Safety and Feasibility of a Lower-Cost Stapler in Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic staplers are integral to bariatric surgery. Their pricing significantly impacts the overall cost of procedures. An independent device company has designed a stapler handle and single-use reloads for cross-compatibility and equivalency with existing manufacturers, at a lower cost. OBJECTIVES: We aim to demonstrate non-inferior function and cross-compatibility of a newly introduced stapler handle and reloads compared to our institution's current stapling system in a large animal survival study. SETTING: University-affiliated animal research facility, USA. METHODS: Matched small bowel anastomoses were created in four pigs, one with each stapler (a total of two per animal). After 14 days, investigators blinded to stapler type evaluated the anastomoses grossly and microscopically. Each anastomosis was scored on multiple measures of healing. Individual parameters were added for a global "healing score." RESULTS: Clinical stapler function and gross quality of anastomoses were similar between stapler groups. Individual scores for anastomotic ulceration, reepithelialization, granulation tissue, mural healing, eosinophilic infiltration, serosal inflammation, and microscopic adherences were also statistically similar. The mean "healing scores" were equal. While this study was underpowered for subtle differences, safe and reliable performance in large animals still supports the feasibility of introducing new devices into human use. CONCLUSIONS: The new stapler system delivers a similar technical performance and is cross-compatible with currently marketed stapling devices. An equivalent quality device at a lower price point should enable case cost reduction, helping to maintain hospital case margin and procedure value in the face of potentially declining reimbursement. This device may provide a safe and functional alternative to currently used laparoscopic surgical staplers.

Impact of preoperative wait time due to insurance-mandated medically supervised diets on weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy. Are patients losing momentum?

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined whether preoperative period length, as defined by the amount of time from enrollment in a surgical weight loss program to the day of surgery, affects postoperative weight loss. OBJECTIVES: To identify associations between preoperative period length and postoperative weight loss. SETTING: Single surgeon at an academic medical center in the United States. METHODS: Retrospective chart review in 109 consecutive patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy from 2014-2015. RESULTS: When patients were grouped based on postoperative percentage of total weight loss, greater weight loss was associated with shorter preoperative wait time. During the preoperative period, 72.2% of our patients achieved a net weight loss, but 34.6% had gained net weight until they started the preoperative "liver-shrinking" diet; 71.4±8.3% of the total preoperative weight loss occurred after initiating the preoperative diet, which accounted for approximately 15% of the whole preoperative period length. There was no correlation between the length of the preoperative diet and preoperative weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Shorter preoperative periods and earlier initiation of liver reduction diets may increase postoperative weight loss, although ultimately there may be a limit to the weight loss that patients can achieve while adhering to highly restrictive lifestyle modifications.

Socioeconomic predictors of weight loss after laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass.

INTRODUCTION: Successful weight loss after laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) hinges on many elements including neurohormonal, anatomical, and postoperative behavioral changes. To date, the effects of socioeconomic factors have been inadequately studied. We examine several components of socioeconomic status and its relationship to weight loss after LRYGB. METHODS: Between August 2002 and July 2006, 405 LRYGB were performed by a single surgeon. Patient demographics were entered into a longitudinal, prospective database. At 1-year follow-up, 309 patients were available for analysis. Regional median household income (RMAHI) and primary insurance carrier were used as surrogates for preoperative socioeconomic status. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test was used for statistical analysis. According to RMAHI, we divided the patients into three groups: US $20,001-40,000 (group A, n = 67), US $40,001-60,000 (group B, n = 153), and more than US $60,000 (group C, n = 89). Initial body mass index (BMI) was 52.76 +/- 1.01, 51.28 +/- 0.67, and 48.87 +/- 0.94 kg/m2, respectively. Additionally, patients were divided according to private insurance or state-based insurance. A total of 274 patients had private insurance, with an initial mean BMI of 50.6 kg/m2, and 35 patients had state-based insurance, with an initial BMI of 53.0 kg/m2. RESULTS: After 1 year, weight loss in groups A, B and C was 110.6 +/- 4.3, 110.0 +/- 2.5, and 103.9 +/- 3.6 lb with BMI decrease of 17.7 +/- 0.6, 17.7 +/- 0.4, and 16.9 +/- 0.6 kg/m2, respectively. Weight loss in the private insurance group was 49.2 +/- 0.9 kg compared with 50.2 +/- 2.3 kg in the state-based group with BMI decrease of 17.4 +/- 0.3 and 18.4 +/- 0.8 kg/m2, respectively. There were no statistical significances in the effect of socioeconomic status, median household income, and insurance carrier on postoperative weight loss. CONCLUSION: With appropriate patient selection, the socioeconomic status of patients undergoing LRYGB does not affect postoperative weight loss.

Computer-based endoscopy simulation: emerging roles in teaching and professional skills assessment.

Advances in endoscopy simulation are reviewed with emphasis on applications in teaching and skills assessment. Endoscopy simulation has only been realized recently in a computer-based fashion because of advances in technology, but several studies have been performed both to validate computer-based endoscopy simulators and to assess their potential role in training. Multiple studies have shown that simulators can distinguish between clinicians at different skill levels and also have shown improvement in clinician skill, particularly at the early stages of training. This article summarizes those studies. The cost versus benefit of endoscopic simulators is also discussed, as well as the upcoming role of simulators in judging competence and as a tool in the credentialing process.

Incidence and management of marginal ulceration after laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Marginal ulceration (MU) is a well-known complication after gastrojejunostomy; however, its incidence has rarely been reported in bariatric studies. We present 16 cases of documented MU after laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) that were successfully treated with proton pump inhibition (PPI). METHODS: All patients undergoing LGBP from October 2002 to August 2005 were entered into a prospective, longitudinal database. All patients who subsequently presented with MU were analyzed. MU was diagnosed when patients presented postoperatively with mid-epigastric pain and/or upper gastrointestinal bleeding that responded to PPI or endoscopic intervention. Analysis of variance and Student's t test were used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: MU was diagnosed in 16 (4%) of 347 patients in whom LGBP was performed. An additional 10 patients had symptoms suggestive of MU, which raised the incidence as great as 7%. Of the 26 patients, 18 were women and 8 were men (age range 23-53 years), with a preoperative body mass index 37.1-63.9 kg/m2, similar to that of the patients who did not develop MU. Compared with the patients who did not develop MU, the operative times were longer in the MU group (180.5 versus 140.4 minutes, P <0.001). Of the 26 patients, 10 presented with abdominal pain and 16 with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The mean interval between the initial LGBP and subsequent MU was 6.3 months (range 1-13). After an initial history and physical examination, upper endoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of MU in 16 patients. Three patients who developed MU were receiving chronic anticoagulation medication. All patients who developed MU began high-dose PPI, which resulted in 100% resolution of MU within 8 weeks. Since January 2005, 73 patients were given prophylactic PPI therapy postoperatively, with no patients subsequently developing MU (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: We report 16 documented cases of MU occurring after LGBP. This underreported complication can be successfully treated with PPI, although MU complicated by gastrogastric fistula may require operative intervention. The institution of routine PPI therapy after LGBP lowered the short-term incidence of MU at our institution. Additionally, we recommend that all patients who undergo LGBP be given prophylactic PPI therapy postoperatively.