The role of food and activity environment in a bariatric surgery population: impact on postoperative weight loss.

BACKGROUND: Food and activity factors may have an impact on weight in the general population, but little is known about how this affects postbariatric surgery weight loss. OBJECTIVES: To understand the impact of environmental food and activity factors on weight loss after bariatric surgery. SETTING: A multidisciplinary integrated health system with an accredited bariatric surgery program. METHODS: An institutional review board-approved retrospective review of patients who underwent bariatric surgery from 2001-2018 was completed. Food security, food retailers, and activity factors associated with postoperative percentage of total body weight loss (TBWL) at short-term (1-2 yr), medium-term (3-5 yr), and long-term (≥6 yr) follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall, 1673 patients were included; 90% experienced ≥20% TBWL in the short term and 65% in the long term. No differences in mean TBWL were observed for food deserts or areas with high versus low food insecurity. Mean TBWL was significantly different for low versus high healthy food density (32.5% versus 33.4%, P = .024) and low versus high fitness facility density (32.6% versus 33.4%, P = .048) at short-term follow-up. Increased mean TBWL was observed for counties with more versus less exercise opportunities at short and medium-term follow-up (33.4% versus 32.5%, P = .025; 31.2% versus 29.7%, P = .019). CONCLUSION: Patients experienced significant TBWL after bariatric surgery. Living in a food desert or area with high food insecurity did not significantly impact mean TBWL. Healthy food density, fitness facility density, and exercise opportunities had a short- to medium-term impact on TBWL. These data can be used to support patients to maximize the benefits of bariatric surgery.

Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program for Colorectal Surgery at a Community Teaching Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Perioperative programs aimed at decreasing surgical stress to colorectal patients can reduce hospital length of stay and morbidity while improving the patient's perception of the surgical experience. Our goal was to transform patient care from a perioperative platform based on individual physician and nurse choice to a standardized evidence-based Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for all patients undergoing elective colorectal resections. METHODS: An institutional review board-approved retrospective review was performed for the first 12 months of ERAS protocol-driven patient care in 2014 and compared to the prior 12 months (2013) of individual choice managed care. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients and 92 patients underwent elective colorectal surgery in the post- ERAS and pre-ERAS period, respectively. The post-ERAS group experienced a shorter length of stay (4.9±2.7 vs 6.2±4.0 days, P=0.001), were more likely to advance to a general diet on postoperative day 1 (72% vs 9%, P<0.001), and had quicker return of bowel function (2.3±1.8 vs 2.8±1.1 days, P<0.0001) compared to the pre-ERAS group. Thirty-day complications were similar between the post-ERAS and pre-ERAS groups and included anastomotic leak (4% vs 0%, P=0.120), surgical site infections (4% vs 8%, P=0.990), and abscess (3% vs 3%, P=0.990). Eleven (11%) post-ERAS patients and 7 (8%) pre-ERAS patients were readmitted within 30 days postoperative (P=0.410). CONCLUSION: We implemented change through a new system of care based upon standardized evidence-based ERAS protocols through the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative patient experience. In the first year of the ERAS program, patients experienced a reduced length of stay without a significant difference in morbidity or mortality.

A Different Kind of Craving: Incidence and Treatment of Pica After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency can occur in patients after Roux-en-y gastric bypass due to altered absorption. Pica, the compulsive craving and intake of non-nutritive substances, is a rare and poorly understood presentation of iron deficiency. To our knowledge, the rate of pica after RYGB has never been reported. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent laparoscopic RYGB from 2001 to 2011 were reviewed. Patients with pica or other abnormal cravings were identified. RESULTS: Pica was identified in 16/959 (1.7%) patients who underwent RYGB during the study period. The most common presenting sign was pagophagia. All patients with pica were female and had multiple risk factors for iron deficiency with 13/16 being premenopausal and 7/16 non-compliant with oral iron supplementation. Pica symptoms presented at a mean of 3.9 ± 1.9 years after RYGB. Iron deficiency was identified in all 16 patients, with a median ferritin level of 5.0 ng/mL (range 2-27). All 16 patients received intravenous iron and pica symptoms resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Pica is a rare phenomenon associated with iron deficiency and can occur despite oral iron supplementation. In our experience, intravenous iron can relieve symptoms. Patients considering bariatric surgery should be counseled on pica. Patients with unusual cravings should be evaluated for iron deficiency.

Long-term (>10-year) outcomes after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) has been the "gold standard" for weight loss surgery. Long-term data are limited, and reporting methods for LRYGB outcomes vary in the literature. In addition, follow-up compliance within bariatric centers is poor due to insurance and access to care issues, making long-term follow-up evaluation difficult. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate long-term LRYGB outcomes using standard outcome reporting definitions. SETTING: Integrated multispecialty health system. METHODS: A retrospective review of our institution's prospective bariatric surgery registry and integrated multispecialty electronic medical record system was completed for patients who underwent LRYGB from 2001 to 2015. Data were defined according to the 2015 Standards for Outcome Reporting. RESULTS: During the study period, 1402 patients underwent primary LRYGB; mean age and preoperative body mass index were 44.5±10.3 years and 47.5±6.2 kg/m2, respectively. Early complications included anastomotic leak (0.2%), venous thromboembolism (0.6%), surgical site infections (1.4%), and urinary tract infections (1.6%). The 30-day readmission rate was 3.5%. There were no 30-day mortalities. Follow-up weight data were available for>70% of eligible patients through 12 years postoperative. The highest mean percent excess weight loss and lowest body mass index were reached at 18 months postoperative at 79% and 30.1 kg/m2, respectively. Remission of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension were observed through 8 years postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of long-term (>10-year) outcomes from a single integrated health system using the 2015 Standards for Outcome Reporting. LRYGB results in significant, sustained weight loss and durable improvement and remission of obesity-related co-morbidities. Integrated healthcare systems provide an optimal environment for data collection and long-term follow-up.

Effects of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover.

BACKGROUND: Despite multiple beneficial effects of weight loss after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), the influence on bone mineral density (BMD) remains largely unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the changes in BMD and serum/urine bone markers after LRYGB. METHODS: Thirty-four women undergoing LRYGB were prospectively enrolled and underwent bone densitometry and serum/urine analysis preoperatively and 1 year postoperative. Changes≥.025 g/cm(2) in hip, femoral neck, and spine BMD and decreases>2% in total BMD were considered significant. Statistical analysis included paired t tests and McNemar's test. RESULTS: Mean age was 44.6 years. Body mass index at the preoperative and 1-year postoperative intervals were 46.7 and 29.6 kg/m(2), respectively. Mean hip, femoral neck, and spine (L1-L4) BMD was 1.191 versus 1.087 g/cm(2) (P< .001), 1.105 versus 1.032 g/cm(2) (P< .001), and 1.323 versus 1.277 g/cm(2) (P< .001) at the preoperative and 1 year postoperative intervals, respectively. Mean total BMD decreased from 1.328 preoperatively to 1.251 g/cm(2) at 1 year postoperative (P<.001). The decreases in BMD were 5.8%, 6.5%, 3.5%, and 8.8% for hip, femoral neck, spine (L1-L4) and total BMD from preoperative to 1 year postoperative. The proportion of patients with low vitamin D levels decreased from 55% preoperatively to 21% at 1 year postoperative (P = .004). Elevated osteocalcin and bone alkaline phosphatase was observed in 4% and 63% (P<.001), and 14% and 41% (P = .011) of patients preoperatively and at 1 year postoperative, respectively. CONCLUSION: BMD and bone markers changed significantly after LRYGB. Current recommendations for supplementation in post-LRYGB women may need to be reevaluated.