Long-term weight loss of distal gastric bypass is moderately superior compared to proximal gastric bypass in patients with a BMI of 37-44 Kg/m2.

PURPOSE: The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is one of the standard procedures in metabolic surgery. Different limb lengths have been proposed in the past to maximize weight loss (WL) and reduce metabolic complications. Distal gastric bypass surgery with a very short common channel (CC) (up to 100 cm) has been often criticized due to frequent side effects such as malnutrition, bone weakening and short-bowel syndrome. We introduced a modified version of a distal LRYGB with a 50-70 cm long biliopancreatic limb (BPL) and an intermediate short CC (120-150 cm). Our primary goal was to compare the long-term WL between distal and proximal LRYGB in two cohorts of patients. Secondary outcomes were weight regain (WR), insufficient weight loss (IWL), postoperative complications and metabolic changes 5 years after surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective study we collected data from 160 patients operated between 2014 and 2015, with a BMI of 37-44 Kg/m2. 101 patients underwent a distal and 59 patients a proximal LRYGB in two bariatric centers. WL was calculated as percent of excess of BMI loss (%EBMIL), loss of body mass index (Delta-BMI), percent of excess weight loss (%EWL) and percent of total weight loss (%TWL). Data were collected 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 60 months after surgery. RESULTS: The distal LRYGB resulted in significantly better 5-year-WL compared to the proximal bypass in terms of %EBMIL (median at 5 years: 83% vs. 65%, p = 0.001), %TWL (median at 5 years: 32% vs. 26%, p = 0.017) and %EWL (median at 5 years: 65% vs. 51%, p = 0.029), with equal major complications and metabolic alterations. In addition, WR was significantly lower in patients with distal bypass (18% vs. 35%, p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Distal LYRGB with a 120-150 long CC results in better WL and WL-maintenance compared to proximal LRYGB without major side effects after five years.

Foreign Glass Bodies in Pleura and Pancreas: Systematic Review for Entry Hypotheses and Treatment Options in an Unresolved Case.

BACKGROUND: Foreign bodies within the pleura and pancreas are infrequent, and the approaches to their treatment still a subject of debate. There is limited knowledge particularly regarding glass foreign bodies. METHODS: We present a case involving large glass splinters in the pleura and pancreas, with an unknown entry point. In addition, a systematic review was conducted to explore entry hypotheses and management options. RESULTS: In addition to our case, our review uncovered eight incidents of intrapleural glass, and another eight cases of glass in other intrathoracic areas. The fragments entered the body through impalement (81%), migrated through the diaphragm after impalement (6%), or caused transesophageal perforation (19%) following ingestion. Eight instances of glass inside the abdominal cavity were documented, with seven resulting from impalement injuries and one from transintestinal migration. There were no recorded instances of glass being discovered within the pancreas. Among the 41 nonglass intrapancreatic foreign bodies found, sewing needles (34%) and fish bones (46%) were the most common; following ingestion, they had migrated through either a transgastric or transduodenal perforation. In all these cases, how the foreign bodies were introduced was often poorly recalled by the patient. Many nonglass foreign bodies tend to become encapsulated by fibrous tissue, rendering them inert, though this is less common with glass. Glass has been reported to migrate through various tissues and cavities, sometimes with a significant delay spanning even decades. There are cases of intrapleural migration of glass causing hemothorax, pneumothorax, and heart and major blood vessels injury. For intrapleural glass fragment management, thoracoscopy proved to be effective in 5 reported cases, in addition to our patient. Most intrapancreatic nonglass foreign bodies tend to trigger pancreatitis and abscess formation, necessitating management ranging from laparoscopic procedures to subtotal pancreatectomy. There have been only four documented cases of intrapancreatic needles that remained asymptomatic with conservative management. There is no direct guidance from the existing literature regarding management of intrapancreatic glass foreign bodies. Consequently, our patient is under observation with regular follow-ups and has remained asymptomatic for the past 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Glass foreign bodies in the pleura are rare, and our report of an intrapancreatic glass fragment is the first of its kind. Impalement is the most likely method of introduction. As glass has significant migration and an ensuing complication potential, preventive removal of intrapleural loose glass should be considered. However, intrapancreatic glass fragment management remains uncertain.

Assessment of the external validity of the American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th staging system for anal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The current study evaluates the prognostic value of the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for patients with anal carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (2004-2014) was explored and AJCC 6th and 8th stages were formulated. Through Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall survival analyses were performed. The Cox regression model (adjusted for age, gender, histology, ethnicity, subsite and grade) was calculated for cancer-specific survival and, subsequently, pairwise comparisons of hazard ratios were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 11,934 anal carcinoma patients were included in the analysis. Overall survival was compared according to both AJCC 6th and 8th systems. For both staging systems, the p value for the trend in overall survival was significant (p < .0001). Nevertheless, for the AJCC 6th system, stage IIIA and IIIB curves were overlapping; while for the AJCC 8th system, the median survival for stage IIB was lower than the mean survival for stage IIIA (74 months vs. 96 months). Moreover, stage IIIB and stage IIIC curves were overlapping. The cause-specific (cancer-specific) Cox regression hazard was calculated for both staging systems. Pairwise hazard ratio comparisons between different AJCC 6th stages were performed and all p values for comparisons were significant (p < .05). Pairwise hazard ratio comparisons between different AJCC 8th stages were performed and only the following comparisons were significant (p < .0001) (I vs. IIA; IIA vs. IIB; IIIC vs. IV). The C-statistic (using death from anal carcinoma as the dependent variable) for the AJCC 6th staging system was: 0.681 (SE: 0.009; 95% CI: 0.664-0.698); while the C-statistic for the AJCC 8th staging system was 0.687 (SE: 0.008; 95% CI: 0.670-0.703). CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence of significant improvement in the AJCC 8th edition compared to AJCC 6th (or 7th) edition in terms of overall or cancer-specific survival prediction.

Short-term preoperative supplementation of an immunoenriched diet does not improve clinical outcome in well-nourished patients undergoing abdominal cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: A recent study suggested that the anti-inflammatory effect of immunonutrition starts after only two d. We therefore investigated the effect of an immunoenriched oral diet administered for three d preoperatively. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, well-nourished patients (Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 <3) with gastrointestinal cancer who were scheduled for major elective abdominal cancer surgery were randomly assigned to either 750 mL of an immunoenriched formula (IEF group) or 750 mL of an isocaloric, isonitrogenous placebo diet (Con group) for 3 consecutive d preoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients (IEF group: n = 55; Con group: n = 53) were randomized. The two groups were comparable for all baseline and surgical characteristics. The overall mortality was 2.8% and not significantly different between the two groups (IEF group: 3.6% vs. Con group: 1.9%, P = 1.00). Intention-to-treat analysis showed no difference for the incidence of postoperative overall (IEF group: 29% vs. Con group: 30%; P = 1.00) and infectious (IEF group: 15% vs. Con group: 17%; P = 0.79) complications. Length of hospital stay was 12 ± 4.9 d in the IEF group and 11.6 ± 5.3 d in the Con group (P = 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative oral supplementation with an immunoenriched diet for 3 d preoperatively did not improve postoperative outcome compared with the placebo in well-nourished patients with elective gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Evaluation of intraoperative recurrent nerve monitoring in thyroid surgery.

Surgical exposure of the recurrent laryngeal nerve decreases the incidence of nerve injuries during thyroid surgery. Intraoperative neuromonitoring was introduced to facilitate identification and protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Between February 1996 and June 2002 a total of 288 patients underwent thyroid surgery with intraoperative identification and intraoperative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The overall incidences of permanent and transient recurrent nerve palsy (considered as a percentage of the nerves at risk) were 1.4% and 8.7%, respectively. Results were stratified in benign, malignant, and recurrent thyroid disease. Intraoperative function testing revealed a positive predictive value of 33% and negative predictive value of 99%. We concluded that the incidence of recurrent nerve lesions in benign, malignant, and recurrent thyroid disease was not lowered by the use of intraoperative neuromonitoring. Although an intact nerve can be verified by the neuromonitoring, the loss of nerve function cannot be reliably identified.

Sutureless Lichtenstein: first results of a prospective randomised clinical trial.

Inguinal hernia repair, according to Lichtenstein, is very popular due to its minimal invasiveness (local anaesthesia), easy and reproducible technique, low recurrence rate, and low morbidity. However, recent publications demonstrate an elevated rate of chronic irritations and pain, probably due to tension or nerve compression by the fixing sutures. We, therefore, established a concept to avoid these sutures by attaching the prosthesis with glue. After a pilot study, a randomised prospective trial was started. The aim of our study was to compare the results of the classical Lichtenstein repair (group 1) vs the "Sutureless Lichtenstein" (group 2) in terms of postoperative complications and recurrences. Operative access and management of the hernial sac was equal to Lichtenstein for both groups. In group 1, we sutured the mesh with PDS 2/0; in group 2, the mesh was glued with n-butyl-cyanoacrylate. In both groups, the operation was then completed according to Lichtenstein, and unrestricted activity was allowed after 2 weeks. A total of 46 patients have been operated on. The follow-up results at 3 weeks and [3 months] were: group 1 ( n=24) vs group 2 ( n=22): recurrences 0 [0] vs 0 [0], minor pain 8 [4] vs 4 [1], local numbness 14 [10] vs 10 [6]. No adhesive-related complications were seen. Patients will be followed for 2 years. The results in group 2 were excellent, and there was no difference vs group 1. Furthermore, there was a tendency for better results in group 2. These results are very promising and justify a continuation of the study.