Revascularizations and limb outcomes of hospitalized patients with diabetic peripheral arterial disease in the contemporary era.

BACKGROUND: Concomitant diabetes mellitus and peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a complex disease process. This retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample sought to understand trends in limb outcomes of this unique and prevalent cohort of patients. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was queried between 2003 and 2017 for hospitalizations of patients with both type 2 diabetes mellitus and PAD. Trends in hospitalizations, limb outcomes, vascular interventions, and costs were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 10,303,673 hospitalizations of patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus and PAD that were identified between 2003 and 2017. The prevalence of hospitalizations associated with this disease process increased from 1644 to 3228 per 100,000 hospitalizations, a 96.4% increase. This included an increase of 288 to 587 per 100,000 hospitalizations of patients aged 18 to 49 years old, which was accompanied by a 10.8% increase in minor amputations. Nontraumatic lower extremity amputations decreased overall. Black and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with an increased risk for amputation, along with Medicaid insurance and lower income quartile. Inpatient endovascular revascularization has increased over time with an associated decrease in open revascularization procedures. Amputation-related hospital costs significantly increased from $6.6 billion in 2003 to $14.8 billion in 2017. CONCLUSIONS: An alarming increase of disease prevalence, negative in-hospital limb outcomes, and costs are seen in the current era in this analysis of patients with concurrent diabetes and PAD.

Endoscopic gastrojejunostomy revision is more effective than medical management alone to address weight regain after RYGB.

BACKGROUND: Weight regain after bariatric roux-en-y gastric bypass affects up to 30% of individuals. Revisional surgery is risky, and is typically avoided in favor of dietary and psychological management. Endoscopic gastrojejunostomy revision is a low-morbidity, outpatient procedure that may be more effective than medical management alone for regain after gastric bypass. METHODS: Two patient cohorts were retrospectively assembled. Both groups had gastric bypass, regained weight, and were cleared for revision by their surgeon, dietician, and psychologist. The revision group underwent the procedure, and the no-revision group did not, typically due to insurance issues. Weights from pre-bypass to 2 years post-revision, obesity-related comorbidities, and intraoperative factors were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 41 patients included in the revision group and 14 in the no-revision group. Up to the time of revision procedure, body mass index, and % excess weight loss between groups were similar. After revision, the groups diverged over a 2-year period, with improvement seen in the revision group and worsening in the no-revision group. The revision group showed overall improvement in comorbidities compared to the no-revision group. Analysis of intraoperative factors suggests that gastric pouch restriction in addition to stoma diameter reduction may promote weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, endoscopic revision provided significantly greater weight loss compared to medical management alone. Results show that revision can help resolve obesity-related comorbidities. Analysis of intraoperative factors suggests that pouch reduction at time of stoma revision may improve weight loss.

Characterization of common bile duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a high-volume hospital system.

BACKGROUND: Despite the popularity of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, rates of common bile duct injury remain higher than previously observed in open cholecystectomy. This retrospective chart review sought to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, biliary injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy within a high-volume healthcare system. METHODS: 800 of approximately 3000 cases between 2009 and 2015 were randomly selected and retrospectively reviewed. A single reviewer examined all operative notes, thereby including all cases of BDI regardless of ICD code or need for a second procedure. Biliary injuries were classified per Strasberg et al. (J Am Coll Surg 180:101-125, 1995). Logistic regression models were utilized to identify univariable and multivariable predictors of biliary injuries. RESULTS: 31.0% of charts stated that the Critical View of Safety was obtained, and 12.4% of charts correctly described the critical view in detail. Three patients (0.4%) had a cystic duct leak, and 4 (0.5%) had a common bile duct injury. Of the four CBDI, three patients had a partial transection of the CBD and one had a partial stricture. Patients who suffered BDI were more likely to have had lower hemoglobin, urgent surgery, choledocholithiasis, or acutely inflamed gallbladder. Multivariable analysis of BDI risk factors showed higher preoperative hemoglobin to be independently protective against CBDI. Acutely inflamed gallbladder and choledocholithiasis were independently predictive of CBDI. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of CBDI in this study was 0.5%. Acutely inflamed conditions were risk factors for biliary injury. Multivariable analysis suggests a protective effect of higher preoperative hemoglobin. There was no correlation of CVS with prevention of biliary injury, although only 12.4% of charts could be verified as following the technique correctly. Better implementation of CVS, and increased caution in patients with perioperative inflammatory signs, may be important for preventing bile duct injury. Additionally, counseling patients with acute inflammation on increased risk is important.

Long-term outcomes after subtotal reconstituting cholecystectomy: A retrospective case series.

BACKGROUND: Subtotal cholecystectomy, where the gallbladder infundibulum is transected to avoid dissecting within the triangle of Calot, has been suggested to conclude laparoscopic cholecystectomy while avoiding common bile duct injury. However, some reports suggest the possibility of recurrent symptoms from a remnant gallbladder. METHODS: A retrospective database containing 900 randomly selected cholecystectomies occurring between 2009 and 2015 was reviewed for instances of subtotal cholecystectomy. All documentation for these patients was reviewed through 01/2018. RESULTS: Six patients who underwent subtotal cholecystectomy were identified. All six returned for care within our institution, with a median 76 months of follow-up. No patient had signs or symptoms indicating recurrent cholelithiasis or cholecystitis. CONCLUSIONS: This series represents six cases of subtotal reconstituting cholecystectomy with no recurrent gallbladder symptoms on long-term follow-up. This may encourage surgeons who feel that subtotal reconstituting cholecystectomy is the safest way to proceed with cholecystectomy in the setting of severe inflammation.

Modeling suture patterns for endoscopic gastrojejunostomy revision: Analyzing a technique to address weight regain after gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass affects up to 30% of individuals. A dilated gastrojejunostomy contributes to regain through decreased restriction. Endoscopic gastrojejunostomy revision is a safe alternative to revisional surgery. There is evidence that technique affects outcome, but the mechanical properties of various sutured repairs have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To compare different suture patterns for endoscopic gastrojejunostomy revision using an ex vivo porcine model. SETTING: University hospital, United States; surgical laboratory. METHODS: Gastrojejunostomoies were created between porcine stomach and a small intestine with a circular stapler. The gastrojejunostomy was revised with 1 of 5 suture patterns: simple-interrupted, vest-over-pants, figure-of-eight, purse-string, or hairpin. After revision, the stomachs were pressurized with water under continuous manometric monitoring. Failure pressure was recorded when either the hardware or the tissue became compromised. RESULTS: Procedure time, failure type, and pressure were recorded for 8 trials per pattern. Average failure pressures from lowest to highest were simple interrupted, vest-over-pants, figure-of-eight, purse-string, and hairpin. By analysis of variance, the failure pressures were different (P<.01). The suture-anchor connection failed 16 times, the tissue tore 24 times, and failure pressure of the former was lower (P<.01). Failure pressure was moderately correlated with number of bites-per-suture. The purse-string pattern was the fastest to perform (P<.05). CONCLUSION: This study successfully used an ex vivo porcine model to compare performance of suture patterns used for endoscopic gastrojejunostomy revision. More bites-per-suture seems to improve durability by reducing tension on the suture-anchor. For this reason, the interrupted technique is inferior and should likely be abandoned in favor of patterns with more bites-per-suture.