Cholecystectomy Concomitant with Bariatric Surgery: Safety and Metabolic Effects.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and fast weight loss in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery increase significantly the risk of cholelithiasis. Moreover, emerging evidence has pointed out the role of bile acids as possible metabolism and weight loss enhancers. This study aims to analyze the influence of cholecystectomy (CL) concomitant with bariatric surgery on weight loss, metabolic repercussions, and postoperative morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. A total of 363 medical records were analyzed between 2002 and 2017, with 255 patients divided into four groups: with concomitant CL: sleeve gastrectomy (SG + CL group) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GB + CL group); without concomitant CL: sleeve gastrectomy (SG group) and RYGB (GB group). RESULTS: CL concomitant with bariatric surgery is not related to worse long-term metabolic outcomes when compared to isolated bariatric surgery. In the postoperative follow-up of the isolated bariatric surgeries, 18 (16.5%) patients underwent cholecystectomy. There was no statistical difference between the groups regarding post-surgical complications. CONCLUSION: CL did not lead to worse metabolic outcomes and was also not related to a higher incidence of postoperative complications. Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis are important concerns in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery and a careful evaluation of the concomitant procedure should be performed.

A Screening Study of Potential Carcinogen Biomarkers After Surgical Treatment of Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been associated with the development of various types of cancer. Biomarker studies may provide molecular level knowledge of the factors involved in this association, improving clinical practice through new methods of prevention and treatment. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to analyze proteins found in the plasma of obese patients prior to and 6 months after bariatric surgery, using body mass index (BMI) and percentage total weight loss (%TWL) to evaluate, in a prospective manner, the effects of weight loss on the regulation of proteins related to the appearance of tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cohort study designed to compare parameters before and after intervention. A total of 40 patients were divided into two groups: control (n = 10) and obese (n = 30). The latter group was stratified according to surgical technique used (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) n = 11 and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) n = 19) to remove confounding variables. Blood samples were collected for plasma protein studies using two-dimensional electrophoresis. RESULTS: Six proteins related to carcinogenesis were hyperexpressed in the obese patients but were absent in the control group and following surgery. These proteins were the beta-receptor of derived growth factor platelet, the receptor of apolipoprotein B, thrombospondin-2, the low-density lipoprotein receptor, transthyretin, and podoplanin. CONCLUSION: The current preliminary study thus identified potentially carcinogenic proteins in obese patients. Surgical weight loss resulted in the not detection of these proteins.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF SEVERE OBESITY IN TEENS: LATE RESULTS.

BACKGROUND: In children is estimated that the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased up to five times in developed countries and up to four in developing countries. In Brazil, the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight also increased from approximately 4.1% to 13.9%. AIM: To evaluate the surgical results of severe obesity in adolescents. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of 2737 patients with severe obesity that underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass selecting from the total 44 patients with mean age of 18.1 years, 14 males and 30 females, most (37) operated by laparotomy. There was follow-up of 20 patients (45.45%). All were followed preoperatively by a multidisciplinary team and had indication confirmed for surgical unanimous approval of all team members. RESULTS: Among the 20 adolescent, 14 were female. From five teenagers using anti-hypertension or hypoglycemic drugs before surgery, four (80%) had drug discontinuation and one (20%) reduced the dose in 50% postoperatively. The average weight loss was 45.4 kg after a mean follow up of 60 months. There were no deaths or severe postoperative complications. Among those who underwent postoperative follow-up with a multidisciplinary team, 18 were with BMI<30. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has good response in relation to weight loss and improvement of comorbidities. There was a low rate of complications and no deaths. All patients were satisfied with their personal results.

Revision surgery for treatment of weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate results on revision surgery for weight regain after gastric bypass, based on surgical technique and follow-up. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of 29 patients who presented weight regain on follow-up after more than 5 years, divided into four groups according to revision surgery type: group 1 (n = 9) includes patients who underwent an increase in the length of the alimentary limb to 200 cm; group 2 (n = 13) are patients who underwent an increase in the length of the alimentary limb and placing of a silicon ring; group 3 (n = 2) are patients who underwent an increase in the length of the alimentary limb and gastric plication, and group 4 (n = 5) are patients who underwent gastric plication and placing of a silicon ring. RESULTS: The average preoperative weight before revision surgery was 117.8 kg, and the average postoperative follow-up for revision surgery was 13.7 months. Weight loss after revision surgery was observed in all groups but was greater in patients with longer revisional postoperative follow-up. Patients who underwent placing of a silicon ring presented greater weight loss than those who had had such a band since the original gastric bypass operation. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that revision surgery may be a useful tool in achieving weight loss in patients presenting weight regain following gastric bypass, obesity, bariatric surgery, gastric bypass, weight regain, and revision surgery.