COVID-19: IFSO LAC Recommendations for the Resumption of Elective Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic varies greatly and has different dynamics in every country, city, and hospital in Latin America. Obesity increases the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it is one of the independent risk factors for the most severe cases of COVID-19. Currently, the most effective treatment against obesity available is bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS), which further resolves or improves other independent risk factors like diabetes and hypertension. OBJECTIVE: Provide recommendations for the resumption of elective BMS during COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: This document was created by the IFSO-LAC Executive Board and a task force. Based on data collected from a survey distributed to all IFSO-LAC members that obtained 540 responses, current evidence available, and consensus reached by other scientific societies. RESULTS: The resumption of elective BMS must be a priority maybe similar to oncological surgery, when hospitals reach phase I or II, treating obesity patients in a NON-COVID area, avoiding inadvertent intrahospital contagion from healthcare provider, patients, and relatives. Same BMS indication and types of procedures as before the pandemic. Discard the presence of SARS-CoV-2 within 72 h prior to surgery. Continues laparoscopic approach. The entire team use N95 mask. Minimum hospital stays. Implement remote visits for the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Resumption of elective BMS is crucial because it is not only a weight loss operation but also resolves or improves comorbidities and appears to be an immune restorative procedure of obese patients in the medium term, offering them the same probability of contracting COVID-19 as the regular population.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy after gastric banding removal: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a commonly performed bariatric procedure. When LAGB fails, restrictive procedures such as gastric bypass have been performed. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been suggested as an alternative, but it has not yet been fully studied. Evaluated in this report are the experiences of patients who underwent LSG, a restrictive procedure, as a rescue procedure for failed LAGB. METHODS: From June 2002 to June 2007, charts of patients who underwent LAGB were reviewed to find those who had undergone LSG as a rescue procedure. RESULTS: Of 294 patients who underwent LAGB, 10 later underwent LSG. Median excess weight loss (EWL) prior to LSG had been 34%; after LSG, median EWL was 55%. Before LSG was performed, patients had a median 11.5 comorbidities, all of which improved after LSG. No major complications or deaths resulted. CONCLUSION: The results suggest LSG might be a reasonable choice for patients who fail LAGB. A formal study comparing LSG with other rescue procedures should be performed.

[Tuberculous pericarditis. Ten years experience]. / Pericarditis tuberculosa. Experiencia de 10 años.

We review the clinical files of patients who entered the Regional General Hospital No. 20 IMSS in the City of Tijuana Mexico between May 1994 and May 2004 with diagnosis of primary acute pericardial disease. Patients diagnosed as having active tuberculous pericardial effusion were eligible for the study. Twenty-one were included in the study (14 men and 7 women). The aged ranged from 16 to 48 years (mean 36 years). The diagnosis was made by the following studies: identification of tubercle bacilli in the pericardial fluid or tissue (n = 4), identification of caseating granulomas in the pericardium or elsewhere (n = 2), positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pericardial fluid (n = 8), in pleural fluid (n = 1), sputum culture (n = 3), gastric aspirate samples (n = 1), lymph node biopsy (n = 1), and pericardial effusion without obvious cause, responding to antituberculous therapy (n = 5). The clinical, laboratory, electrocardiography, radiographic, and echocardiography features were analyzed. We review in each patient follow-up, pericardial fluid cytology, and pericardial biopsy, if available. All patients had pericardial effusion; nine (42.8%) patients had cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was performed in 16 patients, "therapeutic" pericardiocentesis was performed in 43.7%, and "diagnostic" pericardiocentesis was performed in 56.2% all cases. Constrictive pericarditis developed in two patients, all required partial pericardiectomy. All patients received triple antituberculous chemotherapy. No patient died.

Pericarditis tuberculosa: experiencia de 10 años / Tuberculous pericarditis: ten years experience

We review the clinical files of patients who entered the Regional General Hospital No. 20 IMSS in the City of Tijuana Mexico between May 1994 and May 2004 with diagnosis of primary acute pericardial disease. Patients diagnosed as having active tuberculous pericardial effusion were eligible for the study. Twenty-one were included in the study (14 men and 7 women). The aged ranged from 16 to 48 years (mean 36 years). The diagnosis was made by the following studies: identification of tubercle bacilli in the pericardial fluid or tissue (n = 4), identification of caseating granulomas in the pericardium or elsewhere (n = 2), positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pericardial fluid (n = 8), in pleural fluid (n = 1), sputum culture (n = 3), gastric aspirate samples (n = 1), lymph node biopsy (n = 1), and pericardial effusion without obvious cause, responding to antituberculous therapy (n = 5). The clinical, laboratory, electrocardiography, radiographic, and echocardiography features were analyzed. We review in each patient follow-up, pericardial fluid cytology, and pericardial biopsy, if available. All patients had pericardial effusion; nine (42.8%) patients had cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was performed in 16 patients, [quot ]therapeutic[quot ] pericardiocentesis was performed in 43.7%, and [quot ]diagnostic[quot ] pericardiocentesis was performed in 56.2% all cases. Constrictive pericarditis developed in two patients, all required partial pericardiectomy. All patients received triple antituberculous chemotherapy. No patient died.