Changes on Adipose Tissue Distribution After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Obese Göttingen Minipig. Effects on Glucose Metabolism.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to assess Roux-en-Y independent-to-weight metabolic effects on an obese Gottingen minipig. METHODS: Eleven castrated Göttingen minipigs were enrolled. Minipigs became obese after a 9-month period of experimental diet. The animals were then subjected to a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (period P1) followed by 4 months of follow-up (period P2). During this last period, they were fed to maintain similar body weight to that observed at the day of surgery. Registered parameters during each period included biometric variables; abdominal adipose tissue (AT) distribution; lipid profile; HOMA-IR; and fasting plasma leptin, adiponectin, glucose, insulin and fructosamine. RESULTS: Two pigs were unable to complete the study due to postoperative complications. Four months after surgery, the body weight (kg) was maintained (P1 51.90 ± 5.78 vs P2 51.47 ± 5.68). On the contrary, intraperitoneal AT (p < 0.0001), glucose (mmol/L) (P1: 5.53 ± 0.37 vs 4.66 ± 0.72, p = 0.019), fructosamine (µmol/L) (p = 0.0001) and insulin (pmol/L) (P1: 36.66 ± 13.94 vs P2: 21.42 ± 12.62, p = 0.001) significantly decreased after surgery. Lipid profile showed a significant increase after high-fat feeding period and a slight reduction at P2, which continued increasing. At the end of the study, leptin plasma levels (ng/mL) showed a significant reduction compared to basal value (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in glucose metabolism seems to occur by means of the redistribution of body fat. In order to fully confirm this hypothesis, more studies including the evaluation of incretins and inflammatory molecules, as well as a glycaemia control study against glucose load, are needed.

Development and initial assessment of a training program for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. First module: the urethrovesical anastomosis.

PURPOSE: We present our experience in the design and development of a training program in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and the validation of the first steps of the program by objective measurement of the attendants' skills improvement and subjective evaluation of its contents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our training model on LRP has a total duration of 42 hours, divided in two modules of 21 hours each, performed 1 month apart. Data included in the present study were obtained from the first module of our course. It begins with acquisition of basic knowledge in ergonomics and instrument concepts, after which the attendants develop essential laparoscopic dexterities through the performance of hands-on physical simulator tasks. During the second and third day, urologists performed urethrovesical anastomosis also in the physical simulator. Attendants' skills improvement was measured during the first module by registering surgical times and suturing quality of the anastomosis, the latter by means of a leak test. At the end of the training program, a subjective evaluation questionnaire on the different didactic and organizational aspects was handed out to the attendants. RESULTS: By comparing first and last anastomosis, we observed a significant decrease in surgical times (minutes) (T1 40.1±4.6 vs T6 24.01±3.34; P≤0.005) and an increase in intraluminal leak pressure (mm Hg) (T1 8.27±7.33 vs T6 21.09±6.72; P≤0.005). We obtained a highly positive score on all questions concerning the different topics and techniques included in the training program (≥9 points over 10). Regarding the attendants' self-assessment of acquired abilities, 78.3% considered themselves capacitated to perform the trained procedures on patients. CONCLUSIONS: Training obtained during the first module of our training model significantly decreased performance times for ex vivo urethrovesical anastomosis, simultaneously increasing its quality. In addition, validation of the training model was also demonstrated by the highly scored evaluation resulting from the attendants' assessment.