Body Composition after Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction with Endobronchial Valves: A Prospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema experience malnutrition and pulmonary cachexia. Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) with endobronchial valves has not only improved lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life but also influenced body weight. Only a few data are available on body composition changes after ELVR. METHODS: This single-center prospective study of patients with advanced COPD investigates body composition before and after endoscopic valve treatment using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The following parameters were evaluated in addition to clinical data and routine tests: body weight, body mass index (BMI), basal metabolic rate, total body water, body fat, cell percentage, phase angle, intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW), extracellular mass (ECM), body cell mass (BCM), lean body mass (ECM + BCM), and fat-free mass index. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients (mean emphysema index 37.2 ± 7.5%, BMI 23.4 ± 4.3 kg/m2) experienced improvements in lung function and exercise capacity with ELVR. Complete lobar atelectasis was achieved in 39.1% of participants. A non-statistically significant increase in body weight and BMI was observed after ELVR (p = 0.111 and p = 0.102). BIA measurement revealed a worsening of phase angle, cell percentage and ECM/BCM and thus of body composition, but without statistical significance. This is mainly due to a statistically significant increase in ECM, ECW, and ICW (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: ELVR demonstrated no beneficial changes in body composition, although patients tend to gain weight. A larger cohort is warranted to confirm these findings.

Development of biotissue training models for anastomotic suturing in pancreatic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic suturing is the Achilles heel of pancreatic surgery. Especially in laparoscopic and robotically assisted surgery, the pancreatic anastomosis should first be trained outside the operating room. Realistic training models are therefore needed. METHODS: Models of the pancreas, small bowel, stomach, bile duct, and a realistic training torso were developed for training of anastomoses in pancreatic surgery. Pancreas models with soft and hard textures, small and large ducts were incrementally developed and evaluated. Experienced pancreatic surgeons (n = 44) evaluated haptic realism, rigidity, fragility of tissues, and realism of suturing and knot tying. RESULTS: In the iterative development process the pancreas models showed high haptic realism and highest realism in suturing (4.6 ± 0.7 and 4.9 ± 0.5 on 1-5 Likert scale, soft pancreas). The small bowel model showed highest haptic realism (4.8 ± 0.4) and optimal wall thickness (0.1 ± 0.4 on -2 to +2 Likert scale) and suturing behavior (0.1 ± 0.4). The bile duct models showed optimal wall thickness (0.3 ± 0.8 and 0.4 ± 0.8 on -2 to +2 Likert scale) and optimal tissue fragility (0 ± 0.9 and 0.3 ± 0.7). CONCLUSION: The biotissue training models showed high haptic realism and realistic suturing behavior. They are suitable for realistic training of anastomoses in pancreatic surgery which may improve patient outcomes.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) using evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). BACKGROUND: LPD is used more commonly, but this surge is mostly based on observational data. METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, Medline and Web of Science for RCTs comparing minimally invasive to OPD for adults with benign or malignant disease requiring elective pancreaticoduodenectomy. Main outcomes were 90-day mortality, Clavien-Dindo ≥3 complications, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes were postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), bile leak, blood loss, reoperation, readmission, oncologic outcomes (R0-resection, lymph nodes harvested), and operative times. Data were pooled as odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) with a random-effects model. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Tool and the GRADE approach (Prospero registration ID: CRD42019120363). RESULTS: Three RCTs with a total of 224 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed there were no significant differences regarding 90-day mortality, Clavien-Dindo ≥3 complications, LOS, POPF, DGE, PPH, bile leak, reoperation, readmission, or oncologic outcomes between LPD and OPD. Operative times were significantly longer for LPD {MD [95% confidence interval (CI)] 95.44 minutes (24.06-166.81 minutes)}, whereas blood loss was lower for LPD [MD (CI) -150.99 mL (-168.54 to -133.44 mL)]. Certainty of evidence was moderate to very low. CONCLUSIONS: At current level of evidence, LPD shows no advantage over OPD. Limitations include high risk of bias and moderate to very low certainty of evidence. Further studies should focus on patient safety during LPD learning curves and the potential role of robotic surgery.

Analysis of body composition with bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with severe COPD and pulmonary emphysema.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often suffer from cachexia and malnutrition. Less is known about body composition and nutritional behaviour in patients with advanced COPD and pulmonary emphysema. METHODS: We performed a single-center prospective analysis of patients with COPD GOLD III/IV. Metabolic parameters, dietary and exercise behavior, lung function, exercise capacity and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were analyzed. Patients with severe emphysema (emphysema index [EI] >20%) were compared to patients with mild emphysema (EI ≤ 20%). RESULTS: A total of 121 patients (45.5% female, mean age 64.8 ± 8.1 years, mean FEV1 31.0 ± 8.6%, mean RV 234.7 ± 50.6%) were analyzed, of whom 14.1% were underweight. Only 5% of the patients substituted protein and only about 1/3 performed regular exercise training. BIA showed an unfavourable body composition: body fat ↑, ECM/BCM-index ↑, phase angle ↓ (5.0 ± 0.9°), cell percentage ↓, FFMI (fat-free mass index) ↓. The 94 patients with severe emphysema (mean EI 36.6 ± 8.5%) had lower body-mass-index (22.8 ± 4.3 vs. 31.1 ± 5.8 kg/m2, p < 0.001), FFMI, body weight and body fat, but did not differ significantly in the quality of body composition (e.g. phase angle). Their lipid and glucose metabolism were even better than in mild emphysema patients. CONCLUSION: The finding of significantly lower BMI but similar body composition and better metabolic status in severe emphysema patients needs further investigation. However, it should not distract from the necessity to implement dietary and exercise recommendations for advanced COPD patients.

Characterization of three new SERPINA1 variants PiQ0Heidelberg II, PiQ0Heidelberg III and PiQ0Heidelberg IV in patients with severe alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Background: The clinical and molecular characteristics of three patients with previously unreported SERPINA1 mutations associated with severe alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) are described. The pathophysiology of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) present in these patients was characterized through clinical, biochemical, and genetic examinations. Case presentations: Case 1: A 73-year-old male with bilateral centri-to panlobular emphysema and multiple increasing ventrobasal bullae and incomplete fissures, COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grade III B), progressive dyspnea on exertion (DOE), AAT level of 0.1-0.2 g/L. Genetic testing revealed a unique SERPINA1 mutation: Pi*Z/c.1072C > T. This allele was designated PiQ0Heidelberg II. Case 2: A 47-year-old male with severely heterogenous centri-to panlobular emphysema concentrated in the lower lobes, COPD GOLD IV D with progressive DOE, AAT <0.1 g/L. He also had a unique Pi*Z/c.10del mutation in SERPINA1. This allele was named PiQ0Heidelberg III. Case 3: A 58-year-old female with basally accentuated panlobular emphysema, GOLD II B COPD, progressive DOE. AAT 0.1 g/L. Genetic analysis revealed Pi*Z/c.-5+1G > A and c.-472G > A mutations in SERPINA1. This variant allele was named PiQ0Heidelberg IV. Conclusions: Each of these patients had a unique and previously unreported SERPINA1 mutation. In two cases, AATD and a history of smoking led to severe lung disease. In the third case, timely diagnosis, and institution of AAT replacement stabilized lung function. Wider screening of COPD patients for AATD could lead to faster diagnosis and earlier treatment of AATD patients with AATD which could slow or prevent progression of their disease.