Barbed unidirectional V-Loc 180 suture in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a study comparing unidirectional barbed monofilament and multifilament absorbable suture.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed primarily to evaluate the safety of digestive running suture (in gastrojejunal and antecolic jejunojejunal anastomosis closure) using unidirectional absorbable barbed suture (V-Loc 180) in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and secondarily to assess the efficacy of V-Loc 180 in reducing operative time. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 315 consecutive patients who underwent LRYGB was performed between October 2009 and October 2012 using an identical procedure technique. For the first 76 patients, a multifilament absorbable suture was used to assess the gastrojejunal anastomosis and the antecolic jejunal suture. For the following 239 patients, a unidirectional barbed monofilament suture was used. Data including operative time, time required for gastric pouch creation, time spent in both anastomoses constructions, conversion rate, and complications were prospectively recorded. RESULTS: The postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. Early complications were observed for 1 patient (1.3%) in the multifilament group and for 14 patients (5.8%) in the barbed procedure group (p > 0.05). Late complications were observed for 1 patient (1.3%) in the multifilament group and for 5 patients (2%) in the barbed procedure group (p > 0.05). A shortened operative time was achieved in the barbed suture group. The mean operative time was 74.3 ± 15.3 min in the Vicryl group versus 62.7 ± 15.5 min in the V-Loc group (p < 0.05). The mean operative time required to fashion the gastrojejunal anastomosis was 21.3 ± 6.3 min in the Vicryl group versus 17.4 ± 5.1 min in the V-Loc group (p < 0.05). The mean operative time required to fashion the jejunojejunal anastomosis was 21.4 ± 4.9 min in the Vicryl group versus 15.2 ± 5.5 min in the V-Loc group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The authors' experience has demonstrated that the use of interlocked V-Loc suture during LRYGB anastomosis appears to be safe and efficient. The findings show a shortened total operative time in terms of single gastrojejunal or jejunojejunal anastomosis time. No statistically significant differences in early or late postoperative complications were observed between the V-Loc and multifilament absorbable suture patients.

Laparoscopic management of a left hepatic vein injury during one -step laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass after adjustable gastric banding removal: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: The occurrence of a left hepatic vein injury during laparoscopic removal of an adjustable gastric band is exceptional and should be known by any surgeon approaching the hiatal region. We report here the laparoscopic control of such a wound. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old morbidly obese woman (body mass index 47.7 kg/m2) presented the failure in weight loss following a laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. It was decided to perform a one-step laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Laparoscopic exploration showed post-surgical tissular retraction and adhesions. After the lap-band™ removal the left hepatic vein was accidentally bluntly injured while freeing adhesions between left hepatic lobe and the stomach. After a direct hemorrhagic control, intraoperative diagnosis of left hepatic vein injury was confirmed. A laparoscopic repair was performed by two running sutures using absorbable monofilament 4/0. Then, a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was performed without any other complications. Operative time was 119 min; intraoperative blood loss was estimated as 200 cm3. No blood transfusion was necessary. The total hospital stay was 48 h. The excess weight lost after 10 years was 87,9%. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Adjustable gastric band can modify anatomic landmarks, leading to a wrong dissection path, with possibility of left hepatic vein injury. CONCLUSION: The left hepatic vein injury can occur during revisional surgery for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding failure. Its laparoscopic management can be done safely, in trained hands without increasing morbidity.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Failed Gastric Banding: One-Step or Two-Step Revisional Surgery?

BACKGROUND: Surgical revision rates are high, reaching 41% at 10 years after Laparoscopic gastric band (LAGB). Surgical revision may include re-banding, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), duodenal switch (DS), or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). LRYGBP has been proposed as the procedure of choice after failure of restrictive procedures with better results than any other procedure. LRYGB as a revisional bariatric surgery is hazardous compared with primary LRYGB. However, controversy as to whether revisional bariatric surgery should be performed as a one-step revision or as a two-step revision. OBJECTIVE: We aim to compare the mortality and morbidity between one-step versus two-step revisional surgery from LAGB to LRYGB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of our revisional surgery from LAGB to LRYGB between November 2007 and December 2016. Revisional surgery was indicated in cases of inadequate weight loss or weight regain and after band-related complications. Gastric band removal and conversion to LRYGB was either in a one-step or a two-step procedure, according to the indication of this revisional surgery and based on the intra-operative decision. RESULTS: One-step group included 107 patients, two-step group had 76 patients. MINOR COMPLICATIONS: Dindo-Clavien I-II: 5 complication in the one-step group, whereas 4 complication were seen in the two-step group (P = 1.000). MAJOR COMPLICATIONS: Dindo-Clavien ≥ IIIa complications: 10 complication in the one-step group, whereas 2 complications in the two-step group (P = 0.127). CONCLUSION: One-step revision is safe and feasible, without significant increased morbidity when performed in a specialized institution. However, proper patient selection is of the utmost importance.

Bidirectional Jejunojejunal Anastomosis Prevents Early Small Bowel Obstruction Due to the Kinking After Closure of the Mesenteric Defect in the Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

BACKGROUND: The closure of the mesenteric defects (CMD) in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) reduces the risk of small bowel obstruction (SBO) due to internal hernia but might be associated with an increased risk of early SBO triggered by the jejunojejunal anastomosis (JJS) kinking. The aim of this study was to assess how enlarging the JJS with a bidirectional linear stapling can aid in avoiding the risk of early SBO by kinking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study concerns 1327 patients who underwent RYGB with CMD between May 2007 and August 2016. The first 626 patients (group A) had a unidirectional JJS. The following 701 patients (group B) had a bidirectional side-to-side JJS and a hand-sewn closure of the remaining defect. We compared early SBO between the two groups. RESULTS: Eleven (1.75%) early SBO due to the JJS kinking occurred in group A, whereas none occurred in group B (p = 0.0012). Thirty-nine early postoperative complications happened in group A versus 32 in group B (p = 0.17). Nine (1.2%) digestive bleedings occurred in group B versus two (0.3%) in group A (OR = 4.05 [0.87-18], p = 0.054). Average operating time was 81 min [37-330] in group A and 77 min [33-240] in group B. CONCLUSION: Enlarging the JJS with a bidirectional linear stapling is associated with a reduced risk of early SBO due to the anastomosis kinking. However, it could be related to an increased risk of digestive bleedings.