Failure to eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection is more frequent among HIV-positive patients.

OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori is a worldwide infection, but little is known about the efficacy of treatment for H. pylori infection in HIV-positive patients. The goal of this work was to evaluate outcomes after first-line H. pylori treatment and identify risk factors for failure in HIV-positive patients. METHODS: This registry study of unmatched H. pylori-infected HIV-positive patients and HIV-negative obese pre-bariatric surgery controls was performed in a tertiary university hospital. Cases were enrolled from 2006 to 2017, controls from 2007 to 2014, and both received standard of care. An additional 'optimal' subgroup of cases was enrolled prospectively from 2017 to 2019 which was treated only on the basis of antibiogram, drug interaction search and additional support by one referent physician. Helicobacter pylori eradication failure rates were compared according to clinical, microbiological and pathological parameters and treatment. RESULTS: We analysed 258 HIV-positive patients and 204 HIV-negative control patients. Helicobacter pylori eradication failure rates were markedly greater in cases (24.1%) than in controls (8.8%). The proportions of levofloxacin and metronidazole resistance were greater in cases than in controls (P < 0.05). Among cases treated with H. pylori triple therapy (S3T), the 'optimal' subgroup experienced a 9.5% failure rate vs. 28.6% with other strategies (P = 0.01). Risk factors for failure were H. pylori treatment strategy, exposure to antiretroviral treatment, and alcohol status. Overall, positive HIV status was a risk factor for S3T eradication failure. CONCLUSIONS: Patients co-infected with H. pylori and HIV frequently failed to eradicate H. pylori and this was related to treatment strategy, antiretroviral exposure and lifestyle.

Colorectal anastomotic leakage corrected by transanal laparoscopy.

AIM: Interest in transanal laparoscopy has increased in the last decade. This approach can allow primary procedures such as polypectomy, total mesorectal excision and the treatment of postoperative complications such as bleeding, leakage and fistula formation. METHOD: Two patients treated by transanal repair for leakage of a colorectal anastomosis after laparoscopic anterior resection of the rectum are reported. The first developed leakage immediately during the surgery and in the second leakage presented at 4 weeks. A new transanal platform according to DAPRI (Karl Storz-Endoskope, Tuttlingen, Germany), formed by a reusable port and reusable monocurved instruments was developed to permit manipulation of sutures introduced via the anus in a maximally ergonomic manner. Laparoscopic suturing was performed transanally and a protective ileostomy was added as well. RESULTS: The transanal procedures took 60 and 45 min and the patients were discharged after 5 days and 2 days. At 2 months both defects were found to be healed on contrast radiology and endoscopy; therefore the ileostomy was closed. Anal function was satisfactory with a frequency of two and one times per 24 h with no incontinence or evidence of sepsis. CONCLUSION: Intra-operative or late leakage of colorectal anastomosis can be safely treated by transanal laparoscopy. This new transanal platform offers the surgeon the possibility to work in ergonomic positions, without increasing the cost of the procedure thanks to the reusable nature of the material used.

[Evolution of low back pain after bariatric surgery]. / Evolution des douleurs lombaires après chirurgie bariatrique.

Although frequently called to mind by physicians, the relationship between overweight and low back pain is poorly understood and remains controversial. The present study aims to evaluate the evolution of low back pain in 65 patients planned for a bariatric surgery. The patients were enrolled prospectively. 54 patients (80%) could be evaluated 5 months after the procedure, and 47 patients (72%) were evaluated 22 months after surgery. Mean weight loss was 19 ± 9 kg (P < 0.001) at 22 months post-op. Patients demonstrated a statistically significant improvement of the NRS, Oswestry and SF-36 scores. This study suggests that low back pain might be reduced following bariatric surgery. However, the lack of dose-response effect is against a causal relationship between low back pain and obesity. Larger randomised controls are needed to determine a causal relationship.

Laparoscopic conversion of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to biliopancreatic diversion.

BACKGROUND: This report describes the laparoscopic conversion of a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) to biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). CASE REPORT: In January 1995, a 47-year-old woman with a body mass index (BMI) of 54 kg/m(2) benefited from a silicon ring vertical banded gastroplasty (SRVBG) for morbid obesity. She showed significant weight loss and reached a BMI of 30 kg/m(2). After 7 years, she experienced weight regain (BMI, 34.5 kg/m(2)), so a laparoscopic conversion to RYGBP was proposed. The patient again had a successful weight loss (BMI, 26 kg/m(2)), but 6 years later, she mentioned a weight regain (BMI, 33 kg/m(2)) with invalidating retrosternal pain. The nutritionist's analysis of the patient showed a certain modification of the alimentary character with frequent meals (grazing/polyphagia), and the psychologist's consultation identified an important binge-eating disorder. A laparoscopic conversion of RYGBP to BPD was proposed. The procedure consisted of (1) adhesiolysis and reduction of a hiatal hernia, (2) sectioning of the gastric pouch proximally to the gastrojejunostomy, (3) resection of the fundus of the gastric remnant excluded by the previous SRVBG, (4) restoration of the continuity of the stomach between the gastric pouch and the gastric remnant, (5) resection of the gastric antrum and pylorus, (6) deconstruction of the previous jejunojejunostomy, (7) restoration of the continuity of the small bowel, (8) measurement of the new common and alimentary limbs and construction of the jejunoileostomy, (9) closure of the mesenteric defect, (10) construction of the gastroileostomy, (11) closure of Petersen's space, and (12) repair of the hiatal hernia followed by a leak test. RESULTS: The operative time was 320 min, and the blood loss was 380 ml. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on postoperative day 5. Her BMI was 30.5 kg/m(2) after 3 months and 26 kg/m(2) after 6 months. The barium swallow showed good transit through the gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic conversion of RYGBP to BPD is technically feasible and effective during the short term for cases of repeated weight regain.

Ivor Lewis esophagectomy with manual esogastric anastomosis by thoracoscopy in prone position and laparoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Only a few authors have reported the technique of Ivor Lewis esophagectomy by minimally invasive means, and anastomosis was usually performed by a circular stapler. We report an Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy with manual esogastric anastomosis performed by thoracoscopy in the prone position. CASE REPORT: An adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus without lymph nodes invasion was diagnosed in a 51-year-old man. General anesthesia and double-lumen endotracheal tube intubation were used. First the patient was placed in the supine position, and five abdominal trocars were placed. Celiac lymphadenectomy was performed with section of the left gastric vessels. A wide Kocher maneuver and pyloroplasty were performed. A wide gastric tube was performed and advanced through the hiatus into the right chest. Subsequently the patient was placed in the prone position. Three trocars (two 5-mm and one 11-mm) were placed on the posterior axillary line in the fifth, seventh, and ninth right intercostal space. The intrathoracic esophagus was dissected. Mediastinal lymphadenectomy with en bloc resection of the left inferior mediastinal pleura was performed. The azygos vein was sectioned, and the esophagus was transected by scissors 1-cm cranial to the azygos vein. A completely thoracoscopic manual double-layer anastomosis was performed by using running sutures with PDS 2/0 externally and Maxon 4/0 internally. Finally the patient was replaced in the supine position to retrieve the specimen through a suprapubic incision, and the gastric tube was fixed to the hiatus. RESULTS: Thoracoscopy lasted 157' (anastomosis 40'), laparoscopy 160', and second laparoscopy 20'. Blood loss was estimated at 170 ml. The gastrograffin swallow on postoperative day 4 showed absence of stenosis and leak. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 6. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopy in the prone position allows the surgeon to perform a thoracoscopic esogastric anastomosis completely handsewn without selective lung desufflation, and using only three trocars.

Video. Laparoscopic transgastric access to the common bile duct after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

INTRODUCTION: Rapid weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) often is associated with gallstones formation, which can lead to cholecystitis and/or choledocholithiasis. Difficult access to the biliary tract is one of the disadvantages after RYGBP. We report a useful technique of laparoscopic transgastric access to the gastric remnant for an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). CASE REPORT: A 40-year-old woman with a BMI of 48 kg/m(2), was submitted to a laparoscopic RYGBP in December 2003. At that time the abdominal ultrasound was negative for gallbladder lithiasis. In April 2007, she was admitted for upper right side abdominal pain, vomiting episodes, fever, and jaundice; the BMI at the time was 24 kg/m(2). Hepatic ultrasound showed lithiasis of the common bile duct with intra- and extrahepatic bile duct dilation, as well as gallbladder lithiasis. The patient was taken to the operating room for laparoscopic evaluation. A pursestring suture was performed on the greater curvature of the gastric remnant. After the opening of the stomach, an 18-mm trocar was inserted into the lumen and the endoscope was directly passed through the port into the duodenum. An ERCP was performed under fluoroscopic guidance, and as a result of sphincterotomy the stone was retrieved. After removing the endoscope, the gastrotomy was closed by tying the pursestring. Cholecystectomy was performed as well. RESULTS: The procedure lasted 98 min. Liver function tests returned normal on postoperative day 2, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 4. After 9 months, the patient was well and asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Patients previously submitted to RYGBP and presenting choledocholithiasis can benefit from an ERCP through the gastric remnant.

A laparoscopic approach to left diaphragmatic rupture after blunt trauma.

Diaphragmatic rupture after blunt trauma is rare, but indicates a powerful external impact. Associated lesions are often life-threatening and require a rapid diagnosis and management. We report a case of a 24-year-old man, admitted to the emergency department after a serious car accident. He complained of a left sided thoraco-abdominal pain with breathing difficulties. Chest X-ray showed a left diaphragmatic elevation. Computed tomography demonstrated a left haemo-pneumothorax, herniation of the stomach in the chest and a haemoperitonium. Laparoscopically, herniated organs were re-integrated in the abdominal cavity ; the diaphragmatic tear was repaired by both direct suture and synthetic prosthesis. Closure of a small bowel perforation found during the laparoscopic exploration was also performed. We consider this therapeutic modality to be an excellent approach in the management of acute left side diaphragmatic rupture in haemodynamically stable patients. Firstly, it permits an inspection of the thoracic cavity through the diaphragmatic tear and secondly, an easy repair of damaged structures in the abdominal cavity.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer: laparoscopic transhiatal procedure or thoracoscopy in prone position followed by laparoscopy?

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive esophagectomy is rapidly emerging as a suitable surgical alternative to the open technique. This retrospective comparative study aimed to compare two minimally invasive techniques for esophagectomy: transhiatal laparoscopy with intrathoracic or cervical anastomosis (group A) and right thoracoscopy in prone position followed by laparoscopy and left cervicotomy (group B) performed by the same surgeon (G.B.C.). The operative time, perioperative blood loss, intensive care and total hospital stays, peri- and postoperative morbidity, in-hospital mortality, number of lymph nodes dissected, and survival were the outcome measures. METHODS: Between April 1999 and August 2005, 24 patients (group A) and 15 patients (group B) underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer in the authors' department. Their median age was 61 years in group A and 61 years in group B. Preoperatively, the endoscopic location of the tumor was in the upper third in 2 cases (1 vs 1), the middle third in 11 cases (7 vs 4), and the lower third in 26 cases (16 vs 10). Two patients in each group received neoadjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy. One patient (group A) and two patients (group B) received only neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and three patients (group A) received only neoadjuvant radiotherapy. RESULTS: The median operative time was 300 min (range, 240-420 min) in group A and 377 min (range, 240-540 min) in group B (nonsignificant difference [NS]). The median perioperative bleeding was 325 ml (range, 100-800 ml) in group A and 700 ml (range, 100-2,400 ml) in group B (NS). The perioperative complications included one splenectomy in each group and one conversion to thoracotomy in group B. The postoperative medical complications totaled three in group A and six in group B. The postoperative surgical complications included one hemoperitoneum, one pneumothorax, five anastomotic leaks, and two recurrent laryngeal nerve paralyses in group A and two tracheal necroses, four anastomotic leaks, one colic fistula, and three recurrent laryngeal nerve paralyses in group B. The median intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 5 days (range, 2-70 days) for group A and 5 days (range, 1-180 days) for group B (NS). The median hospital stay was 12 days (range, 7-98 days) for group A and 14 days (range, 7-480 days) for group B (p = 0.05). The early mortality rate was 0%. All the specimens were free of disease. The median number of mediastinal/periesophageal lymph nodes was 3 (range, 1-10) for group A and 4 (range, 2-13) for group B (NS), and the median number of celiac/perigastric lymph nodes was 11 (range, 2-31) for group A and 10 (range, 3-22) for group B (NS). After a median follow-up period of 42.4 months (range, 2-84 months) for group A and 19.1 months (range, 1.5-34 months) for group B, 12 patients in group A died after a median period of 22 months (range, 2-55 months), and 7 patients in group B died after a median time of 15 months (range, 1.5-23 months). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective comparative study showed that minimally invasive esophagectomy performed by thoracoscopy in the prone position is comparable with laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy in terms of the significant postoperative and survival outcomes.

Endoluminal fundoplication by a transoral device for the treatment of GERD: A feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: A new endoluminal fundoplication (ELF) technique performed transorally using the EsophyXtrade mark device was evaluated for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a prospective, feasibility clinical trial. METHODS: Nineteen patients were enrolled into the study. Inclusion criteria were chronic and symptomatic GERD, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) dependence, and the absence of esophageal motility disorder. Two patients were excluded due to esophageal stricture and a 6 cm hiatal hernia. The median duration of GERD symptoms and PPI use in the remaining 17 patients was 10 and 6 years, respectively. The ELF procedure was designed to partially reconstruct the antireflux barrier through the creation of a valve at the gastroesophageal junction. RESULTS: The ELF-created valves had a median length of 4 cm (range 3-5 cm) and circumference of 210 degrees (180-270 degrees ). Adherence of the valves to the endoscope was tight (n = 14) or moderate (n = 3). Hiatal hernias present in 13 patients (76%) were all reduced. Adverse events were limited to mild or moderate pharyngeal irritation and epigastric pain, which resolved spontaneously. After 12 months, the ELF valves (n = 16) had a median length of 3 cm (1-4 cm) and a circumference of 200 degrees (150-210 degrees ). Eighty-one percent of valves retained their tightness. The hiatal hernias present at the baseline remained reduced in 62% of patients. The median GERD-HRQL scores improved by 67% (17-6), and nine patients (53%) improved their scores by >or=50%. Eighty-two percent of patients were satisfied with the outcome of the procedure, 82% remained completely off PPIs, and 63% had normal pH. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated technical feasibility and safety of the ELF procedure using the EsophyX device. The study also demonstrated maintenance of the anatomical integrity of the ELF valves for 12 months and provided preliminary data on ELF efficacy in reducing the symptoms and medication use associated with GERD.

A delayed Boerhaave's syndrome diagnosis treated by thoracoscopy in prone position.

Boerhaave's syndrome or postemetic rupture of the esophagus, carries a high morbidity and mortality. The authors report a delayed Boerhaave's syndrome diagnosis (3 days), successfully treated by right thoracoscopic debridement in prone position. Thanks to gravity the cardiopulmonary bloc drops back and the access to the esophagus is direct allowing for accurate placement of the chest tubes near the perforation. The procedure is completed by laparoscopic placement of a feeding jejunostomy with the patient supine.

Endotherapy including temporary stenting of fistulas of the upper gastrointestinal tract after laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Reoperations for complications of bariatric surgery are associated with high morbidity and mortality. It is not known whether endoscopic treatment may reduce reoperation rates. METHODS: Twenty-one patients underwent endoscopic treatment for persisting large anastomotic leaks before considering redo surgery. Eight patients had a gastric bypass, eight had a sleeve gastrectomy combined with a duodenal switch (SDS), four had a sleeve gastrectomy alone, and one had a Scopinaro procedure (biliopancreatic diversion). Fistulas were gastrocutaneous in 15 patients, duodenocutaneous in 2, gastroperitoneal in 3, and gastrobronchial in 1. Partially covered self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs) were used, followed by additional endoscopic procedures if the SEMS failed. SEMSs were removed by traction alone or by insertion of a self-expanding plastic stent (SEPS) followed by extraction of both stents together. RESULTS: SEMS insertion led to 62 % (13/21) primary closures. Complementary endoscopic treatment led to 4 secondary closures. Total success rate was 81 % (17/21). Three patients in whom SEMSs failed underwent reoperation but died during postoperative follow-up; one patient died from pulmonary embolism before SEMS extraction. The success rates of endotherapy were 100 % (8/8) in the gastric bypass group, 62.5 % (5/8) in the SDS group, 75 % (3/4) in the sleeve gastrectomy group, and 100 % (1/1) for the Scopinaro procedure. Gastrocutaneous fistulas on sleeve sutures were successfully treated in 60 % of cases (6/10), while other anastomotic fistulas were successfully treated in 100 % of cases (11/11) ( P = 0.0351). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic treatment using SEMSs for complications of bariatric surgery is feasible. Healing of severe leaks was obtained in 81 % (17/21) of patients, avoiding high-risk reintervention. Gastrocutaneous fistulas on a sleeve suture are the most difficult condition to treat.

Laparoscopic transhiatal esophago-gastrectomy after corrosive injury.

Esophago-gastric necrosis is a surgical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. We report a laparoscopic transhiatal esophago-gastrectomy performed on a 43-year-old male, presenting two hours after hydrochloric acid ingestion. A gastroscopy showed several oral mucosal ulcers, a significant edema of the pharynx and larynx, a necrosis of the middle and lower esophagus and of the gastric fundus and antrum. A conservative strategy with intensive care observation was initially followed. After a change of clinical signs, chest-abdominal computed tomography was realized and a pneumoperitoneum with free fluid in the left subphrenic space and bilateral pleural effusions was in evidence. A laparoscopic exploration was proposed to the patient, and confirmed the presence of free peritoneal fluid and necrosis with perforation of the upper part of the stomach. A laparoscopic total gastrectomy with subtotal esophagectomy was performed; the procedure finished with an esophagostomy on the left side of the neck and a laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy (video). Total operative time was 235 minutes. After six months a digestive reconstruction with esophagocoloplasty by laparotomy and cervicotomy was easily realized thanks to the advantages (few adhesions, bloodless, and simple colic mobilization) of the previous minimally invasive surgery.