Preoperative Depression Status and 5 Year Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Outcomes in the PCORnet Bariatric Study Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether depression status before metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) influenced 5-year weight loss, diabetes, and safety/utilization outcomes in the PCORnet Bariatric Study. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Research on the impact of depression on MBS outcomes is inconsistent with few large, long-term studies. METHODS: Data were extracted from 23 health systems on 36,871 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG; n=16,158) or gastric bypass (RYGB; n=20,713) from 2005-2015. Patients with and without a depression diagnosis in the year before MBS were evaluated for % total weight loss (%TWL), diabetes outcomes, and postsurgical safety/utilization (reoperations, revisions, endoscopy, hospitalizations, mortality) at 1, 3, and 5 years after MBS. RESULTS: 27.1% of SG and 33.0% of RYGB patients had preoperative depression, and they had more medical and psychiatric comorbidities than those without depression. At 5 years of follow-up, those with depression, versus those without depression, had slightly less %TWL after RYGB, but not after SG (between group difference = 0.42%TWL, P = 0.04). However, patients with depression had slightly larger HbA1c improvements after RYGB but not after SG (between group difference = - 0.19, P = 0.04). Baseline depression did not moderate diabetes remission or relapse, reoperations, revision, or mortality across operations; however, baseline depression did moderate the risk of endoscopy and repeat hospitalization across RYGB versus SG. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with depression undergoing RYGB and SG had similar weight loss, diabetes, and safety/utilization outcomes to those without depression. The effects of depression were clinically small compared to the choice of operation.

Comparison of mindfulness interventions for healthcare professionals: A mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES: Burnout is increasingly a concerning problem in US Healthcare systems. Although the causes of burnout are not predominantly due to individual factors, mindfulness instruction is an evidence-based approach to counteracting burnout. Our health system initiated a multi-pronged approach to mindfulness instruction for our employees and community. We aimed to assess the impact of these varied programs. METHODS: Several mindfulness courses of different lengths were employed. Validated survey instruments were administered to participants before and after the courses to assess stress, mindfulness and burnout. Pre-course and post-course results were compared for each intervention. Free-text responses were also captured and analyzed in a qualitative fashion. RESULTS: Participants in MBIs demonstrated statistically significant improvement in burnout and perceived stress on post-course survey results. Several mindfulness domains also showed statistically significant improvement (awareness, non-react and observe). There was no difference in the observed results between the mindfulness interventions. Qualitative analysis yielded three themes: seeking help, symptoms, and changes in mindfulness practice. CONCLUSIONS: MBIs designed for employees of an academic medical center were associated with positive quantitative and qualitative results. All MBI participants achieved improvement in perceived stress and mindfulness as well as reduction in burnout, regardless of course length.

The Role of Resilience in Psychological Health Among Bariatric Surgery Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Many individuals who undergo bariatric surgery have experienced repeated unsuccessful diet attempts and negative messages from healthcare providers, family, and others about their weight. Research pre- and post-operatively has taken a pathological or risk-based approach, investigating psychiatric problems and disordered eating. In contrast, the current study explores resilience in this population. METHODS: Participants were 148 bariatric surgery patients. Participants completed measures pre-operatively and 1.5-3 years post-operatively, including the Binge Eating Scale, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Questionnaire, Impact of Weight on Quality of Life, Coping Responses Inventory, and Duke Social Support and Stress Scales. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale was measured post-operatively. RESULTS: Correlations demonstrated a significant association between post-operative resilience and lower symptoms of binge eating, disordered eating, depression, anxiety, and impact of weight on quality of life. Resilience was also associated with greater social support and less social stress, and greater use of approach coping strategies. Resilience was significantly associated with improvements in symptoms of binge eating, disordered eating, depression, anxiety, and impact of weight on quality of life from pre- to post-operative assessments. In regression models, associations remained significant after controlling for psychosocial variables at baseline (e.g., binge eating symptoms pre-operatively) and demographic covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological resilience has been under-studied in the literature on obesity and bariatric surgery, with a primary focus on risk factors for poor outcomes. This study was among the first to investigate associations between resilience and post-operative psychological outcomes. Results suggest the field would benefit from consideration of patient resilience in psychological assessments and interventions.

"I need to have a fulfilling job": A qualitative study of surgeon well-being and professional fulfillment.

BACKGROUND: Burnout, often regarded as an individual failing, rather than a systemic one, negatively impacts quality of care, patient safety and healthcare costs. Focusing on improving well-being can help mitigate burnout. This study examined protective factors that promote well-being and professional fulfillment in surgeons. METHODS: Using a purposive sample, 32 semi-structured 30-60-min interviews were conducted with surgeons of varying sub-specialties and rank. Abductive exploratory analysis was used to code and interpret interview transcripts and to build a conceptual model of surgeon well-being. RESULTS: Emergent protective factors were placed into one of three levels of implementation: individual, team-level, and institutional (figure). Individual factors for well-being included autonomy and adequate time to pursue non-clinical endeavors. Team-level factors consisted of adaptability, boundaries, and cohesion. Institutional factors related to diversifying performance evaluations and celebrating and recognizing individual value and contributions. CONCLUSIONS: The conceptual model developed from the results of this study highlights factors important to surgeons' professional well-being. This model can be used to guide quality improvement efforts.

Self-Pay Payer Status Predicts Long-Term Loss to Follow-Up After Bariatric Surgery.

PURPOSE: In spite of widespread recommendations for lifelong patient follow-up with a bariatric provider after bariatric surgery, attrition to follow-up is common. Over the past two decades, many programs have sought to expand access to care for patients lacking insurance coverage for bariatric surgery by offering "self-pay" packages; however, the impact of this financing on long-term follow-up is unclear. We sought to determine whether payer status impacts loss to follow-up within 1 year after bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 554 consecutive patients undergoing bariatric surgery who were eligible for 1-year post-surgical follow-up between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Multiple logistic regression examined the relationship between demographics, psychological variables, payer status, and loss to follow-up. RESULTS: Self-pay status more than tripled the odds of loss to follow-up (OR = 3.44, p < 0.01) at 1 year following surgery. Males had more than double the odds of attrition (OR = 2.43, p < 0.01), and members of racial and ethnic minority groups (OR = 2.51, p < 0.05) were more likely to experience loss. CONCLUSIONS: Self-pay patients, males and members of racial and ethnic minority groups, may face additional barriers to long-term access to postoperative bariatric care. Further investigation is greatly needed to develop strategies to overcome barriers to and disparities in long-term post-surgical care for more frequently lost groups.

Watchful waiting versus elective repair for asymptomatic and minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias: A cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the decision of watchful waiting (WW) versus elective laparoscopic hernia repair (ELHR) for minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias (PEH) with respect to cost-effectiveness. BACKGROUND: The current recommendation for minimally symptomatic PEHs is watchful waiting. This standard is based on a decision analysis from 2002 that compared the two strategies on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Since that time, the safety of ELHR has improved. A cost-effectiveness study for PEH repair has not been reported. METHODS: A Markov decision model was developed to compare the strategies of WW and ELHR for minimally symptomatic PEH. Input variables were estimated from published studies. Cost data was obtained from Medicare. Outcomes for the two strategies were cost and QALY's. RESULTS: ELHR was superior to the WW strategy in terms of quality of life, but it was more costly. The average cost for a patient in the ELHR arm was 11,771 dollars while for the WW arm it was 2207. CONCLUSION: This study shows that WW and ELHR both have benefits in the management of minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias.

Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair.

Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair is an operation that allows for relief of gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms with a minimal recovery time and a high degree of satisfaction. It is a difficult and complex operation; however, if the important tenets are adhered to by surgeons with a lot of experience in laparoscopic PEH repair, the results are good. Patient selection is important. Older or frail patients who are asymptomatic should not have an operation, and some who are very symptomatic should probably consider just a reduction of their gastric volvulus and gastropexy. Still, most of the patients will be symptomatic and will be able to tolerate a laparoscopic definitive repair. The important aspects of repair include: complete resection of the hernia sac from the mediastinum, adequate esophageal mobilization, adequate closure of the hiatus, and fundoplication. The most troublesome aspect of the operation is the recurrence rate, which is up to 50% at 5 years of follow-up. Fortunately, most recurrences are asymptomatic and the vast majority of patients still have greatly improved quality of life.

Surgical management of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome; state of the art.

Much has been learned about the diagnosis and treatment of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES), and certain questions require further investigation. Delay in diagnosis of ZES is still a significant problem, and clinical suspicion should be elevated. The single best imaging modality for localization and staging of ZES is somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. Goals of surgical treatment for ZES differ between sporadic and MEN-1-related cases. All sporadic cases of ZES should be surgically explored (including duodenotomy) even with negative imaging results, because of the high likelihood of finding and removing a tumor for potential cure. Surgery for MEN-1-related cases should be focused on prevention of metastatic disease, with surgery being recommended when pancreatic tumors are greater than 2 cm. The role of Whipple procedure, especially for MEN-1 cases, should be explored further. Laparoscopic and endoscopic treatments are more experimental, but may have a role.