Profound Pneumocephalus and Low-Pressure Hydrocephalus Triggered by Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement after Resection, Fat Graft Reconstruction, and Radiotherapy for a Malignant Skull Base Schwannoma.

Background Tension pneumocephalus is a rare postoperative complication, typically presenting with mental status changes or rapid neurological decline after craniotomy. We report a complex case of tension pneumocephalus triggered by graft retraction after ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement. Case History A 39-year-old woman with a recurrent left trigeminal cavernous sinus schwannoma, status post one prior resection, two stereotactic radiosurgery treatments, and one course of fractionated radiotherapy, underwent radical resection with orbital exenteration and abdominal fat free graft reconstruction followed by adjuvant radiotherapy for malignant transformation. She developed subacute ventriculomegaly with altered mental status, prompting VP shunt placement. Three weeks later, she presented with profound pneumocephalus and intraventricular air originating from a large, left-sided sphenoid and maxillary defect, from which the fat graft had retracted. A right frontal external ventricular drain (EVD) was placed, resulting in immediate release of air under high pressure. Definitive treatment required skull base reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi free flap, contralateral nasoseptal flap, antibiotics, and VP shunt revision for treatment of combined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, pneumocephalus, ventriculitis, and low-pressure hydrocephalus. As of her last follow-up, she was restored to her initial postresection neurological baseline. Conclusion Tension pneumocephalus is a rare and life-threatening emergency that requires immediate neurosurgical intervention. We report the index case of tension pneumocephalus induced by graft retraction following radiotherapy and CSF diversion. Where observed, tension pneumocephalus resulting from a skull base CSF leak may be associated with low-pressure hydrocephalus, and successful long-term management demands balancing the need for CSF diversion against the integrity of the skull base reconstruction.

Impact of slit compared with nonslit mesh in laparoscopic groin hernia repairs-A comprehensive propensity score analysis of a cohort of 611 hernias.

BACKGROUND: The slit-mesh technique for laparoscopic groin hernia repair remains controversial. We present the largest cohort of patients to date that have undergone laparoscopic hernia repair with this technique and aim to evaluate the impact of both techniques on postoperative recurrence and other secondary outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective, single-institution cohort study of patients who underwent a laparoscopic groin hernia repair over a 5.5-year period was performed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with recurrence, chronic pain, complications, length of stay, and operative time. A propensity score analysis also was performed. Time to recurrence was then subsequently plotted on a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: In total, 611 laparoscopic groin hernia repairs (nonslit: n = 353; slit: n = 258) were reviewed. Mean follow-up duration was 6.6 months. On the multivariate analysis, body mass index was inversely correlated with recurrence (odds ratio, 0.792; 95% confidence interval, 0.656-0.956), whereas a slit mesh had lower recurrence (odds ratio, 0.228; 95% confidence interval, 0.064-0.809). In the propensity score-adjusted analysis, slit mesh remained significantly associated with reduced recurrence (adjusted odds ratio, 0.251; 95% confidence interval, 0.070-0.900), with no differences in chronic pain (adjusted odds ratio, 1.297; 95% confidence interval, 0.275-6.128) or postoperative complications (adjusted odds ratio, 1.808; 95% confidence interval, 0.429-7.620). Operative time also was reduced in the slit-mesh group (P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: The slit-mesh technique was associated with a reduced likelihood of postoperative recurrence and shorter operative time, with no impact on postoperative chronic pain or complications. A lower body mass index was also correlated with increased likelihood of postoperative recurrence.

Outcomes and Baseline Predictors of Failure in Primary Standalone Xen45 Gel Stent versus Trabeculectomy for Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare safety, effectiveness, and baseline predictors of failure in standalone primary Xen45 gel stent (Xen) versus trabeculectomy (Trab) in glaucoma. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SUBJECTS: Subjects that underwent primary Xen or Trab augmented by mitomycin-C with at least 12 months follow-up. METHODS: Multinational observational study of eyes in the Fight Glaucoma Blindness international registry MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was success at 12 months defined by intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction ≥ 20% from baseline and ≤ threshold IOPs of 15, 18, and 21 mmHg with (qualified) or without (complete) medications and without secondary glaucoma surgery. Multivariable mixed effects Cox regression models were used to identify risk factors for failure in each cohort. RESULTS: A total of 701 eyes (Xen, 308; Trab, 393) of 596 subjects were included with baseline IOP being significantly higher (22.4 vs. 19.9 mmHg, P < 0.001) and baseline medications significantly lower in the Xen versus the Trab group (2.9 vs. 3.4, P < 0.001). Baseline visual field mean deviation was less severe in the Xen group (-9.47 vs. -13.04 dB, P < 0.001). The proportion of complete surgical success was significantly lower in the Xen versus Trab group across the 3 upper IOP limits at 12 months; 32% versus 52% at 15 mmHg, 37% versus 54% at 18 mmHg, and 39% versus 55% at 21 mmHg (P < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative numerical and symptomatic hypotony was lower in the Xen versus Trab group. In the Xen cohort, a higher failure rate was associated with Asian ethnicity (hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-3.79) and use of oral acetazolamide at baseline (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.13-2.70), whereas a lower failure rate was associated with diagnosis of ocular hypertension/open-angle glaucoma suspect (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.20-0.82) and secondary open-angle glaucoma (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.26-0.82). Exposure to prostaglandin analog was associated with greater failure in the Trab group (HR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.18-6.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was significantly greater complete success at 12 months across all complete success definitions for Trab compared with Xen, whereas the rate of postoperative hypotony was significantly lower in the Xen group. Asian ethnicity and use of oral acetazolamide at baseline were associated with greater failure in Xen, whereas exposure to prostaglandin analog was associated with greater failure in Trab patients. Such baseline predictors of success and failure may help guide patient selection for subconjunctival minimally invasive glaucoma surgery in patients undergoing surgical intervention. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Nitrogen Balance at Six months Post-surgery.

PURPOSE: Obesity, defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health, rose from 8.6 to 10.5% in Singapore's residents. Bariatric surgery, the primary treatment for severe obesity, induces fat and muscle loss. Adequate protein intake is vital for preventing muscle loss. This study examines nitrogen balance in individuals with obesity pre- and post-surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen participants with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 32.5 kg/m2) undergoing bariatric surgery (14 sleeve gastrectomy, 2 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) and 20 normal-weight controls (BMI < 25 kg/m2) were recruited. Nitrogen balance, calculated from dietary protein intake and urine nitrogen excretion, was assessed. Participants with obesity were re-evaluated 6 months post-surgery. Data were analyzed using parametric methods. RESULTS: At baseline, controls had a BMI of 20.8 ± 2.1 kg/m2; those with obesity had 40.9 ± 7.3. Daily calorie and protein intake for participants with obesity were not statistically significantly different from controls (calorie intake at 1467 ± 430 vs. 1462 ± 391 kcal, p = 0.9701, protein intake 74.2 ± 28.7 vs. 64.6 ± 18.3 g, p = 0.2289). Post-surgery, BMI, fat-free mass, fat mass, total energy intake, carbohydrate, and protein intake decreased significantly (p < 0.01). Protein oxidation and urine nitrogen excretion did not change after bariatric surgery. However, nitrogen balance significantly reduced from 2.62 ± 5.07 to - 1.69 ± 5.07 g/day (p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Dietary protein intake is inadequate in individuals with obesity at 6 months post-bariatric surgery and contributes to a state of negative nitrogen balance.

Effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy plus fundoplication versus sleeve gastrectomy alone for treatment of patients with severe obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a widely performed bariatric surgery, but it is associated with an increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in the long term. The addition of fundoplication to laparoscopic SG may improve lower oesophageal sphincter function and reduce postoperative GERD. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare the efficacy and safety of SG plus fundoplication (SG + F) versus SG alone for the treatment of patients with severe obesity (≥35 kg/m2). SETTING: Meta-analysis. METHODS: Three electronic databases were searched from inception until January 2023. Studies were included if they compared outcomes of SG + F versus SG in patients with severe obesity (≥35 kg/m2). The primary outcome was remission of GERD postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the percentage of excess weight loss, percentage of total weight loss, postoperative complication rate, operative time, and length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 5 studies with 539 subjects (212 SG + F and 327 SG alone) were included. The mean preoperative body mass index was 42.6 kg/m2. SG + F achieved higher remission of GERD compared with laparoscopic SG (odds ratio [OR] = 13.13; 95% CI, 3.54-48.73; I2 = 0%). However, the percentage of total weight loss was lower in the SG + F group (mean difference [MD] = -2.75, 95% CI, -4.28 to -1.23; I2 = 0%), whereas there was no difference in the percentage of excess weight loss (MD = -0.64; 95% CI, -20.62-19.34; I2 = 83%). There were higher postoperative complications in SG + F (OR = 2.56; 95% CI, 1.12-5.87; I2 = 0%) as well. There was no difference in operative time or length of stay between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: SG + F achieved better GERD remission but is associated with lesser weight loss and increased postoperative complications compared with SG alone. Further studies are required to ascertain the overall clinical benefit of SG + F for patients with severe obesity.

Skin and Bone: Intact Fish Skin to Reconstruct Traumatic Orbital Floor and Wall Defects.

Orbital reconstruction following orbital trauma, tissue sacrifice from cancer resection, or other tissue loss poses a unique challenge for surgeons. Factors to consider include the patient's systemic health status, potential for adjuvant radiation, final composition, and strength of the graft, infection risk, graft rejection, status of visual function, and cosmetic outcome. In settings where a permanent artificial implant is avoided due to exposure or infection risk, potential tissue utilized includes xenografts, allografts, and autografts-each with variable benefits and drawbacks, depending on the surgical goals of the repair. We describe a case of orbital reconstruction after a gunshot wound to the left orbit using tri-layer Kerecis (decellularized intact North-Atlantic cod fish skin) with excellent globe position and maintenance of ocular motility.

Swept-Source Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging and Quantification of Bleb Parameters in Glaucoma Filtration Surgery.

This paper describes a technique for using swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) to visualize internal bleb microstructure and objectively quantify dimensions of the scleral flap and trabeculo-Descemet window (TDW) in non-penetrating glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS). This was a cross-sectional study of 107 filtering blebs of 67 patients who had undergone deep sclerectomy surgery at least 12 months prior. The mean post-operative follow-up duration was 6.5 years +/- 4.1 [standard deviation (SD)]. The maximal bleb height was significantly greater in the complete success (CS) blebs compared to the qualified success (QS) and failed (F) blebs (1.48 vs. 1.17 vs. 1.10 mm in CS vs. QS vs. F, one-way ANOVA, p < 0.0001). In a subcohort of deep sclerectomy blebs augmented by intraoperative Mitomycin-C, the trabeculo-Descemet window was significantly longer in the complete success compared to the qualified success group (613.7 vs. 378.1 vs. 450.8 µm in CS vs. QS vs. F, p = 0.004). The scleral flap length, thickness, and width were otherwise similar across the three outcome groups. The quantification of surgical parameters that influence aqueous outflow in non-penetrating GFS can help surgeons better understand the influence of these structures on aqueous outflow and improve surgical outcomes.

Cost-savings of short stay sleeve gastrectomy and walk-in hydration clinic versus conventional inpatient care.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to evaluate the cost-saving of the short stay ward (SSW) versus conventional inpatient care following sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). We also compared the readmission rates pre- and post-inception of the intravenous hydration clinic and analyzed the cost-savings. METHODS: Patients who underwent LSG between December 2021 to March 2022 with SSW care were compared with standard inpatient care. Total costs were analyzed using univariate analysis. With a separate cohort of patients, 30-day readmission rates in the 12-months preceding and following implementation of the IV hydration clinic and associated cost-savings were evaluated. RESULTS: After matching on the propensity score to within ± 0.1, 20-subjects pairs were retained. The total cost per SSW-subject was significantly lower at $13,647.81 compared to $15,565.27 for conventional inpatient care (p = 0.0302). Lower average ward charges ($667.76 vs $1371.34, p < 0.0001), lower average daily treatment fee per case ($235.68 vs $836.54, p < 0.0001), and lower average laboratory investigation fee ($612.31 vs $797.21, p < 0.0001) accounted for the difference in costs between the groups. Thirty-day readmission rate reduced from 8.9 to 1.8% after implementation of the hydration clinic (p < 0.01) with decreased 30-day readmission cost (S$96,955.57 vs. S$5910.27, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SSW for LSG is cost-effective and should be preferred to inpatient management. Walk-in hydration clinics significantly reduced readmission rates and result in tremendous cost-savings.

Laparoscopic completion gastrectomy: A single-institution case series and systematic review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Completion gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is currently the gold standard for patients with resectable disease. Multiple surgical approaches can be adopted; however, there exists no agreement on the best choice due to the low incidence of RGC. With its anticipated increase in prevalence, we thus sought to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the laparoscopic approach versus conventional laparotomy via a pooled analysis of existing literature. METHODS: A retrospective review of five consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic completion gastrectomy from August 2017 to June 2022 was performed following Institutional Review Board waiver. A comprehensive systematic review of literature on laparoscopic completion gastrectomy from the Pubmed, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science and Cochrane databases was conducted to supplement the experience from our institution. RESULTS: Four patients had prior benign gastric disease and one had prior gastric cancer. Two patients experienced severe postoperative complications but there were otherwise no reports of conversion to laparotomy or mortality. Mean operative duration was 295 minutes. Mean duration to oral intake and discharge was 6.8 and 14.6 days respectively. Results from our pooled analysis of 591 cases suggested that the laparoscopic approach was associated with longer operative durations but delivered fewer postoperative complications, shorter duration to dietary resumption and shorter lengths of stay over conventional laparotomy. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic completion gastrectomy is indeed a more challenging procedure due to the presence of dense adhesions from previous surgery. However, the procedure can be performed safely with superior outcomes as compared to conventional laparotomy.

Nanocomplexes of Biodegradable Anticancer Macromolecules: Prolonged Plasma Half-Life, Reduced Toxicity, and Increased Tumor Targeting.

Anticancer drug resistance is a large contributing factor to the global mortality rate of cancer patients. Anticancer macromolecules such as polymers have been recently reported to overcome this issue. Anticancer macromolecules have unselective toxicity because they are highly positively charged. Herein, an anionic biodegradable polycarbonate carrier is synthesized and utilized to form nanocomplexes with an anticancer polycarbonate via self-assembly to neutralize its positive charges. Biotin is conjugated to the anionic carrier and serves as cancer cell-targeting moiety. The nanoparticles have sizes of < 130 nm with anticancer polymer loading levels of 38-49%. Unlike the small molecular anticancer drug doxorubicin, the nanocomplexes effectively inhibit the growth of both drug-susceptible MCF7 and drug-resistant MCF7/ADR human breast cancer cell lines with low half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ). The nanocomplexes increase the anticancer polymer's in vivo half-life from 1 to 6-8 h, and rapidly kill BT474 human breast cancer cells primarily via an apoptotic mechanism. The nanocomplexes significantly increase the median lethal dose (LD50 ) and reduce the injection site toxicity of the anticancer polymer. They suppress tumor growth by 32-56% without causing any damage to the liver and kidneys. These nanocomplexes may potentially be used for cancer treatment to overcome drug resistance.

Pepsin in saliva for the diagnosis of erosive esophagitis post-sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become the preferred bariatric procedure in many countries. However, new onset erosive esophagitis (EE) is a major shortcoming. Current recommendation is esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) should be performed routinely at 1 year and subsequently every 2-3 years to enable the early detection of Barrett's or esophageal adenocarcinoma. This would put significant strains on resources and costs of bariatric program. Our study assesses the association between and diagnostic value of salivary pepsin concentration and endoscopically proven EE in post-LSG patients as a surrogate for EGD. METHODS: Twenty patients on routine post-LSG endoscopy between June and September 2022 were recruited for this correlational pilot study. Under supervision, fasting and post-prandial saliva sample was collected and analyzed by Peptest lateral flow device. EGD examinations were performed, and patients completed a validated 25-item QoLRAD questionnaire. RESULTS: We found a significant correlation between positive endoscopy findings of EE and salivary pepsin concentrations. The normal group had a lower mean fasting pepsin level (13.13 ng/mL ± 18.97) versus the EE-group (90.55 ng/mL ± 81.28, p = 0.009) and lower mean post-prandial pepsin level (30.50 ng/mL ± 57.72) versus the EE-group (135.09 ng/mL ± 130.17, p = 0.02). The predictive probabilities from the binary regression of fasting and post-prandial pepsin concentrations yield AUC of 0.955 ± 0.044 (95% CI 0.868 to 1.000, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study distinctively identified salivary pepsin to have excellent sensitivity and negative predictive value in EE, potentially useful to preclude the need for post-LSG EGD in asymptomatic patients with low salivary pepsin.

Adherence to Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Recommendations in Patients With Curable Esophageal and Gastric Cancers.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary tumor board (MDT) discussion is standard practice in the management of Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers. However, poor adherence to MDT recommendations may account for the lack of improved oncological outcomes with MDTs. We aim to quantify adherence rates and compare outcomes between adherent and non-adherent patients. METHODS: We included all patients with potentially curable primary UGI carcinomas who were discussed at UGI MDT from 2017 to 2018. MDT recommendations were compared to actual treatment received. Oncological and survival outcomes were compared between both groups. RESULTS: Amongst 153 patients, 64 (41.8%) were non-adherent to MDT recommendations. Reasons for non-adherence were patient refusal (50.0%), treatment-related complications (31.3%), disease factors (17.2%) and clinician decision (1.56%). Univariate analysis showed that non-adherent patients were older (71.6 vs 65.2 years, p < 0.001), with higher clinical stage at point of diagnosis (p = 0.028), pathological stage after resection (p < 0.001) and were more likely to be recommended for multimodal therapy. No significant factors were associated with non-adherence at multivariate analysis. Non-adherent patients had worse median overall survival (19.5 months) compared to adherent patients (not reached at follow-up) with both unmatched and propensity-score matched analysis. Patients who received only part of the intended adjuvant chemotherapy course had worse median overall survival and disease-free survival compared to patients who completed or did not initiate adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Non-adherence to MDT recommendations was associated with advanced age and tumor stage, and potentially contributes to the worse oncological outcomes in a group of patients already predisposed to poor outcomes.

Five-year corneal cross-linking outcomes: A Save Sight Keratoconus Registry Study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of epithelium-off cross-linking (CXL) in keratoconus patients. METHODS: An observational registry study from 41 centres across 5 countries was carried out. Primary outcomes included the mean change in visual acuity (VA), Kmax, K2, and thinnest corneal thickness (TCT) at 1-5 years. Secondary outcomes included the percentage of eyes with worsening, stable and improving outcomes. RESULTS: There were 976 eyes of 794 patients with 1-year of complete follow-up, 501 eyes with 2-years, 355 with 3-years, 235 with 4-years and 162 with 5-years. There was a significant improvement in mean VA from baseline by 3.7 logMAR letters (p < 0.001) in year 1, and 6.9 (p < 0.001) in year 5. Mean Kmax decreased by 1.2 dioptres (D; p < 0.01) in year 1. During subsequent years the Kmax flattening appeared sustained but this was not statistically significant. K2 flattened significantly from baseline in year 1 and then remained stable. At 1 year, 4.1% patients were poor responders to CXL in terms of VA, losing ≥15 letters. The proportion of the poor responders remained unchanged: 4.9% at 5-years. The proportion of poor responders in terms of Kmax remained similar: 5.9% steepening by ≥2D at 1-year and 7.5% at 5-years. The proportion of K2 poor responders remained stable with 4.7% steepening by ≥2D at 1-year and 5.8% at 5-years. CONCLUSIONS: Cross-linking is effective at stabilising keratoconus up to 5 years in most patients. However, a small proportion of eyes failed to stabilise and had reduced vision.

Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass: a Feasibility Study Using Human Cadavers.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic bariatric therapies (EBT) has emerged as an effective treatment in the management of the patient with obesity. Unfortunately, most procedures involve only the restriction of gastric volume without altering the underlying metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the practicability and limitations of the metabolic altering procedures: "One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB)" with "natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)" on human cadavers. METHODS: We performed OAGB with NOTES approach in 3 human cadavers. The steps of the procedure can be divided as follows: step 1, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG); step 2, trans-gastric access to peritoneal cavity; step 3, identification of suitable loop of jejunum; step 4, introduction of the jejunal loop into the stomach; step 5, creation of the gastro-jejunostomy with lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS); step 6, gastric pylorus occlusion with overstitch. RESULTS: We performed OAGB with NOTES in 3 human cadavers with bypassed bilio-pancreatic limb of 55, 75, and 105 cm from the pylorus. The average weight for the cadavers was 64.9 kg (61.2-71.7 kg). The mean procedure time was 157 min. The optimal bypassed length for the procedure was 105 cm. CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided proof-of-principle in a pre-clinical cadaveric model that NOTES approach can be used to perform OAGB and, therefore, merits additional evaluation and consideration in surviving porcine model.

Revisional Surgery or Pharmacotherapy for Insufficient Weight Loss and Weight Regain After Primary Bariatric Procedure: a Descriptive Study.

PURPOSE: Bariatric surgery is the most effective and durable treatment option for clinically severe obesity. Unfortunately, some degree of weight regain (WR) is common after nadir weight is achieved. Pharmacotherapy and revision surgery are potential options to treat this phenomenon. We aim to determine the efficacy of both approaches in patients with WR versus insufficient weight loss (IWL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of patients who underwent bariatric surgery from 2008 to 2018 with IWL or WR. RESULTS: Of 422 patients with WR or IWL after bariatric surgery, 150 patients were placed on pharmacotherapy and 27 underwent revisional surgeries. Mean age of patients was 41.4 years and mean BMI was 42.1 kg/m2. The most common conversion surgery was LSG to RYGB. % Total weight loss (TWL) was higher in IWL group (23.8% ± 11.0) compared to WR group (17.2% ± 7.9) in revisional surgery (p = 0.02). The converse was observed for pharmacotherapy, with %TWL 1.9% in the WR group compared to 0.7% in the IWL group (p = 0.0067). CONCLUSION: Patients with IWL or WR had modest weight loss with adjunctive use of pharmacotherapy after primary bariatric surgery. Conversely, revisional surgery is an effective treatment for both IWL and WR.

The Hill's Classification Is Useful to Predict the Development of Postoperative Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Erosive Esophagitis After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the commonest bariatric procedures. However, it is associated with postoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erosive esophagitis (EE). This study aims to assess the impact of various preoperative clinical and endoscopic characteristics on the development of postoperative GERD and EE. METHODS: This study is a single-institution retrospective cohort study involving all patients who underwent LSG. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify preoperative parameters that were significantly associated with the development of postoperative GERD and EE, at up to 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: At up to 1-year follow-up, out of 127 patients, only preoperative endoscopic presence of a hiatal hernia noted on axial length (p=0.024) and the Hill's classification of the gastroesophageal junction (p<0.001) were significantly associated with the development of postoperative GERD. Similarly, at 1-year follow-up endoscopy, the presence of a hiatal hernia (p=0.041) and the Hill's classification (p=0.001) were associated with postoperative EE. On the multivariate analysis, compared to patients with a Hill's I flap valve, Hill's II patients were more likely to develop postoperative GERD (OR 7.13, 95% CI: 1.69-29.98, p=0.007), and Hill's III patients were more likely to develop postoperative GERD (OR 20.84, 95% CI: 3.98-109.13, p<0.001) and EE (OR 34.49, 95% CI: 1.08-1105.36, p=0.045). All patients with Hill's IV developed postoperative GERD and EE in this study. CONCLUSION: Postoperative GERD and EE remain an important limitation following LSG. Proper preoperative assessment using the Hill's classification can help to accurately predict patients at risk of postoperative GERD and EE.

Endoscopic internal drainage with double pigtail stents for upper gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks: suitable for all cases?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Surgeons and endoscopists have started to use endoscopically inserted double pigtail stents (DPTs) in the management of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) leaks, including UGI anastomotic leaks. We investigated our own experiences in this patient population. METHODS: From March 2017 to June 2020, 12 patients had endoscopic internal drainage of a radiologically proven anastomotic leak after UGI surgery in two tertiary UGI centers. The primary outcome measure was the time to removal of the DPTs after anastomotic healing. The secondary outcome measure was early oral feeding after DPT insertion. RESULTS: Eight of the 12 patients (67%) required only one DPT, whereas four (33%) required two DPTs. The median duration of drainage was 42 days. Two patients required surgery due to inadequate control of sepsis. Of the remaining 10 patients, nine did not require a change in DPT before anastomotic healing. Nine patients were allowed oral fluids within the 1st week and a soft diet in the 2nd week. One patient was allowed clear oral feeds on the 8th day after DPT insertion. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic internal drainage is becoming an established minimally invasive technique for controlling anastomotic leak after UGI surgery. It allows for early oral nutritional feeding and minimizes discomfort from conventional external drainage.

Do Orbital Implants Differ in Complication Rates: A Retrospective Study of 88 Patients, and an Argument for Cost-Effective Practices in the Face of Rising Health Care Costs.

Operative repair of orbital fractures utilizes implants constructed of a plethora of materials that vary in cost. Surgeon preference as well as fracture complexity may dictate the implant chosen. In this study, we retrospectively compared the complication rates of the four most common types of implants utilized at our institution. We found no significant difference in complication rates in our sample of 88 patients. Additionally, the least expensive implant was as effective as the most expensive implant in addressing isolated orbital blowout fractures. This situation is not unique to the field of oculoplastics. As evidenced from published literature in other areas of surgery, from orthopaedics to orthodontics, cheaper alternatives often afford similar outcomes as more expensive options. We herein argue that a cost-effective approach should be considered while still allowing for high quality of care, in the face of rising health care costs and health disparities in America.