Ursodeoxycholic acid for prevention of gallstone disease after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: an Atlantic Canada perspective.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may be beneficial in reducing gallstone disease after bariatric surgery. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2019 guidelines recommend a 6-month course of UDCA for patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). This has not been adopted broadly. This study intends to assess the effect of routine UDCA administration following LSG on symptomatic gallstone disease. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent LSG, between 2009 and 2019, at two tertiary care centers in Atlantic Canada. At one center, UDCA 250 mg oral twice daily was routinely prescribed following LSG for 6 months to patients with an intact gallbladder. At the other center, UDCA was not prescribed. Primary and secondary outcomes were cholecystectomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) rates. Compliance with and side effects of UDCA therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 751 patients were included in the study. Patients who had prior cholecystectomy or were lost to follow up were excluded. After exclusion criteria were applied, 461 patients were included for analysis: 303 in the UDCA group and 158 in the group who did not receive UDCA. Cholecystectomy rate was not significantly associated with UDCA administration, however there was a trend towards less cholecystectomy in patients who received UDCA (8.3% vs. 13.9%, p = 0.056). ERCP rate was significantly lower in patients who received UDCA (0.3% vs 2.5%, p = 0.031). Rate of gallstone disease requiring intervention, either cholecystectomy or ERCP, was significantly decreased in patients who received UDCA (8.9% vs 15.8%, p = 0.022). The most common barriers to compliance with UDCA were cost (45.4%) and nausea (18.1%). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate lower rates of ERCP in patients receiving routine UDCA following LSG. Our findings support the ASMBS 2019 guidelines for administering UDCA after LSG for preventing gallstone disease.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Bariatric Surgery Cohort Study: Rational and Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: In Canada, there has been a disproportionate increase in adults with Class II (BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m2) or Class III obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) affecting 9 % of Canadians with increases projected. Individuals affected by severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35) are at increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, impaired quality of life, and premature mortality. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), a relatively new type of bariatric surgery, is growing in popularity as a treatment. The global prevalence of LSG increased from 0 to 37.0 % between 2003 and 2013. In Canada and the US, between 2011 and 2013, the number of LSG surgeries increased by 244 % and LSG now comprises 43 % of all bariatric surgeries. Since 2011, Eastern Health, the largest regional health authority in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada has performed approximately 100 LSG surgeries annually. METHODS: A population-based prospective cohort study with pre and post surgical assessments at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 months and annually thereafter of patients undergoing LSG. This study will report on short - to mid-term (2-4 years) outcomes. Patients (n = 200) followed by the Provincial Bariatric Surgery Program between 19 and 70 years of age, with a BMI between 35.0 and 39.9 kg/m2 and an obesity-related comorbidity or with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 are enrolled. The study is assessing the following outcomes: 1) complications of surgery including impact on nutritional status 2) weight loss/regain 3) improvement/resolution of comorbid conditions and a reduction in prescribed medications 4) patient reported outcomes using validated quality of life tools, and 5) impact of surgery on health services use and costs. We hypothesize a low complication rate, a marked reduction in weight, improvement/resolution of comorbid conditions, a reduction in related medications, improvement in quality of life, and a decrease in direct healthcare use and costs and indirect costs compared to pre-surgery. DISCUSSION: Limited data on the impact of LSG as a stand-alone procedure on a number of outcomes exist. The findings from this study will help to inform evidence-based practice, clinical decision-making, and the development of health policy.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at a new bariatric surgery centre in Canada: 30-day complication rates using the Clavien-Dindo classification.

BACKGROUND: Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has the highest rate of obesity in Canada, prompting the establishment of a bariatric surgery program at the Health Sciences Centre in NL. This retrospective study examined 30-day complication rates in more than 200 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) between May 2011 and February 2014. METHODS: We performed a chart review and collected data on 30-day postoperative complications. Complications were graded and reported using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Grades I and II were defined as minor and grades III and higher were defined as major complications. RESULTS: We reviewed the charts of the first 209 patients to undergo LSG. The mean body mass index was 49.2, 81% were women and the average age was 43 years. Comorbidities included hypertension (55.0%), obstructive sleep apnea (46.4%), dyslipidemia (42.1%), diabetes (37.3%), osteoarthritis (36.4%) and cardiovascular disease with previous cardiac stents (5.3%). Furthermore, 38.3% of patients reported psychiatric diagnoses, such as depression and anxiety. The overall 30-day complication rate was 15.3%. The complication rate for minor complications was 13.4% and for major complications was 1.9% (2 leaks, 1 stricture and 1 fistula). CONCLUSION: Our results support the feasibility of safely performing LSG surgery at bariatric centres completing fewer than 125 procedures annually.

CONTEXTE: Comme la province de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador (T.-N.-L.) a le taux d'obésité le plus élevé au Canada, un programme de chirurgie bariatrique a été mis en place au Centre des sciences de la santé de T.-N.-L. La présente étude rétrospective a étudié les taux de complications dans les 30 premiers jours chez plus de 200 patients consécutifs ayant subi une gastrectomie longitudinale laparoscopique (GLL) entre mai 2011 et février 2014. MÉTHODES: Après avoir effectué une analyse des dossiers et recueilli des données sur les complications postopératoires survenues dans les 30 jours, nous avons évalué et consigné les complications à l'aide de la classification de Clavien­Dindo. Les grades I et II étaient des complications mineures et les grades III et plus, des complications majeures. RÉSULTANTS: Nous avons analysé les dossiers des 209 premiers patients à avoir subi une GLL. L'indice de masse corporelle moyen était de 49,2, 81 % des patients étaient des femmes et l'âge moyen était de 43 ans. Les comorbidités comprenaient l'hypertension (55,0 %), l'apnée obstructive du sommeil (46,4 %), la dyslipidémie (42,1 %), le diabète (37,3 %), l'arthrose (36,4 %) et les maladies cardiovasculaires avec des antécédents d'endoprothèses cardiaques (5,3 %). De plus, 38,3 % des patients ont mentionné un diagnostic psychiatrique, comme la dépression ou l'anxiété. Le taux global de complications dans les 30 jours était de 15,3 %. Le taux de complications mineures était de 13,4 % et celui de complications majeures, de 1,9 % (2 fuites, 1 striction et 1 fistule). CONCLUSION: Nos résultats viennent confirmer qu'il est possible d'effectuer des GLL de façon sécuritaire dans les centres bariatriques qui pratiquent moins de 125 interventions par année.

Rapid Reduction in Use of Antidiabetic Medication after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: The Newfoundland and Labrador Bariatric Surgery Cohort (BaSCo) Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery generally need fewer medications as they experience improvement in, or even resolution of, various medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Published data on changes in medication use after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a type of bariatric surgery that is growing in popularity, are limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients took fewer medications for management of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, relative to preprocedure medications. METHODS: In this prospective, single-centre cohort study, a nurse practitioner used standard medication reconciliation and study data-extraction forms to interview adult patients who had undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and determine their medication use and pertinent demographic data. The data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations and standard statistical software. Outcome measures included changes in the use of antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antilipemic medications at 1, 3, and 6 months after the surgery. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between May 2011 and January 2014 met the study inclusion criteria. Before surgery, the 30 patients with type 2 diabetes were taking an average of 1.9 antidiabetic medications. One month after the procedure, 15 (50%) had discontinued all antidiabetic medications, with a further decline at 3 and 6 months (p < 0.001 at each time point). Among the patients who were taking antihypertensives (n = 48) and antilipemics (n = 33) before surgery, the decline in use occurred at a more modest rate, with 6 (12%) and 2 (6%), respectively, discontinuing these medication classes within 1 month, and 12 (25%) (p = 0.001) and 8 (24%) (p = 0.015) having discontinued by 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that patients with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and/or dyslipidemia who undergo laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy are less likely to require disease-specific medications shortly after surgery.

CONTEXTE: Les patients ayant subi une chirurgie bariatrique ont généralement besoin de moins en moins de médicaments au fur et à mesure qu'ils voient leurs différentes affections, notamment le diabète sucré de type 2, l'hypertension et la dyslipidémie, s'estomper ou même se résorber. Or, il existe peu d'études publiées sur les changements apportés à la pharmacothérapie des patients ayant subi une gastrectomie longitudinale laparoscopique, une chirurgie bariatrique de plus en plus utilisée. OBJECTIF: Déterminer si les patients prennent moins de médicaments pour le traitement du diabète de type 2, de l'hypertension et de la dyslipidémie après avoir subi une gastrectomie longitudinale laparoscopique comparativement à leur situation avant l'opération. MÉTHODES: Dans cette étude de cohorte prospective menée dans un seul centre, un membre du personnel infirmier praticien a utilisé des formulaires standards de bilan comparatif des médicaments et d'extraction de données d'étude afin d'interroger des patients adultes ayant subi une gastrectomie longitudinale laparoscopique, et ce, dans le but de connaître leur consommation de médicaments ainsi que de recueillir des données démographiques pertinentes. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide d'équations d'estimation généralisées et d'un logiciel statistique courant. Les critères de jugement incluaient l'adaptation du traitement antidiabétique, antihypertenseur et hypolipémiant, un mois, trois mois et six mois après la chirurgie. RÉSULTATS: Au total, 65 patients ayant subi l'intervention chirurgicale entre mai 2011 et janvier 2014 ont été admis dans l'étude. Avant l'opération, les 30 patients atteints du diabète de type 2 prenaient en moyenne 1,9 antidiabétique. Un mois après la chirurgie, 15 (50 %) d'entre eux ont cessé de prendre des antidiabétiques, un chiffre qui a augmenté après le troisième et le sixième mois (p < 0,001 à chaque point dans le temps). Parmi les patients qui prenaient des antihypertenseurs (n = 48) et des hypolipémiants (n = 33) avant l'intervention chirurgicale, un moins grand nombre a cessé de prendre ces médicaments. Seulement 6 (12 %) patients ont cessé les antihypertenseurs et 2 (6 %) patients ont cessé les hypolipémiants après un mois, puis 12 (25 %) (p = 0,001) et 8 (24 %) (p = 0,015) respectivement après six mois. CONCLUSIONS: Ces résultats laissent croire que les patients atteints du diabète sucré de type 2, d'hypertension ou de dyslipidémie qui subissent une gastrectomie longitudinale laparoscopique courent la chance de ne plus avoir besoin de médicaments pour traiter ces maladies, et ce, peu de temps après la chirurgie.