Conversion of one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): who is more at risk? A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Although gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects 0.6% to 10% of patients operated on for one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), only about 1% require surgery to convert to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) [3-5]. The aim of the present study was to analyze the characteristics of OAGB patients converted to RYGB for GERD not responding to medical treatment. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study included patients who underwent conversion from OAGB to RYGB for severe GERD. The conversion was performed with resection of the previous gastro-jejunal anastomosis and the use of the afferent loop as a new biliary loop. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients were included in the study. Of these patients, 66 (52.6%) had a past medical history of bariatric restrictive surgery (gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy). A hiatal hernia (HH) was present in 56 patients (44.7%). The association between previous restrictive surgery and HH was recorded in 33 (26.2%) patients. Three-dimensional gastric computed tomography showed an average gastric pouch volume of 242.4 ± 55.1 cm3. Conversion to RYGB was performed on average 60 ± 35.6 months after OAGB. Seven patients (5.5%) experienced an early postoperative complication (4 patients grade IIIb and 3 grade IIb), and 3 (2.4%) a late complication. Patients showed further weight loss after RYGB conversion and an average of 24.8 ± 21.7 months after surgery, with a mean % of total weight loss (%TWL) of 6.9 ± 13.6 kg. From a clinical point of view, the problem of GERD was definitively solved in more than 90% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Situations that weaken the esogastric junction appear to be highly frequent in patients operated on for OAGB and converted to RYGB for severe reflux. Similarly, the correct creation of the gastric pouch could play an important role in reducing the risk of conversion to RYGB for GERD.

Indications for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before bariatric surgery: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The role of preoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before bariatric surgery is still debated, and a consensus among the international scientific community is lacking. The aims of this study, conducted in three different geographic areas, were to analyze data regarding the pathological endoscopic findings and report their impact on the decision-making process and surgical management, in terms of delay in surgical operation, modification of the intended bariatric procedure, or contraindication to surgery. METHODS: This is a multicenter cross-sectional study using data obtained from three prospective databases. The preoperative endoscopic reports, patient demographics, Body Mass Index, type of surgery, and Helicobacter pylori status were collected. Endoscopic findings were categorized into four groups: (1) normal endoscopy, (2) abnormal findings not requiring a change in the surgical approach, (3) clinically important lesions that required a change in surgical management or further investigations or therapy prior to surgery, and (4) findings that contraindicated surgery. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2020, data on 643 patients were analyzed. In all of the enrolled bariatric institutions, preoperative endoscopy was performed routinely. A total of 76.2% patients had normal and/or abnormal findings that did not required a change in surgical management; in 23.8% cases a change or a delay in surgical approach occurred. Helicobacter pylori infection was detected in 15.2% patients. No patient had an endoscopic finding contraindicating surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The role of preoperative UGE is to identify a wide range of pathological findings in patients with obesity that could influence the therapeutic approach, including the choice of the proper bariatric procedure. Considering the anatomical modifications, the incidence of asymptomatic pathologies, and the risk of malignancy, we support the decision of performing preoperative endoscopy for all patients eligible for bariatric operation.

Optimal endoscopic localization of colorectal neoplasms: a comparison of rural versus urban documentation practices.

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing colorectal neoplasms. However, colonoscopy is often repeated preoperatively due to non-standard documentation and inconsistent practices by index endoscopists. Repeat endoscopies result in treatment delays and can increase risks of complications. National consensus recommendations were recently developed for optimal endoscopic colorectal lesion localization. We aimed to assess baseline colonoscopy practice differences from the new recommendations with a focus on geographical variability in report quality between urban and rural referral sites. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal neoplasms at a single institution in Winnipeg between 2007-2020. We compared endoscopy report quality to the national recommendations with charts stratified by endoscopy location. Our primary outcomes were overall report documentation completeness and use of recommended practices. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-four patients were included (97 rural, 97 urban). The mean overall compliance with the recommendations for urban endoscopies was marginally better compared to rural endoscopies (50% vs. 48%, p = 0.04). Sixty-eight percent of the reports complied with tattoo indications (72% urban; 63% rural, p = 0.16). On average, reports included 29% of recommended tattoo information (30% urban; 28% rural, p = 0.25) and demonstrated 74% appropriate tattoo technique (70% urban; 81% rural, p = 0.10). Twenty-one percent of reports included photographs of lesions in accordance with the national recommendations (28% urban; 13% rural, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopists frequently omit recommended practices for optimal colorectal lesion localization. Rural reports miss more recommended information compared to urban reports. Future research is needed to facilitate province-wide high-quality endoscopy reporting for patients regardless of endoscopy location.

The importance of preoperative and perioperative Narrow Band Imaging endoscopy in the diagnosis of pre-tumor and tumor lesions of the larynx.

INTRODUCTION: Narrow band imaging (NBI) is an endoscopic imaging method intended for the diagnosis of mucosal lesions of the larynx that are not visible in white-light endoscopy, but are typical of pre-tumor and tumor lesions of the larynx. THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To compare preoperative/perioperative white light endoscopy and NBI endoscopy with the results of histopathological examinations in pre-tumor and tumor lesions of the larynx. METHODS: A prospective study, over a period of five years (5/2018-5/2023), included 87 patients with laryngeal lesions aged 24-80 years. We evaluated preoperative/ perioperative white light and NBI endoscopy, established a working prehistological diagnosis, and compared this with the definitive histopathological results of laryngeal biopsies. RESULTS: In relation to the definitive histology score, a statistically significant correlation was found between the evaluation of the finding and the definitive histology for preoperative and perioperative white light endoscopy and NBI endoscopy (p < 0.001). Both methods showed higher precision when used perioperatively. CONCLUSION: NBI endoscopy is an optical method that allows us to improve the diagnosis of laryngeal lesions, perform a controlled perioperative biopsy, and refine the surgical scope. The NBI endoscopy is a suitable method for the diagnosis of early cancerous lesions of the larynx. The use of preoperative/perioperative NBI endoscopy allowed us to achieve a high level of agreement correlation (p < 0.001) between the prehistological working diagnosis and the final histopathological result. The NBI method proves its application in the diagnosis of pre-tumor and tumor lesions of the larynx.

Rates and predictors of repeat preoperative endoscopy for elective colorectal resections: how can we avoid repeated procedures?

BACKGROUND: Despite limited endoscopy resources, repeat endoscopy prior to surgery is commonly practised. Our aim was to determine repeat preoperative endoscopy rates and factors influencing this practice at a high-volume Canadian tertiary centre. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all patients undergoing elective colorectal resections for benign and malignant neoplasms at a tertiary centre in Winnipeg, Canada between 2007 and 2017. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of repeat preoperative endoscopy. RESULTS: Of 1062 patients identified, mean age was 68 years and 56% were male. Rate of repeat preoperative endoscopy was 29%. On multivariable analysis, male sex (OR 1.68, CI 1.19-2.34, p = 0.003) and lesions located in the left colon (OR 2.73, CI 1.79-4.14, p < 0.001), rectosigmoid (OR 9.11, CI 2.14-38.8, p = 0.003), and rectum (OR 4.06, CI 2.58-6.38, p < 0.001) were at increased odds of undergoing repeat preoperative endoscopy. Patients with a tattoo placed at index endoscopy were at markedly lower odds of undergoing repeat preoperative endoscopy (OR 0.48, CI 0.34-0.68, p < 0.001). Index endoscopist specialty was not a significant predictor of repeat endoscopy (OR 0.76, CI 0.54-1.06, p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat preoperative lower endoscopy is commonly practised and may be unnecessary if appropriate identification and documentation of lesions has been achieved. Tattooing of suspicious lesions is a key modifiable factor associated with reduced likelihood of repeat preoperative endoscopy. This study highlights the need for standardized guidelines and endoscopy reporting practices given the delays and costs associated with repeat preoperative endoscopy.

Independent association of preoperative Hill grade with gastroesophageal reflux disease 2 years after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is associated with postoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Higher endoscopic Hill grade has been linked to GERD in patients without metabolic surgery. How preoperative Hill grade relates to GERD after SG is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between preoperative Hill grade and GERD outcomes 2 years after SG. SETTING: Academic hospital, United States. METHODS: All patients (n = 882) undergoing SG performed by 5 surgeons at a single academic institution from January 2015 to December 2019 were included. Complete data sets were available for 360 patients, which were incorporated in analyses. GERD was defined as the presence of a diagnosis in the medical record accompanied by pharmacotherapy. Patients with GERD postoperatively (n = 193) were compared with those without (n = 167). Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to explore independent associations between preoperative factors and GERD outcomes. RESULTS: The presence of any GERD increased at the postoperative follow-up of 25.2 (3.9) months compared with preoperative values (53.6% versus 41.1%; P = .0001). Secondary GERD outcomes at follow-up included de novo (41.0%), persistent (33.1%), resolved (28.4%), worsened (26.4%), and improved (12.2%) disease. Postoperative endoscopy and reoperation for GERD occurred in 26.4% and 6.7% of the sample. Patients with GERD postoperatively showed higher prevalence of Hill grade III-IV (32.6% versus 19.8%; P = .0062) and any hiatal hernia (HH) (36.3% versus 25.1%; P = .0222) compared with patients without postoperative GERD. Frequencies of gastritis, esophagitis A or B, duodenitis, and peptic ulcer disease were similar between groups. Higher prevalence of preoperative GERD (54.9% versus 25.1%; P < .0001), obstructive sleep apnea (66.8% versus 54.5%; P = .0171), and anxiety (25.4% versus 15.6%; P = .0226) was observed in patients with postoperative GERD compared with those without it. Baseline demographics, weight, other obesity-associated diseases, whether an HH was repaired at index SG, and follow-up length were statistically similar between groups. After adjusting for collinearity, preoperative GERD (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-5.7; P < .0001) and Hill grade III-IV (OR [95% CI]: 1.9 [1.1-3.1]; P = .0174) were independently associated with the presence of any GERD postoperatively. The preoperative presence of an HH >2 cm and whether an HH was repaired at index SG showed no independent association with GERD at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: More than 50% of patients experienced GERD 2 years after SG. Preoperative GERD confers the highest risk for GERD postoperatively. Hill grade III-IV is independently associated with GERD after SG. Whether a hiatal hernia repair was performed did not influence GERD outcomes. Preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy should be obtained before SG and Hill grade routinely captured and used to counsel patients about the risk of postoperative GERD after this procedure. Hill grade may help guide the choice of metabolic operation.

Is gastroscopy necessary before bariatric surgery?

Obesity is the abnormal accumulation of fat or adipose tissue in the body. It has become a serious health problem in the world in the last 50 years and is considered a pandemic. Body mass index is a widely used classification. Thus, obese individuals can be easily classified and standardized. Obesity is the second cause of preventable deaths after smoking. Obesity significantly increases mortality and morbidity. We thought of preparing a publication about routine procedures for the preoperative evaluation of obesity. The question that we asked as bariatric and metabolic surgeons but which was not exactly answered in the literature was "Is esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) necessary before bariatric surgery?" We found different answers in our literature review. The European Association of Endoscopic Surgery guidelines recommend EGD for all bariatric procedures. They strongly recommend it for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). As a result of a recent study by the members of the British Obesity & Metabolic Surgery Society, preoperative EGD is routinely recommended for patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy, even if they are asymptomatic, but not recommended for RYGB. It is recommended for symptomatic patients scheduled for RYGB. According to the International Sleeve Gastrectomy Expert Panel Consensus Statement, preoperative EGD is definitely recommended for patients scheduled for sleeve gastrectomy, but its routine use for RYGB is controversial. However, a different view is that the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends endoscopy only for symptomatic patients scheduled for bariatric surgery. In the literature, the primary goal of EGD recommended for sleeve gastrectomy has been interpreted as determining esophagitis caused by gastroesophageal reflux. In the light of the literature, it is stated that this procedure is not necessary in America, while it is routinely recommended in the European continent. Considering medicolegal cases that may occur in the future, we are in favor of performing EGD before bariatric surgery. In conclusion, EGD before bariatric surgery is insurance for both patients and physicians. There is a need for larger and prospective studies to reach more precise conclusions on the subject.

Menetrier's disease in a morbid obese patient undergoing bariatric surgery: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Menetrier's disease is a rare type of hypertrophic gastropathy characterized by the atrophy of the gastric parietal cells and dilatation of mucus releasing glands. Hereby, we present a morbid obese patient who has undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and he has also diagnosed with Menetrier's disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old male patient whose body mass index (BMI) was 39 kg/m2. Preoperative endoscopy was done. There were no pathologies except increased gastric mucosal folds. LSG was done. During the surgery it was noticed that gastric tissue was abnormally thick. After LSG completed, it was observed that there was an abnormal bleeding from the staple line. The staple line was oversewed with 3.0 V-Loc™ and bleeding was stopped. Pathology report was compatible with menetrier's disease. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Hypoalbuminemia and H. pylori take an important place in diagnosis of Menetrier's disease, but H. pylori was not detected and albumin level was normal in our patient. For certain diagnosis full-thickness gastric biopsy is needed. The routine use of preoperative endoscopy in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery was still controversial until recently. CONCLUSION: This is the first case with menetrier's disease that has undergone LSG. Preoperative endoscopic evaluation before bariatric surgery is crucial. As in this case, it will be effective in terms performing additional intraoperative precautions when necessary and preventing possible complications.

Prevalence of Upper Gastrointestinal Pathology in Patients with Obesity on Preoperative Endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The preoperative work up for bariatric surgery is variable and not all centers perform a preoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A study was undertaken to determine the frequency of clinically significant gross endoscopic and pathological diagnoses in a large sample of patients with obesity undergoing work-up for bariatric surgery. METHODS: Routine endoscopy was performed on all preoperative bariatric patients. A retrospective chart review of 1000 consecutive patients was performed. Patients were divided into three groups: Group A (no endoscopic findings), Group B (clinically insignificant findings), Group C (clinically significant findings). RESULTS: Patients had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 49 kg/m2 and 79% were female. In this sample one finding was found on preoperative EGD in 95.2% of patients, 33.9% had at least two diagnoses, and 29.9% had three or more diagnoses. Group A (no findings) consisted of 4.8% of patient, 52.5% in Group B (clinically insignificant findings), and 42.7% were in Group C (clinically significant findings). Clinically significant findings included hiatal hernia 23.5%, esophagitis 9.5%, H. pylori 7.1%, gastric erosions 5.7%, duodenitis 3.7%, Barrett's esophagus 3.1%, and Schatzki ring 1.2%. There was no significant correlation between preoperative BMI and any endoscopic findings (all p-value 0.05). Patients in Group C were statistically older than Groups A and B. CONCLUSION: Upper gastrointestinal pathology is highly common in patients with obesity. There is a significant rate of clinically significant endoscopy findings and all bariatric surgery patients should undergo preoperative endoscopy.

Preoperative Upper-GI Endoscopy Prior to Bariatric Surgery: Essential or Optional?

INTRODUCTION: The role of preoperative upper-gastrointestinal (GI) gastroscopy has been discussed with controversy in bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of upper-GI pathologies detected via endoscopy prior to bariatric surgery along with their clinical significance for patients' management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In our single center prospectively established database of obese patients, who underwent bariatric surgery from January 2011 to December 2017, we retrospectively analyzed the perioperative endoscopic findings along with their influence on patients' management. RESULTS: In total, 636 obese patients with median BMI (body mass index) of 49 kg/m2 [range 31-92] received an upper-GI endoscopy prior to bariatric surgery. Among the surgical procedures, laparoscopic Roux-Y-gastric bypass (72.6%; n = 462) was the most frequent operation. Endoscopically detected pathological conditions were peptic ulcer 3.5% (22/636), Helicobacter pylori (Hp) gastritis 22.4% (143/636), and gastric or duodenal polyps 6.8% (43/636). Reflux esophagitis could be detected in 139/636 patients (21.9%). Barrett's esophagus (BE) was histologically diagnosed in 95 cases (15.0%), whereas BE was suspected endoscopically in 75 cases (11.3%) only. Esophageal adenocarcinomas were detected in 3 cases (0.5%). Change of the operative strategy due to endoscopically or histologically detected pathologic findings had to be performed in 10 cases (1.6%). CONCLUSION: Preoperative upper-GI endoscopy identifies a wide range of abnormal endoscopic findings in obese patients, which may have a significant impact on decision-making, particularly regarding the most suitable bariatric procedure and the appropriate follow-up. Therefore, preoperative upper-GI endoscopy should be considered in all obese patients prior to bariatric procedure.

Finding carcinoid tumor before bariatric surgery. Is preoperative endoscopy necessary? Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Carcinoid tumors are endocrine system-related lesions and 4% of the gastrointestinal tract's neuroendocrine tumors (NET) originate from stomach. In recent years, gastric carcinoid tumors have been reported at increasing rates on endoscopies. In this article, we will present a case of gastric carcinoid tumor detected at the upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy during preoperative bariatric surgery workup. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55 years old male patient with body mass index (BMI) 46 kg/m2 was scheduled for bariatric surgery. Upper GI endoscopy revealed 2 separate 4-5 mm nodular lesions at gastric corpus and antrum. Biopsies were taken and both lesions were reported as neuroendocrine tumors. It was decided that the Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) operation would be performed because both lesion areas would remain in the extracted part of stomach. DISCUSSION: The routine use of upper GI endoscopy in preoperative evaluation of bariatric surgery patients still remains controversial. CONCLUSION: Upper GI endoscopy is very important in determining various gastric pathologies and determining the most appropriate surgical method before bariatric surgery.

The role of routine preoperative upper endoscopy in bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The necessity of routine preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) before bariatric surgery is controversial. European guidelines recommend routine EGD while North American guidelines recommend a selective approach. OBJECTIVE: Perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the proportion and scope of clinical findings discovered at preoperative EGD. SETTING: Academic hospital, Canada. METHODS: A search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases included MeSH terms "bariatric surgery," "endoscopy," and "preoperative." Inclusion criteria were any case series, cohort study, or clinical trial describing results of preoperative EGD for any bariatric surgery. Exclusion criteria were studies with<10 patients, patients<18 years of age, or revisional operations. Changes in surgical and medical management and proportions of pathologic findings were extracted and combined in a meta-analysis using the random effects model. RESULTS: Initial search identified 532 citations. Forty-eight were included after full text review. Included studies comprised 12,261 patients with a mean (SD) age of 40.5 (1.3) years and body mass index of 46.3 (1.5) kg/m(2). The majority of patients (77.1%) were female. The proportion of EGDs resulting in a change in surgical management was 7.8%. After removing benign findings with controversial impact on management (hiatal hernia, gastritis, peptic ulcer), this was found to be .4%. Changes in medical management were seen in 27.5%, but after eliminating Helicobacter pylori eradication, this was found to be 2.5%. CONCLUSION: Preoperative EGD in average-risk, asymptomatic bariatric surgery patients should be considered optional, as the proportion of EGDs that resulted in important changes in management was low.

Is endoscopic resection a correct treatment for atypical gastrointestinal lipomas?

We would like offering our experience about a very rare and underestimated type of gastrointestinal lipoma, which is the lipoma with precancerous or frankly malignant features of the mucosal epithelium, the so-called atypical lipoma. So far, only few cases have been described in the world literature. Recently, we grappled with what we think the first case of atypical colonic lipoma presenting with adenocarcinomatous transformation of the overlying epithelium, as discussed in more detail below. We propose a new definition and classification for this kind of lesions and discuss about their diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Correlación de los hallazgos endoscópicos pre y postoperatorios en pacientes sometidos a cirugía bariátrica / Correlation of pre and postoperative endoscopic findings in patients subjected to bariatric surgery

Objetivo: Establecer una correlación de los hallazgos endoscópicos preoperatorios con los síntomas gastrointestinales y hallazgos endoscópicos en el seguimiento de los pacientes sometidos a algún tipo de cirugía bariátrica. Sede: Hospital General ''Dr. Manuel Gea González''. Tercer Nivel de Atención Médica. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo, transversal y comparativo. Análisis estadístico: Porcentajes como medida de resumen para variables cualitativas y χ². Pacientes y método: Pacientes que se operaron en la clínica de obesidad, de junio 2006 a junio 2010, a los cuales se les realizó endoscopia preoperatoria con un seguimiento mínimo de un año. Se identificaron las patologías gastrointestinales con mayor incidencia, hallazgos histopatológicos y la correlación de la endoscopia postoperatoria en el seguimiento de pacientes que por sus síntomas requirieron control endoscópico. Resultados: De un total de 137 pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión (111 mujeres, 26 hombres), con edad promedio de 36.41, IMC promedio de 42.04, la patología con mayor incidencia fue gastritis inespecífica no erosiva (45.25%), el resultado histopatológico más frecuente fue gastritis asociada a Helicobacter pylori (HP) (38.6%). A un seguimiento promedio de tres años (DE ± 1.31) a 35 pacientes (25.5%) se les realizó endoscopia de seguimiento por síntomas gastrointestinales; los hallazgos endoscópicos fueron: gastritis inespecífica no erosiva (54.28%), sin alteraciones (31.42%) y estenosis de anastomosis (14.7%). Conclusión: La endoscopia preoperatoria es de gran utilidad, ya que permite identificar patologías que se pueden asociar a otras complicaciones y tomar todas las medidas para prevenirlas.

Objective: To establish a correlation between the pre-operative endoscopic findings with the gastrointestinal syndrome and endoscopic findings during follow-up of patients subjected to bariatric surgery. Setting: General Hospital ''Dr. Manuel Gea González'' (third level health care center). Design: A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study. Statistical analysis: Percentages as summary measures for qualitative variables and χ². Patients and method: Patients operated in the obesity clinic from June 2006 to June 2010, in whom a preoperative endoscopy was performed with a follow-up of at least 1 years. We identified the gastrointestinal pathologies with the highest incidence, histopathological findings, and the correlation with the postoperative endoscopy during the follow-up of patients, who, due to their symptoms, required endoscopic control. Results: In a total of 137 patients that complied with the inclusion criteria (111 women and 26 men), average age of 36.41 years, average BMI of 42.04, the pathology with the highest incidence was non-specific non-erosive gastritis (45.25%), the most frequent histopathological result was gastritis associated to Helicobacter pylori (HP) (38.6%). At an average follow-up of three years (SD ± 1.31), 35 patients (25.5%) were subjected to follow-up endoscopy due to gastrointestinal symptoms. Endoscopic findings were: non-specific, non-erosive gastritis (54.28%), without alterations (31.42%), and stenosis of the anastomoses (14.7%). Conclusion: Preoperative endoscopy is very useful as it allows identifying pathologies that can be associated to other complications and taking the necessary measures to prevent them.