Management of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Erosion: A Case Report.

Gastric banding was one of the first operations to gain popularity within the field of bariatric surgery. This case details one patient's presentation and subsequent management of gastric band erosion with the hope of guiding other physicians and supporting the decreased use of gastric banding. The patient, a 61-year-old Caucasian female, presented to the bariatric clinic complaining of a multiyear history of epigastric pain and acid reflux, which was refractory to treatment with proton pump inhibitors. She had a history of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) placement in 2007. She was initially successful in achieving weight loss and maintained regular band adjustments but was lost to follow-up and regained a body mass index (BMI) of 41.59 kg/m2. Evaluation with upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy was recommended and performed. This revealed a LAGB in its entirety with tubing within the gastric fundus. Removal with dual endoscopy and abdominal laparoscopy was recommended and scheduled. During attempts to remove the band using an endoscopic snare, significant difficulty was encountered. Ultimately, an endoscopic rat-tooth grasper was used to lyse the band and tubing into four sections for complete removal. The subcutaneous port of the band was successfully removed laparoscopically, and the patient was discharged from the operating room. She reported limited pain in the postoperative suite but was lost to follow-up regarding long-term symptom relief. This report describes the presentation and management of one patient's experience with a known complication of LAGB-band erosion. This complication necessitated two additional procedures with anesthesia and placed the patient at increased risk for esophageal perforation, complications related to sedation, and the development of abdominal adhesions. Her case aims to support the decreasing prevalence of LAGBs within bariatric surgery and hopes to guide other physicians challenged with the management of similar cases.

Shear-Wave Elastography for the Diagnosis of Pediatric Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Shear-wave elastography (SWE) has emerged as a novel ultrasonographic technique for the diagnosis of pediatric Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarize current evidence to determine the diagnostic value of SWE for HT. MEDLINE, a comprehensive search yielded five studies inclusive of 392 subjects. A meta-analysis comparing SWE values (kPa) between children with HT and healthy controls yielded a Cohen's d-value of 1.34 (CI 1.02-1.65), suggesting statistically significant differences in SWE values. Such evidence indicates that SWE may serve as a valuable tool in diagnosing HT in the pediatric population.

Surgical Outcomes Following Robotic Single-Site Versus Multiport Hysterectomy for Treatment of Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Robotic single-site hysterectomy (RSSH) has emerged as a novel surgical approach for the treatment of endometrial cancer and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH). Current research regarding the benefits of RSSH compared to robotic multiport hysterectomy (RMPH) for these indications has been inconclusive. Our team sought to compare surgical outcomes between these two approaches of robotic hysterectomy via systematic review and meta-analysis to ensure optimal surgical practices. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 Checklist guided our review. MEDLINE, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Cochrane Library were searched, yielding 59 results. Articles were filtered by title and abstract and then reviewed in full for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria required that (1) studies compared outcomes for RSSH and RMPH, (2) hysterectomy was indicated for endometrial cancer or hyperplasia with atypia, and (3) studies were available in English. Excluded studies (1) compared single-site and multiport laparoscopic approaches, (2) compared robotic approaches to laparoscopic or abdominal (open) techniques, and (3) employed hysterectomy for benign conditions. Publication bias was assessed using the Egger Regression Correlation analysis. Four studies complied with the selection criteria, comprising 138 patients in the RSSH group and 259 in the RMPH group. Similar outcomes were noted across all measures, including conversion rate (relative risk [RR] = 1.84 and confidence interval [CI] = 0.99-3.43), blood loss (Cohen's d = 1.05 and Z = 18.62), operating time (Cohen's d = 0.29 and Z = 4.38), and length of hospital stay (Cohen's d = 1.06 and Z = 3.86). Publication bias was deemed minimal as indicated by Egger regression values of less than 0.05. These findings suggest that either a surgical approach or AEH with the proper standard of care can provide patients with endometrial cancer.

Transdermal scopolamine and urinary retention following urogynecologic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Both urogynecologic surgeries and transdermal scopolamine (TDS) patches are independently associated with postoperative urinary retention (POUR). It is unclear if the risk of POUR increases when these interventions are used in combination. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesize current evidence to optimize clinical management and outcomes for patients undergoing urogynecologic procedures. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted in concordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library were searched. Publications were filtered by inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria required: (1) preoperative or perioperative application of TDS, (2) surgery indicated for stress urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse, (3) results given for postoperative voiding trials, and (4) were available in English. Exclusion criteria included: (1) oral or parenteral formulations of scopolamine, (2) administration of alternative preoperative antiemetics, and (3) use of combination antiemetic therapy. Quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist. Publication bias was evaluated via the ROBINS-I assessment tool, and Egger regression and Begg and Mazumumdar rank correlation tests. A meta-analysis was conducted using Meta-Essentials Excel Workbook. RESULTS: Four publications were identified which complied with inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies comprised 752 patients (237 experimental group, 515 control group). All were retrospective cohort studies conducted via chart review in America. Meta-analysis revealed a risk ratio (RR) of 2.35 with a confidence interval (CI) of 0.61 to 9.07, indicating a positive association between TDS and POUR, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that TDS application may be associated with increased risk of POUR following urogynecologic procedures. While research on this topic is greatly limited, this systematic review and meta-analysis highlights that alternative antiemetic therapy may be necessary for patients undergoing such interventions in effort to limit the risk of POUR.

Postpartum Dyspareunia Following Continuous Versus Interrupted Perineal Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Research evaluating optimal repair techniques for the reduction of postpartum dyspareunia following obstetric laceration is severely limited. Prevailing guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) are reliant on data from just nine clinical trials conducted from 1980 to 2012. While the literature on this topic is still limited today, this review aims to synthesize data from past and present studies to ensure that standing clinical recommendations are supported by current literature. A review was conducted per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched. Included articles (1) compared continuous with interrupted repair techniques for subjects with episiotomies and/or second-degree tears, (2) were available in full length, and (3) reported dyspareunia as an outcome variable. Excluded articles were those (1) inclusive of first-, third-, or fourth-degree tears; (2) comparing suture material rather than technique; and (3) not available in English. A meta-analysis was conducted for both acute dyspareunia (<3 months) and chronic dyspareunia (>3 months) utilizing Meta-Essentials Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA) workbook. Bias was evaluated via Egger regression and Begg and Mazumdar rank correlation tests. Twelve articles met inclusion and exclusion guidelines, seven for acute dyspareunia and eight for chronic dyspareunia. All publications were randomized controlled trials and were inclusive of a total of 4,081 patients. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random effect model. Analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between continuous and interrupted suture groups for acute dyspareunia (RR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.89-1.08) or chronic dyspareunia (RR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.83-1.12). Egger regression test (p-value=0.534) and Begg and Mazumdar rank correlation test (p-value=0.570) indicated minimal publication bias. Compiled data does not indicate a preferential suture technique for the reduction of postpartum dyspareunia. These findings are congruent with the ACOG guidelines; therefore, there is no supporting evidence for ACOG's recommendation of continuous suturing to be overturned.