DS and SADI-S results were as follows: BMI 30.6 vs. 33.3 kg/m2 (p = 0.023); %EWL 80.5% vs. 68.6% (p = 0.006); and %TWL 42.1 vs. 36.0 (p = 0.006). Comorbidity remission rates for DS and SADI-S were as follows: for diabetes, 92.8% vs. 85.7% (n.s.); for hypertension, 95.2% vs. 85.1% (n.s.); for sleep apnea, 75% vs. 73.3% (n.s.); and for dyslipidemia, 76.4% vs. 73.3% (n.s.). DS showed lower levels of vitamin B12, iron, vitamin E, and zinc than SADI-S (p = < 0.005). In the long term, there were 4 surgical reinterventions (due to 1 internal hernia in the DS group and 1 internal hernia and 2 biliary refluxes in the SADI-S group) with no cases of persistent diarrhea or malnutrition. CONCLUSION: Both DS and SADI-S allowed good weight control and resolution of comorbidities. DS achieved a greater weight loss compared to SADI-S, at the expense of longer operative time and lower vitamin and mineral levels.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Arising in Ectopic Breast Tissue: A Case Report.

Incomplete regression of the embryonic mammary line occurs in 0.3-6% of the population. Ectopic breast tissue is mostly asymptomatic and can undergo malignant transformation. Ectopic breast cancer accounts for 0.2-0.6% of all breast cancers. Screening breast examinations can miss these lesions due to their location making the diagnosis more challenging. We describe a case of a primary invasive lobular carcinoma in an ectopic breast on the left axilla detected in a 49-year-old woman. Firstly diagnosed as a sebaceous cyst, the lesion was excised under local anesthesia. Histopathology showed breast tissue widely infiltrated by an invasive carcinoma. Excision of the remnant tissue with axillary lymph node dissection was performed. Ectopic breast carcinoma is a rare diagnosis and there is a general lack of awareness. The presence of an abnormal mass along the mammary ridge should raise clinicians' attention. Management of primary ectopic breast carcinoma should be based on a multidisciplinary approach under the same principles as breast cancer. Furthermore, it does not appear to bring a worse prognosis when diagnosed at similar disease stages.

Hepatic Actinomycosis Mimicking Malignancy After Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Case Report.

Abdominal actinomycosis is a rare disease caused by a Gram-positive bacillus (Actinomyces). Liver manifestation is rare and, in patients with a history of cancer, differential diagnosis with secondary malignant disease can be difficult. Microbiological result is necessary for a correct diagnosis, though not always possible in preoperative workout. The authors present a case of hepatic actinomycosis that mimicked oncological disease and led to a more aggressive surgical approach.

An Atypical Pleomorphic Lipomatous Tumor Presenting As Groin Mass.

Cutaneous tumors with adipocyte differentiation are frequently excised by surgeons in their daily clinical practice and sometimes less common histological diagnoses arise. Knowledge of different pathological entities and their natural history is essential for better patient management. Atypical spindle cell/Pleomorphic lipomatous tumor (ASPLT) is a recent group included in the WHO classification. We report a case of a middle-aged man with an atypical pleomorphic lipomatous tumor in an unusual location.

Bariatric Surgery Outcomes in Patients with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of the Adult.

Bariatric surgery is a very effective treatment for obesity-associated type 2 diabetes. However, the benefits of bariatric surgery in patients with obesity and autoimmune diabetes, such as type 1 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), are controversial. We report 3 female patients with obesity and LADA who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass >10 years ago. The patients were diagnosed with LADA both 1 and 9 years before (n = 2) or 11 years after the surgery (n = 1). Patients preoperative body mass index ranged from 36 to 47 kg/m2 and improved to 23-37 kg/m2 in the last follow-up visit, 10-15 years after surgery. Daily insulin dose also decreased from an average of 0.68 to 0.45 IU/kg in those patients treated with insulin before bariatric surgery. Only one patient developed diabetes-related target organ damage. This study shows that patients with LADA depict remarkable reduction of body weight and insulin requirements over long-term after bariatric surgery. So, LADA should not be considered a contraindication for bariatric surgery yet should only be recommended for patients with concomitant obesity with the primary aim of achieving sustained weight loss.

A Case of Cervical Lymphadenopathy After Vaccination Against COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a major global healthcare crisis, and the fields of science and medicine have been engaged in a massive effort to control and prevent the resultant deaths and morbidity. Researchers and pharmaceutical companies have developed in record time vaccines against COVID-19 that are intended to be safe and effective; however, the short validation time has been a challenge for doctors and epidemiologists, especially in light of the increase in reports emerging from various parts of the world about the adverse effects of the new vaccines. Portugal's national regulatory authority, the National Authority of Medicines and Health Products (INFARMED), has recently granted approval for Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer Inc., New York, NY; BioNTech SE, Mainz, Germany) and Moderna (Moderna, Inc, Cambridge, MA) COVID-19 vaccines, and they are being rolled out to be administered among the general population. In light of this, it is important for breast surgeons, family doctors, hematologists, and radiologists to consider the effects of recent COVID-19 vaccination history as a possible cause in the differential diagnosis for patients with unilateral cervical adenopathy. The objective of this report is to present a case that involves an adverse reaction involving acute-onset cervical lymphadenopathy in a female patient that coincided with her vaccination against COVID-19, even though cervical lymphadenopathy had not been previously reported as a potential side effect of the COVID-19 vaccination. We discuss the case of a Portuguese physician with a family history of breast cancer, who developed right cervical lymphadenopathy after receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Lymph node growth and ultrasound changes observed in the patient over the weeks, and a lack of information on the COVID-19 vaccine's adverse effects, prompted an in-depth study to understand its etiology.

How Sustained is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Long-term Efficacy? : Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass efficacy.

PURPOSE: The rate of weight regain after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) can hamper the procedure long-term efficacy for obesity treatment and related comorbidities. To evaluate the rate of weight loss and comorbidity remission failure 10 years or more after RYGB surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study. Patients submitted to RYGB for obesity treatment at a single centre with 10 years or more after surgery underwent a clinical reassessment. RESULTS: Among the subjects invited for clinical revaluation (n = 585), only those who performed RYGB and attended the hospital visit were included in the study (n = 281). The pre-operative mean body mass index (BMI) was 44.4 ± 6.1 kg/m2. Mean post-operative time was 12.2 ± 1.1 years. After surgery, mean BMI was significantly lower 33.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2 (p < 0.0001), 29.5% with a BMI < 30 kg/m2. Mean Total Weight Lost (%TWL) was 24.3 ± 11.4%, reaching a %TWL ≥ 20% in 70.1% with a mean %TWL of 30.0 ± 7.0%. Co-morbidities remission rate was 54.2% for type 2 diabetes, 34.1% for hypertension, 52.4% for hyperlipidemia and 50% for obstructive sleep apnea. Early complications rate was 13.2% and revision surgery occurred in 2.8% of patients. Four patients died of RYGB complications within the first 90 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: RYGB has a high rate of long-term successful weight loss and obesity-associated comorbidity improvement. Weight loss failure requiring revision surgery occurs in a small proportion of patients. Our data confirms the long-term effectiveness of RYGB as primary bariatric intervention.

Unusual Cutaneous Metastases From Colon Adenocarcinoma.

Skin metastases from internal malignancies are rare, even more from colorectal tumours, and are usually a sign of disseminated disease with a poor prognosis. However, with increased numbers of cancer survivors, a high index of suspicion should exist during the evaluation of cutaneous lesions since it can be the initial sign of disease progression or even the first sign that triggers a malignancy diagnosis, potentially improving the patient's odds. Herein, we report a case of synchronous cutaneous metastases from colon adenocarcinoma with unusual localization on the back and forearm of a 65-year-old man.