Effectiveness of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Weight Loss in Patients With Obesity Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Severe obesity is a major health concern. However, a few patients remain resistant to bariatric surgery and other treatments. Animal studies suggest that weight may be altered by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from a lean donor. Objective: To determine whether FMT from a lean donor reduces body weight and further improves the results of bariatric surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants: This double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2018 to 2021 among adult individuals with severe obesity treated at 2 bariatric surgery centers in Finland and included 18 months of follow-up. Patients eligible for bariatric surgery were recruited for the study. Data were analyzed from March 2021 to May 2022. Interventions: FMT from a lean donor or from the patient (autologous placebo) was administered by gastroscopy into the duodenum. Bariatric surgery was performed 6 months after the baseline intervention using laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was weight reduction measured as the percentage of total weight loss (TWL). Results: Forty-one patients were recruited to participate in the study and were included in the final analysis (29 women [71.1%]; mean [SD] age, 48.7 [8.7] years; mean [SD] body mass index, 42.5 [6.0]). A total of 21 patients received FMT from a lean donor, and 20 received an autologous placebo. Six months after FMT, 34 patients underwent LRYGB and 4 underwent LSG. Thirty-four patients (82.9%) attended the last visit 18 months after the baseline visit. The percentage of TWL at 6 months was 4.8% (95% CI, 2.7% to 7.0%; P < .001) in the FMT group and 4.6% (95% CI, 1.5% to 7.6%; P = .006) in the placebo group, but no difference was observed between the groups. At 18 months from the baseline (ie, 12 months after surgery), the percentage of TWL was 25.3% (95% CI, 19.5 to 31.1; P < .001) in the FMT group and 25.2% (95% CI, 20.2 to 30.3; P < .001) in the placebo group; however, no difference was observed between the groups. Conclusions and Relevance: FMT did not affect presurgical and postsurgical weight loss. Further studies are needed to elucidate the possible role of FMT in obesity. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03391817.

Open vs. laparoscopic surgery for rectal prolapse: a case-controlled study assessing short-term outcome.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic repair for rectal prolapse. METHODS: A case-control study was undertaken. The case group consisted of a consecutive series of patients who underwent laparoscopic repair for rectal prolapse between February 1993 and June 2000. The control group underwent open prolapse repair between October 1987 and January 2000. RESULTS: There were 53 patients in each group. The groups were matched according to operation type, gender, and age. Median operative time was longer in the case group than in the control group (resection rectopexy 210 vs. 117 minutes, rectopexy 127.5 vs. 72 minutes, respectively). Median postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the case group than in the control group (resection rectopexy 5 vs. 7 days, rectopexy 4.5 vs. 7 days, respectively). Median intraoperative bleeding was minor in the case group (resection rectopexy 35 vs. 300 ml, rectopexy 15 vs. 100 ml, respectively). Mortality (0 vs. 4 percent), complications (23 vs. 30 percent), late complications (4 vs. 13 percent), and the rate of recurrent prolapse (6 vs. 13 percent) did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic repair for rectal prolapse is technically feasible and can be performed with mortality and morbidity rates comparable to those of the conventional technique. The main advantages of the laparoscopic approach appear to be a shorter hospital stay and lessened intraoperative blood loss. Recurrence rate is not increased in the short term.