Magnetic sphincter augmentation: a viable rescue therapy for symptomatic reflux following bariatric surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) are commonly performed bariatric procedures in obesity management. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in this population has reported rates of 23-100%. GERD after LSG has been noted with recent studies demonstrating de novo reflux or symptom exacerbation despite weight loss. Fundoplication is not an option, and medically refractory GERD after LSG is usually treated with conversion to RYGB. GERD post-RYGB is a unique entity, and management poses a clinical and technical challenge. We evaluate safety and effectiveness of magnetic sphincter augmentation after bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed identifying patients that underwent LINX placement for refractory GERD after LSG, LRYGB, or duodenal switch across three institutions. Outcomes included complications, length of stay, PPI use, GERD-HRQL scores, and patient overall satisfaction. RESULTS: From March 2014 through June 2018, 13 identified patients underwent LINX placement after bariatric surgery: 8 LSG, 4 LRYGB, and 1 duodenal switch. The patients were 77% female, with mean age 43 and average BMI 30.1. Average pre-operative DeMeester score was 24.8. Pre-operatively, 5 patients were on daily PPI, 6 on BID PPI, and 1 on PPI + H2 blocker. We noted decreased medication usage post-operatively, with 4 patients taking daily PPI, and 9 off medication completely. A GERD-HRQL score was obtained pre- and post-operatively in 6 patients with average reduction from 25 to 8.5 (p value 0.002). Two patients experienced complications requiring endoscopic dilation after LINX placement. 100% of patients reported overall satisfaction post procedure. CONCLUSION: LINX placement is a safe, effective treatment option for surgical management of refractory GERD after bariatric surgery. It can relieve symptoms and obviate the requirement of high-dose medical management. Magnetic lower esophageal sphincter augmentation should be another tool in the surgeon's toolbox for managing reflux after bariatric surgery in select patients.

Coledocolitiasis en el embarazo. Reporte de caso / Choledocholithiasis in pregnancy. Case report

El embarazo es un estado donde se aumenta la litogenicidad y la estasis biliar, generando mayor incidencia en la formación de cálculos biliares. Aunque la colelitiasis por sí sola no es una urgencia quirúrgica en la paciente obstétrica, puede requerir de intervención si se presentan complicaciones, las cuales se dan hasta en un 10% de las pacientes obstétricas con colelitiasis sintomática. En este artículo se presentará un caso clínico de una paciente obstétrica que presentó colelitiasis con coledocolitiasis de alto riesgo que requirió manejo con colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica

Lithogenesis and biliary stasis increases during pregnancy. This generates a high incidence in the production of gallstones. Cholelithiasis is not usually a surgical emergency in pregnancy, but when there are complications, which can be in up to 10% of obstetric patients, these complications can require intervention. A case report is presented on an obstetric patient with cholelithiasis, and high risk of choledocholithiasis, that required intervention using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

A novel four quadrant laser sphincterotomy for idiopathic severe anal stenosis / Nova esfincterotomia a laser nos quatro quadrantes para estenose anal idiopática grave

ABSTRACT Anal stricture or stenosis, though uncommon, is disabling condition. It affects the quality of life due to pain, bleeding and difficulty in defecation, incontinence or increased frequency. It occurs when the normally pliable anoderm is replaced with fibrotic connective tissue, leading to an abnormally tight and inelastic anal canal. Mostly it occurs secondary to trauma, iatrogeny, inflammatory diseases, radiation or neoplasia. The treatment of anal stricture is generally considered to be difficult and various methods of treatment have been suggested. It is often unresponsive to conservative medical management. The surgical procedures such as dilatations and anoplasty are associated with significant complications which make it a difficult treatment challenge. Several good treatment options are available currently. Through this case, we report and explore a new medical treatment for anal strictures with four quadrant laser sphincterotomy.

RESUMO A estritura ou estenose anal, embora incomum, é problema incapacitante. Essa condição afeta a qualidade de vida por causa da dor, do sangramento e da dificuldade de defecação, de incontinência ou aumento da frequência. A estenose anal ocorre quando o anoderma, normalmente flexível, foi substituído por tecido conjuntivo fibrótico, e o resultado é um canal anal anormalmente estenosado e inelástico. Na maioria dos casos, a estenose anal ocorre secundariamente a trauma, por causa iatrogênica, por doença inflamatória, radiação ou neoplasia. Em geral, se considera que o tratamento dessa condição é tarefa difícil, tendo sido sugeridos diversos métodos de tratamento. Com frequência a estenose anal não responde ao tratamento clínico conservador. Procedimentos cirúrgicos como as dilatações ou a anoplastia estão associados a complicações significativas, implicando difícil desafio terapêutico. Atualmente, o cirurgião conta com várias opções terapêuticas satisfatórias. No presente caso, relatamos e exploramos um novo tratamento clínico para estenoses anais, por meio da esfincterotomia a laser nos quatro quadrantes.

Surgical management of anal stenosis: anoplasty with or without sphincterotomy / Tratamento cirúrgico da estenose anal: anoplastia com ou sem esfincterotomia

ABSTRACT Aim: Anal stenosis is an uncommon complication of anorectal surgery, mostly resulting from circumferential hemorrhoidectomy or resection of the skin tag in surgical management of chronic anal fissure. The aim of anoplasty is to restore normal function to the anus by dividing the stricture and widening the anal canal. Internal sphincterotomy may cause gas incontinence and if we manage the stenosis without sphincterotomy it could be failed. Could we use anoplasty without sphincterotomy? Method: The patients with anal stenosis were assigned in to two groups. The first group underwent Y-V anoplasty without partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy and the second one underwent Y-V anoplasty with partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy. Result: A total of 25 patients (10 male and 15 female) underwent anoplasty, 14 without partial lateral internal sphincterotomy and 11 patients with partial lateral internal sphincterotomy. The healing rate of stenosis was 91% and 93% in groups undergoing anoplasty without partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy and anoplasty with partial lateral internal sphictrotomy, respectively (p value 0.69). There was no significant change in both groups for post-operative incontinence complaints. Conclusion: The healing rate of anal stenosis was the same in the patients who underwent Y-V anoplasty with or without partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy. There was no significant change in post-operation incontinence between the two groups. Therefore, Y-V anoplasty would be a safe and simple surgical method in selected patients. Partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy procedure has been noticed in individual cases.

RESUMO Objetivo: A estenose anal é complicação incomum da cirurgia anorretal, sendo principalmente resultante de uma hemorroidectomia circunferencial ou ressecção do pólipo cutâneo no tratamento cirúrgico da fissura anal crônica. O objetivo da anoplastia é a restauração da função normal do ânus, mediante a divisão da constrição e alargamento do canal anal. A esfincterotomia interna pode causar incontinência gasosa; e se tratarmos a estenose sem esfincterotomia, poderá ocorrer insucesso. Poderíamos usar a anoplastia sem esfincterotomia? Método: Os pacientes com estenose anal foram designados para dois grupos. O primeiro grupo foi tratado com anoplastia em Y-V sem esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial, e o segundo grupo foi tratado com anoplastia em Y-V com esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial. Resultado: No total, 25 pacientes (10 homens e 15 mulheres) foram tratados com anoplastia-14 sem esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial, e 11 com esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial. Os percentuais de cura da estenose foram de 91% e 93% nos grupos tratados com anoplastia sem esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial e com esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial, respectivamente (p = 0,69). Não ocorreu mudança significativa nos dois grupos com relação às queixas de incontinência pós-operatória. Conclusão: O percentual de cura da estenose anal foi igual nos pacientes tratados com anoplastia em Y-V com ou sem esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial. Não foi observada mudança significativa na incontinência pós-operatória entre os dois grupos. Portanto, a anoplastia em Y-V seria um método cirúrgico seguro e simples em pacientes selecionados. Em casos isolados, o procedimento de esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial tem sido observado.