Comparing Open Versus Rigid Endoscopic and Flexible Endoscopic Techniques for the Treatment of Zenker's Diverticulum.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcomes of patients undergoing open stapler versus transoral rigid and flexible endoscopic therapies for symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum. STUDY DESIGN: Single institution retrospective review. SETTING: Tertiary care academic hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 424 consecutive patients who underwent Zenker's diverticulotomy via an open stapler, rigid endoscopic CO2 laser, rigid endoscopic stapler, rigid endoscopic harmonic scalpel, or flexible endoscopic technique from January 2006 to December 2020. RESULTS: A total of 424 patients (173 females, mean age 73.1 ± 11.2 years) from a single institution were included. A total of 142 patients (33%) underwent endoscopic laser treatment, 33 (8%) underwent endoscopic harmonic scalpel, 92 (22%) underwent endoscopic stapler, 70 (17%) underwent flexible endoscopic, and 87 (20%) underwent open stapler. All open and rigid endoscopic procedures and most of the flexible endoscopic procedures (65%) were performed under general anesthesia. The flexible endoscopic group had a higher percentage of procedure-related perforation, defined as subcutaneous emphysema or contrast leak on imaging (14.3%). The recurrence rates were higher in the harmonic stapler, flexible endoscopic, and endoscopic stapler groups at 18.2%, 17.1%, and 17.4%, respectively, and lower in the open group (1.1%). Length of hospital stay and return to oral intake were similar among groups. CONCLUSION: The flexible endoscopic technique was associated with the highest rate of procedure-related perforation, while the endoscopic stapler had the lowest number of procedural complications. Recurrence rates were higher among the harmonic stapler, flexible endoscopic, and endoscopic stapler groups and lower in the endoscopic laser and open groups. Prospective comparative studies with long-term follow-up are needed.

Five-Year Analysis of the MBSAQIP Database: Are We Getting Better?

BACKGROUND: The MBSAQIP has been used to evaluate risk and create risk models. Previous studies have determined what complications matter most. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a registry-based analysis of patients who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, at centers participating in MBSAQIP. Cases were identified using Current Procedural Terminology. Patients less than 18 years old were excluded. A chi-square test was used to assess differences in the prevalence of complications and effects across years. Using a multivariable Poisson regression model with a link log and robust estimation, prevalence ratio estimates and 95% CI were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 690,770 observations met the inclusion criteria. Mean (SD) age was 44.5 (±12.0) years, and mean (SD) BMI was 45.2 kg/m2 (±7.9). SG cases accounted for 73.45% of all observations. There was a significant relative reduction in readmissions, end-organ dysfunction, and all-cause mortality from 2015 to 2019 in the SG subgroup. There were also noticeable reductions in 30-day readmission, ICU admission, and end-organ dysfunction in the RYGB subgroup. For complications, bleeding, postoperative pneumonia, and stroke were significantly decreased in the RYGB subgroup, but only bleeding was significantly decreased in the SG subgroup during the 5-year study period. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a continuous improvement in several (but not all) outcomes through the years that the MBSAQIP has been collecting data. Different outcomes were reduced between the SG and RYGB subgroups, and the decrease in all-cause mortality was only noted in the SG subgroup.

Duodenal switch versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a perioperative risk comparative analysis of the MBSAQIP Database (2015-2019).

BACKGROUND: Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) is a procedure that has long been considered to have a higher early postoperative morbidity than Roux-En-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). However, patients who undergo BPD/DS have more baseline co-morbidities that may affect the reported early postoperative morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To compare 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality between BPD/DS and RYGB propensity score-matched cohorts obtained from the MBSAQIP database. SETTING: Analysis of data obtained from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 21-variable propensity score-matched patients in the BPD/DS and RYGB groups obtained from the MBSAQIP database between 2015 and 2019. Variables included age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and pertinent medical co-morbidities. Data were analyzed for 30-day postoperative morbidity, mortality, reoperation, reintervention, and readmissions. RESULTS: Before matching, RYGB and BPD/DS cohorts contained 134 188 and 5079 patients, respectively. After multivariable propensity score matching, each cohort contained 5050 patients. The RYGB group had a higher rate of surgical-site infections than the BPD/DS group (1% versus .5%, P = .007) and a higher rate of blood product transfusions (1.1% versus .6%, P = .018). The rate of other early postoperative complications was similar between the 2 groups (P > .05). There was no statistically significant difference in the 30-day mortality, readmission rate, reoperation rate, or reintervention rate between the 2 groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: When matched for baseline body mass index and co-morbidities, BPD/DS does not lead to a higher 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality than RYGB. Patients can be counseled that in the short term, BPD/DS is as safe as RYGB.