Factors Associated with Non-Completion of a Pediatric Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a devastating disease process disproportionately affecting minority and low-income populations. Though bariatric surgery leads to durable weight loss and reversal of multiple obesity-related comorbidities, only a small fraction of pediatric patients undergoes the procedure. We sought to identify factors associated with non-completion in a pediatric bariatric surgery program. METHODS: Retrospective review of consecutive patients ≤18-years-old referred to an academic adolescent bariatric surgery program between 2017 and 2022 (n = 20 completers, 40 non-completers) was completed. Demographics and medical and psychosocial histories were summarized by completion status. RESULTS: Of the 33% (20/60; 85% female, 30% racial minorities) who successfully completed the program, the median age was 16 years [IQR 16, 17]. The median age of non-completers was 16 years [IQR 15, 17] (55% female, 56% racial minorities). Non-completion was associated with male gender (15% of completers vs 45% of non-completers, p = 0.022), neighborhood income <150% poverty level (0 completers vs 17.5% of non-completers, p = 0.047), and presence of environmental or family stressors (22% of completers vs 65% of non-completers, p = 0.008). Though not statistically significant, non-completers tended to be racial minorities (p = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: Non-completion of the bariatric surgery pathway was more prevalent among male patients from lower-income neighborhoods with significant environmental or family stressors. These patients also tended to be racial and ethnic minorities. The findings underscore the need for further investigation into barriers to pediatric bariatric surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Reflux Symptoms Increase Following Sleeve Gastrectomy Despite Triage of Symptomatic Patients to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bariatric surgical options in obese patients include sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), which may not be equivalent in risk of postoperative reflux symptoms. We evaluated risk and predictive factors for postbariatric surgery reflux symptoms. METHODS: Patients with obesity evaluated for bariatric surgery over a 15-month period were prospectively followed with validated symptom questionnaires (GERDQ, dominant symptom index: product of symptom frequency and intensity from 5-point Likert scores) administered before and after SG and RYGB. Esophageal testing included high-resolution manometry in all patients, and ambulatory reflux monitoring off therapy in those with abnormal GERDQ or prior reflux history. Univariate comparisons and multivariable analysis were performed to determine if preoperative factors predicted postoperative reflux symptoms. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (median age 49.0 years, 84% female, median BMI 46.5 kg/m 2 ) fulfilled inclusion criteria and underwent follow-up assessment 4.4 years after bariatric surgery. Baseline GERDQ and dominant symptom index for heartburn were significantly higher in RYGB patients ( P ≤0.04). Despite this, median GERDQ increased by 2 (0.0 to 4.8) following SG and decreased by 0.5 (-1.0 to 5.0) following RYGB ( P =0.02). GERDQ became abnormal in 43.8% after SG and 18.8% after RYGB ( P =0.058); abnormal GERDQ improved in 12.5% and 37.5%, respectively ( P =0.041). In a model that included age, gender, BMI, acid exposure time, and type of surgery, multivariable analysis identified SG as an independent predictor of postoperative heartburn (odds ratio 16.61, P =0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Despite preferential RYGB when preoperative GERD was identified, SG independently predicted worsening heartburn symptoms after bariatric surgery.

National Trends and Outcomes in Adolescents Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: In the US, obesity continues to be a severe health issue now affecting adolescents. Bariatric surgery remains the most effective treatment for obesity, but use among adolescents remains low. The objective of this study was to identify current national trends in bariatric surgery among adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, adolescents aged 9 to 19 with a diagnosis of morbid obesity who underwent a laparoscopic gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) between 2015 and 2018 were identified. Demographics, comorbidities, and in-hospital complications were collected. National estimates were calculated. The trend of annual number of operations was determined by Kruskal-Wallis rank test. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2018, 1,203 adolescents were identified, resulting in a nationwide estimate of 4,807 bariatric cases. The number of bariatric operations increased annually from 1,360 in 2015 to 1,740 operations in 2018 (p = 0.0771). The majority of patients were female (76%), 17 to 19 years old (84.1%), and White (47.9%). Most patients underwent SG (82.0%). Black and Hispanic patients comprised 40.2% of the cohort. Significant comorbidities included diabetes, dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The average length of stay decreased from 2.12 days to 1.64 days. There were no in-hospital mortalities, and complications were less than 1%. CONCLUSIONS: With the increasing prevalence of obesity among adolescents in the US, bariatric surgery increased over time but was performed less in patients younger than 16 years of age and racial minorities. Bariatric surgery among adolescents remains safe, with extremely low complication rates and zero in-hospital mortality.

Incidence, mechanisms, and outcomes of esophageal and gastric perforation during laparoscopic foregut surgery: a retrospective review of 1,223 foregut cases.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative perforation is a potentially major complication of laparoscopic (lap) foregut surgery. This study analyzed the incidence, mechanism, and outcomes of intraoperative perforations during these procedures in a large institutional experience. METHODS: All patients who underwent lap foregut surgery including laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS), paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repair, Heller myotomy, and reoperative hiatal hernia (redo HH) repair at the authors' institution from August 2004 to September 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Perforation events and postoperative outcomes were analyzed, and complications were graded by the modified Clavien system. All data are expressed as means ± standard deviations or as medians. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: In this study, the repairs for 1,223 patients were analyzed (381 LARS procedures, 379 PEH repairs, 313 Heller myotomies, 150 redo HH repairs). Overall, 51 patients (4.2 %) had 56 perforations resulting from LARS (n = 4, 1 %), PEH repair (n = 7, 1.8 %), Heller myotomy (n = 18, 5.8 %), and redo HH repair (n = 22, 14.6 %). Redo HH was significantly more likely to result in perforations than LARS or PEH repair (p < 0.001). The locations of the perforations were esophageal in 13 patients (23.6 %), gastric in 40 patients (72.7 %), and indeterminate in 2 patients (3.6 %). The most common mechanisms of perforations were suture placement for LARS (75 %) and traction for PEH repair (43 %) and for Heller myotomy during the myotomy (72 %). The most redo HH perforations resulted from dissection/wrap takedown (73 %) and traction (14 %). Perforations were recognized and repaired intraoperatively in 43 cases (84 %) and postoperatively in eight cases (16 %). Perforations discovered postoperatively were more likely to require reoperation (75 vs 2 %; p < 0.001), to require more gastrointestinal and radiologic interventions (50 vs 2 %; p = 0.004), and to have higher morbidity (88 vs 26 %; p = 0.004) than perforations recognized intraoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: In a high-volume center, intraoperative perforations are the most frequent with reoperative HH repair. If perforations are recognized and repaired intraoperatively, they require minimal postoperative intervention. Unrecognized perforations usually require reoperation and result in significantly greater morbidity.

A comparison of noninvasive blood pressure measurement on the wrist with invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: In morbidly obese patients, oscillometric blood pressure measurements with an upper-arm cuff are often difficult to perform. The alternative method, invasive blood pressure monitoring, can be difficult to place and is associated with risks. A wrist-mounted blood pressure-monitoring device, the Vasotrac, provides accurate blood pressure measurements in lean patients. Even in the obese, wrist morphology remains relatively unchanged. We thus assessed the degree to which blood pressure measurements with the Vasotrac on the wrist and cuff measurements agree with invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring. METHODS: We evaluated 22 morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery lasting 3.8+/-1.1 h. Intraoperative blood pressure was simultaneously measured using the Vasotrac mounted on one wrist; an arterial catheter was inserted in the opposite radial artery, and an oscillometric cuff was positioned on the upper arm. Preoperative patient comfort was evaluated on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being most uncomfortable, just after the first oscillometric cuff inflation. Values from the Vasotrac and arterial catheter were recorded at 5-s intervals. Bias, precision, and clinically acceptable agreement were calculated between the two continuous monitoring devices and between the arterial catheter and the cuff measurements, with the arterial catheter providing the reference value. RESULTS: The patients' age was 44.3+/-9.5 years (mean+/-SD), body mass index was 66.7+/-13.8 kg/m2, and arm circumference was 48.6+/-7.5 cm. Patients found the Vasotrac more comfortable than the oscillometric device [1.7+/-1.8 vs 5.3+/-0.5 (P=0.009)]. A total of 40,411 pairs of values from the Vasotrac and arterial catheter were recorded. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (95% CI) for mean arterial blood pressure measured between the arterial line and the Vasotrac was 0.74 (0.67, 0.82). The bias (mean error) was -0.25 mmHg; however, the Bland-Altman limits where 95% of individual pressure differences are expected to fall was (-20, 20) mmHg. The precisions for diastolic and systolic pressures were even worse. CONCLUSION: The Vasotrac was more comfortable than an oscillometric device. Although the average accuracy was good, individual mean Vasotrac and noninvasive blood pressure pressures often differed considerably from arterial values. These results suggest that the Vasotrac monitor should not be substituted for an arterial catheter in super-obese patients.

Successful endoscopic management of gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most frequently performed bariatric surgery for morbid obesity. Gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures are a relatively frequent postoperative complication. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and therapeutic response to through-the-scope balloon dilation performed to treat anastomotic strictures after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: Between 1997 and 2005, 801 patients with morbid obesity underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery at our institution. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The development of an anastomotic stricture after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The response to through-the-scope balloon dilation after diagnosis. RESULTS: Forty-three of 801 patients (5.4%) developed an anastomotic stricture (26 of 294 open surgeries [8.8%]; 17 of 507 laparoscopic surgeries [3.4%]; P < .001). Strictures were dilated to 15.5 +/- 0.4 mm. There were no perforations or clinically significant bleeding after dilation; 93% of the strictures were successfully managed with 1 or 2 endoscopic sessions. Dilation to at least 15 mm did not affect weight loss at 1 year when compared with the group without a stricture (percentage excess weight loss: stricture group, 76%; no stricture group, 74%). LIMITATIONS: Single-center, retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic balloon dilation is a safe and effective method for the management of gastrojejunostomy strictures after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Dilation to at least 15 mm is safe and decreases the need for further endoscopic dilation.

Absorbable mesh reinforcement of a stapled pancreatic transection line reduces the leak rate with distal pancreatectomy.

Pancreatic leak remains a significant cause of morbidity after distal pancreatectomy. We report the use of an absorbable mesh to reinforce a stapled pancreatic transection line for distal pancreatectomy. Forty consecutive distal pancreatectomies (33 open and 7 laparoscopic) were performed since the introduction of mesh reinforcement. We utilized an inclusive definition of pancreatic leak to critically evaluate the staple line reinforcement material. In addition, we compared the pancreatic leak rate for this case series with the antecedent 40 cases where mesh reinforcement was not available. In the prospective series there was 1 leak in 29 cases (3.5%) in which mesh reinforcement was utilized, and 4 leaks in 11 cases (36%) when mesh was not utilized (p < 0.005). The 12.5% leak rate for the 40 cases during the prospective period, compared favorably to the 27.5% leak rate for the 40 cases preceding the study period (p = 0.09). Twenty-nine cases receiving mesh compared favorably to the 23 stapled cases in the control series, reducing leak rate from 22 to 3.5% (p = 0.04). Mesh reinforcement of the stapled pancreatic transection line reduced the pancreatic leak rate after distal pancreatectomy. Mesh reinforcement was possible with open or laparoscopic resections. No complications were attributable to the use of absorbable mesh.

In vivo distribution of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in novel xenotransplantation models.

The potential for human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSC) to traffic into various tissue compartments was examined using three murine xenotransplantation models: nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID), nude/NOD/SCID, and NOD/SCID/MPSVII mice. Enhanced green fluorescent protein was introduced into purified AMSC via retroviral vectors to assist in identification of cells after transplantation. Transduced cells were administered to sublethally irradiated immune-deficient mice through i.v., intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous injection. Up to 75 days after transplantation, tissues were harvested and DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for specific vector sequences as well as for human Alu repeat sequences. Duplex quantitative PCR using human beta-globin and murine rapsyn primers assessed the contribution of human cells to each tissue. The use of the novel NOD/SCID/MPSVII mouse as a recipient allowed rapid identification of human cells in the murine tissues, using an enzyme reaction that was independent of surface protein expression or transduction with an exogenous transgene. For up to 75 days after transplantation, donor-derived cells were observed in multiple tissues, consistently across the various administration routes and independent of transduction parameters. Tissue localization studies showed that the primary MSC did not proliferate extensively at the sites of lodgement. We conclude that human AMSC represent a population of stem cells with a ubiquitous pattern of tissue distribution after administration. AMSC are easily obtained and highly amenable to current transduction protocols for retroviral transduction, making them an excellent avenue for cell-based therapies that involve a wide range of end tissue targets.

Hypercapnia improves tissue oxygenation in morbidly obese surgical patients.

Risk of wound infection is increased in morbidly obese surgical patients, in part because a major determinant of wound infection risk, tissue oxygenation, is marginal. Unlike in lean patients, supplemental inspired oxygen (Fio2) only slightly improves tissue oxygenation in obese patients. Mild hypercapnia improves tissue oxygenation in lean patients but has not been evaluated in obese patients. We thus tested the hypothesis that mild hypercapnia markedly improves tissue oxygenation in morbidly obese patients given Fio2 80% during major abdominal surgery. Thirty obese patients (body mass index 61.5 +/- 17 kg/m2) scheduled for open gastric bypass were randomly assigned to normocapnia (n = 15, end-tidal Pco2 35 mm Hg) or hypercapnia (n = 15, end-tidal Pco2 50 mm Hg); Fio2 was 80%. Anesthetic management and other confounding factors were controlled. Tissue oxygen tension was measured subcutaneously at the upper arm using a polarographic probe in a silastic tonometer. Demographic characteristics, cardiovascular measurements, and Pao2 (222 +/- 48 versus 230 +/- 68 mm Hg in normocapnic versus hypercapnic; mean +/- sd; P = 0.705) were comparable in the groups. Tissue oxygen tension, however, was greater in hypercapnic than in normocapnic patients (78 +/- 31 versus 56 +/- 13 mm Hg; P = 0.029). Mild hypercapnia increased tissue oxygenation by an amount believed to be clinically important and could potentially reduce the risk of surgical wound infection in morbidly obese patients.