Prognosis of Reflux Symptom Resolution After Bariatric Surgery: How Can Preoperative Esophageal Testing Help?

PURPOSE: The incidence of unresolved postoperative reflux after bariatric surgery varies considerably. Consistent perioperative patient characteristics predictive of unresolved reflux remain unknown. We leverage our institution's comprehensive preoperative esophageal testing to identify predictors of postoperative reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective review of adult patients with preoperative reflux symptoms who underwent either vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) from 2015 to 2021. All patients had pH and high-resolution manometry preoperatively. Predictors of postoperative unresolved reflux at 1 year were explored via Fisher's exact test, Kruskal Wallis test, and univariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Unresolved reflux was higher in patients undergoing VSG (n = 60/129,46.5%) vs. RYGB (n = 19/98, 19.4%). Median DeMeester scores were higher (22 vs. 13, p = .07) along with rates of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) (31.6 vs. 8.9%, p = .01) in the 19 (19.3%) patients with unresolved postoperative reflux after RYGB compared to the resolved RYGB reflux cohort. Sixty (46.5%) of VSG patients had unresolved postoperative reflux. The VSG unresolved reflux cohort had similar median DeMeester and IEM incidence to the resolved VSG group but more preoperative dysphagia (13.3% vs. 2.9%, p = .04) and higher preoperative PPI use (56.7 vs. 39.1%, p = .05). In univariate analysis, only IEM was predictive of unresolved reflux after RYGB (OR 4.74, 95% CI 1.37, 16.4). CONCLUSION: Unresolved reflux was higher after VSG. Preoperative IEM predicted unresolved reflux symptoms after RYGB. In VSG patients, preoperative dysphagia symptoms and PPI use predicted unresolved reflux though lack of correlation to objective testing highlights the subjective nature of symptoms and the challenges in predicting postoperative symptomatology.

Distribution and Rate of Myxoid Liposarcoma Spine Metastases: Impact on Surveillance Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Myxoid liposarcoma (LPS) has a unique tendency to spread to extrapulmonary sites, including osseous sites such as the spine, and adjacent sites such as the paraspinous tissue. No clear consensus exists to guide the approach to imaging in these patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the rate and distribution of spine metastases in patients with myxoid LPS and detection modality. METHODS: Records of all patients with myxoid LPS evaluated at our sarcoma center were retrospectively reviewed. Disease patterns and imaging modality utilization were analyzed. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2020, 164 patients with myxoid LPS were identified. The majority (n = 148, 90%) presented with localized disease, with half (n = 82, 50%) of all patients developing metastases or recurrence during their disease course. With a median follow-up of 69.2 months, spine/paraspinous metastases developed in 38 patients (23%), of whom 35 (92%) already had synchronous, non-spine metastases. Spine disease was only visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as opposed to other imaging modalities, for over one-quarter of patients with spine metastases (n = 10). For patients with metastatic disease, spine metastases were associated with worse median overall survival (2.1 vs. 8.7 years, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Spine metastases occurred in nearly one-quarter of patients with myxoid LPS and represented an advanced disease state, as they primarily presented in the setting of synchronous, non-spine metastases, and were associated with worse overall survival. Routine surveillance with spine MRI in patients with localized disease likely provides no benefit but may be considered in those with known metastatic disease.

The impact of procedure type on 30-day readmissions following metabolic and bariatric surgery: postoperative complications of bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Hospital readmission (HR) rates following metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS) are used as a surrogate for quality outcomes and are increasingly tied to reimbursement rates. There are limited data concerning predictors of HR rates with regard to type of bariatric procedure. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from patients who underwent MBS from January 2014 to December 2019 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. The causes of all HRs and reoperations within 30 days of the original discharge were analyzed. Statistical significance was determined using Chi Squared test and T test. RESULTS: 2815 patients underwent MBS. 2373 patients (84.3%) had primary procedures, while 442 patients (15.7%) had secondary or revisional procedures. The overall 30-day readmission rate was 5.7%, with no significant difference for patients who underwent primary vs. secondary MBS. Among primary procedures, the readmission rate was higher for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) than laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (10.32% vs. 4.77%). Readmissions were most often due to nontechnical causes. The overall reoperation rate was 1.14% and was higher for patients undergoing secondary vs. primary procedures (2.94% vs 0.80%). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission rate was similar to that in existing literature. Revisional/secondary surgery did not lead to increased readmissions, although was associated with a higher reoperation rate. Most HRs were due to nontechnical causes. Optimization of postoperative care, such as fluid status, may reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Prophylactic subtotal colectomy in a patient with an AXIN2 mutation.

A number of genetic syndromes that predispose patients to colon cancer have been well described, allowing for improved surveillance, diagnosis and treatment. However, other syndromes likely exist but have yet to be thoroughly characterized. I report the case of a 50-year-old woman who was found to have over 50 polyps on routine screening colonoscopy. Genetic sequencing revealed a mutation in Axin2, a rare gene implicated in oligodontia-colorectal cancer syndrome. It was later found that the patient lacks several permanent teeth, as does her mother, who also had a history of multiple colonic polyps. Given the rarity of Axin2 mutations, there are no guidelines for management of such patients. This highlights the importance of a thorough review of system when screening for colon cancer as well as documenting cases of Axin2 mutations to create management guidelines for these patients.

Colon Neuroendocrine Tumors: A New Lymph Node Staging Classification.

BACKGROUND: The American Joint Commission on Cancer, the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, and the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society all classify colon neuroendocrine tumor (NET) nodal metastasis as N0 or N1. This binary classification does not allow for further prognostication by the total number of positive lymph nodes. This study aimed to evaluate whether the total number of positive lymph nodes affects the overall survival for patients with colon NET. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with colon NET. Nearest-neighborhood grouping was performed to classify patients by survival to create a new nodal staging system. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to validate the new nodal staging classification. RESULTS: Colon NETs were identified in 2472 patients. Distinct 5-year survival rates were estimated for the patients with N0 (no positive lymph nodes; 69.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 66.7-72.7%), N1a (1 positive lymph node; 63.9%; 95% CI, 59.6-68.0%), N1b (2-9 positive lymph nodes; 38.9%; 95% CI, 35.4-42.3%), and N2 (≥ 10 positive lymph nodes; 15.7%; 95% CI, 11.9-20.0%; p < 0.001) nodal classifications. The validation population showed distinct 5-year survival rates with the new nodal staging. In multivariable Cox regression, the new nodal stage was a significant independent predictor of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The number of positive locoregional lymph nodes in colon NETs is an independent prognostic factor. For patients with colon NETs, N0, N1a, N1b, and N2 classifications for nodal metastasis more accurately predict survival than current staging systems.

Survival in Patients with High-Grade Colorectal Neuroendocrine Carcinomas: The Role of Surgery and Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal neuroendocrine tumors are a rare malignancy, yet their incidence appears to be increasing. The optimal treatment for the high-grade subset of these tumors remains unclear. We aimed to examine the relationship between different treatment modalities and outcomes for patients with high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (HGNECs) of the colon and rectum. METHODS: The National Cancer Database (2004-2015) was used to identify patients diagnosed with colorectal HGNECs. The primary outcome was overall survival. A Cox Proportional hazard model was used to identify risk factors for survival. RESULTS: Overall, 1208 patients had HGNECs; 452 (37.4%) patients had primary tumors of the rectum, and 756 (62.5%) patients had primary tumors of the colon. A total of 564 (46.7%) patients presented with stage IV disease. The median survival was 9.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.2-9.8]. In multivariable analysis, surgical resection [hazard ratio (HR) 0.54, 95% CI 0.44-0.66; p < 0.001], chemotherapy (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.69-0.79; p < 0.001), and rectum as the primary site of tumor (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.51-0.76; p < 0.001) were associated with better overall survival, while older age (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01; p = 0.02) and the presence of metastatic disease (HR 3.34, 95% CI 2.69-4.15; p < 0.001) were associated with worse survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with colorectal HGNECs selected for chemotherapy and surgical resection of the primary tumor demonstrated better overall survival than those managed without resection. Patients who were able to undergo systemic chemotherapy may benefit from potentially curative resection of the primary tumor.