Sometimes the Best Solution Is Transit Bipartition: Video Case Report.

The simplest definition of Santoro's operation is a sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition. Santoro et al. reported long-term data regarding sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition, which is a similar operation to duodenal switch but without complete exclusion of the duodenum to minimize nutritional complications and to allow endoscopic management of obstructive jaundice. Afterward, several studies proved the efficacy and safety of transit bipartition; the real benefit of this operation is the reduction of side effects and protein malnutrition compared with the bilio-pancreatic diversion with duodenal switch or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. One of the well-known complications of sleeve gastrectomy is reflux which usually responds well to medical treatment, but in few cases, the reflux is refractory to conservative management and warrants surgical intervention as a conversion of the sleeve gastrectomy to other bariatric procedures. There are many theories concerning the increased incidence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease after sleeve gastrectomy which included reduction of lower esophageal sphincter pressure due to the division of ligaments and blunting of the angle of His, reduction in gastric compliance, increased sleeve pressure with an intact pylorus due to the use of Bougie < 40 Fr, decreased sleeve volume and distensibility, and dilated upper part of the final shape with a relative narrowing of the mid-stomach without complete obstruction. Our video report aims to present a unique surgical case and to show the surgical technique in this patient despite the complex surgical history.

Shortening and Plication of Entero-enterostomy for Intussusception in Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Video Report.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is considered by a large percentage of bariatric surgeons' the operation of choice for obesity surgery as reported by Melvin (J Gastrointest Surg. 4:398-400, 2004). It is considered a generally safe procedure with a low percentage of complications. One of these complications is small bowel obstruction which has different etiologies. A rare cause of intestinal obstruction is intussusception at the entero-enterostomy as reported by Arapis et al. (Surg Obes Relat Dis. 1:23-33, 2019) and Sneineh et al. (OBES SURG 30:846-850, 2020). The accurate incidence of intussusception after LRYGB is unknown but Simper et al. (Surg Obes Relat Dis. 4:77-83, 2008) found a 0.15% incidence in their study. Diagnosis of intussusception requires a high index of suspicion because neither physical examination nor imaging is sensitive. CT scan might identify the problem, but a negative CT scan image does not rule out intussusception. Treatment of intussusception varies according to the clinical picture of the patient at the presentation. These variations may include conservative treatment up to resection of the entero-enterostomy and do a re-anastomosis as discussed by Daellenbach et al. (OBES SURG 21:253-263, 2011). The video aims to present an alternative option for surgical management of intussusception of the entero-enterostomy following LRYGB which to our knowledge was not published before.

Increased Incidence of Symptomatic Cholelithiasis After Bariatric Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass and Previous Bariatric Surgery: a Single Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery predisposes patients to cholelithiasis and therefore the need of a subsequent cholecystectomy; however, the incidence of cholecystectomy after bariatric surgery is debated. AIM AND METHODS: Medical records of 601patients hospitalized for bariatric surgery between January 2010 and July 2018 were reviewed. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence of cholecystectomy following different types of common bariatric procedures. All patients who developed cholelithiasis and a subsequent cholecystectomy were included. Cholelithiasis was diagnosed by clinical criteria and characteristic ultrasound findings. RESULTS: We retrospectively evaluated 580 patients with an average follow-up of 12 months (range 6-24 months). Twenty-one patients were excluded because of missing data. Mean age was 48 ± 19 years (78% females). Twenty-nine patients (5%) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) before the bariatric surgery, and 58 patients (10%) performed concomitant LC with the bariatric procedure due to symptomatic gallstone disease (including stones, sludge, and polyps). There were 203 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (35%), 175 laparoscopic gastric band (LAGB) (30%), 55 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (9.5%), and 147 (25%) mini gastric bypass (MGB) procedures during the study period. At the follow-up period, 36 patients (6.2%) developed symptomatic cholelithiasis, while the most common clinical presentation was biliary colic. There was a significant difference between the type of the bariatric procedure and the incidence of symptomatic cholelithiasis after the operation. The incidence of symptomatic gallstone formation in patients who underwent RYGB was 14.5%. This was significantly higher comparing to 4.4% following SG, 4.1% following LAGB, and 7.5% following MGB (p = 0.04). We did not find any predictive risk factors including smoking; BMI at surgery; change in BMI; comorbidities such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and COPD for gallstone formation; or a subsequent cholecystectomy. Interestingly we found that previous bariatric surgery was a risk factor for gallstone formation and cholecystectomy, 13/82 patients (15.8%) compared to 23/492 patients (4.6%) among those without previous bariatric operation (p < 0.001)]. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that patients with previous bariatric surgery or patients planned for RYGB are at high risk to develop postoperative symptomatic gallbladder disease. Concomitant cholecystectomy during the bariatric procedure or alternatively UDCA treatment for at least for 6 months to avoid the high incidence of postoperative symptomatic gallstones should be considered in those asymptomatic patients.