Perioperative complications of sleeve gastrectomy: Review of the literature.

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has known a spectacular rise worldwide during the last decade. The absence of digestive anastomosis simplifies the surgical technique, reducing anastomosis-related complications such as fistula, stricture and marginal ulcer. Furthermore, the respect for digestive continuity preserves the functions of pylorus, that regulates gastric emptying, and duodenum, where calcium, B vitamins and iron are absorbed. Despite the multiple advantages, SG also has specific complications such as bleeding, stenosis, portal thrombosis and leak. The staple line leak at the oesophagogastric junction is the most feared complication and its prevention remains difficult, as the involved mechanisms have been only partially elucidated. Its management is long and requires a multidisciplinary technical platform including Intensive Care Unit, digestive endoscopy and interventional radiology as well as a specialised surgeon. The aim of this review is to explain in detail the perioperative complications of SG, their prevention and treatment, referring to the most recent available literature.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass as revisional surgery.

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a worldwide-performed procedure as primary surgery, and as conversional procedure after complications and/or failure of other bariatric procedures. RYGB can be performed as revisional surgery after adjustable gastric banding, vertical banded gastroplasty, sleeve gastrectomy and one anastomosis gastric bypass. Each of these revisional procedures may be technically challenging, and accurate preoperative work-up and operative planning is required. If correctly performed, RYGB as revisional procedure is associated with satisfying outcomes and is indicated in the treatment of insufficient weight loss and postoperative complications of a primary bariatric procedure - such as chronic leak or gastroesophageal reflux after sleeve gastrectomy. The present article analyzes the most important indications, technical points and tips and tricks to safely perform RYGB as a secondary procedure.

Complex abdominal wall reconstruction after oncologic resection in a sequalae of giant omphalocele: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma injuries and oncologic resection are common aetiologies of complex abdominal wall defect. Reconstruction of abdominal wall is an everlasting question for general, paediatric and reconstructive surgeons. The plethora of techniques, bioprosthetic and engineered tissues offer countless possibilities. PRESENTATION OF CASE: The patient was a 28 years old woman, with past history of untreated giant liver omphalocele, admitted for a suspicious hepatic tumefaction without specific clinical signs. The thoraco abdominopelvic CT scan revealed lung metastasis and a bilobed left hepatic tumour. Pre-operative cytologic findings of mild differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma differed from the post-operative findings of hepatoblastoma. The full-thickness abdominal wall defect after a radical resection was reconstructed with a combined acellular dermal matrix, NPWT and skin graft solution. A total epithelization was obtained after 8 weeks follow-up. DISCUSSION: Hepatoblastoma in adult is rare, with no consensus. A radical resection in context of giant untreated omphalocele is an unusual challenge for the surgical team. The pre-operative evaluation, the defect classification and the general conditions of the patient are paramount steps for an appropriate reconstruction. Primary or delayed reconstruction with myocutaneous flap as gold standard, depends on the oncologic management and anticipated post-operative complications. Acellular dermal matrix used for a bridged fascial repair directly on viscera and covered by NPWT, favourited a healthy granulation tissue. The full-thickness defect was then reconstructed with an ADM, NPWT and skin graft instead of an association with the myocutaneous flap. The patient follow-up was emphasized in the hepatoblastoma, but the complications of this reconstruction strategy are unknown. A total epithelization was obtained, the abdominal bulge or hernia is the first complication under surveillance. CONCLUSION: Delayed reconstruction after an oncologic large abdominal wall resection has the advantage to manage post-operative complications and prepare alternative solutions. Acellular dermal matrix was not first designed for skin tissue regeneration, some authors as us experimented the conclusion that this matrix could be used for permanent abdominal wall reconstruction.

From Nissen Fundoplication to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass to Treat Both GERD and Morbid Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in obese individuals in around 30%. While fundoplication is the treatment of choice in non-obese individuals with GERD resistant to medical treatment, the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is the most effective option in the setting of morbid obesity to treat at the same time both GERD and obesity. METHODS: We present the case of a 31-year-old woman with a BMI of 37 kg/m2 who underwent an open Nissen fundoplication in 2010 and surgical revision in 2012 with redo of the Nissen fundoplication. She consulted for dysphagia and obesity complicated by invalidating arthrosis. A barium swallow showed esophageal dilatation and cardial stenosis. Manometry revealed incomplete waves and high pressure at the lower esophageal sphincter. We decided to convert the Nissen fundoplication to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). RESULTS: In this video, we show how to revise Nissen fundoplication to RYGB. The intervention starts by complete dissection of the gastric valve and the hiatal region from right to left. Then, a short gastric pouch is created taking care to exclude the gastric fundus that is also partially resected. We perform a hand-sewn gastro-jejunal anastomosis slightly larger than for conventional bypass. A RYGB with 50-cm bilio-pancreatic and 150-cm alimentary limb is then performed. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion of Nissen fundoplication to RYGB allows treatment of dysphagia, which may represent a complication of the fundoplication, and is effective for management obesity and GERD. In this video we show important technical steps of this procedure.

Preventive effect of bariatric surgery on type 2 diabetes onset in morbidly obese inpatients: a national French survey between 2008 and 2016 on 328,509 morbidly obese patients.

BACKGROUND: The association between bariatric surgery (BS) and the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications in patients with obesity has been rarely addressed in large, nationwide database studies. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the preventive effect of BS against T2D and its vascular complications in patients with obesity without co-morbidity at baseline. SETTING: All French public and private hospitals. METHODS: Data were extracted from the French National Health Service database between 2008 and 2016. All patients with obesity aged 18- to 60-years old, free of T2D and major co-morbidities, and with at least 1 year of follow-up were analyzed. Patients who had undergone gastric bypass (GB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), or adjustable gastric banding (AGB) were included in the BS group, and patients with obesity with no history of BS were considered as controls. RESULTS: Of 328,509 patients with obesity, 102,627 had BS. Between 2009 and 2016, 9.7% (31,946/328,509) of patients had a diagnosis of T2D associated with morbid obesity, 13.2% of the control group versus 2.0% of the BS group (P < .001). BS was associated with favorable 8-year T2D event-free survival estimates of 92.3% in the BS group against 58.2% in the control group. The hazard ratio for the diagnosis of T2D was .18 (95% confidence interval, .17-.19) for the BS group versus controls, after adjustment on age, sex, body mass index, and baseline differences. A significant difference was found between the type of bariatric procedure (P < .001) with more T2D after AGB (4.5%) than after GB (1.2%) or SG (0.9%). T2D complications were more common in controls (P < .001) with multiple T2D complications occurring in 1% of patients in the control group and .1% in the BS group (P < 0.001). GB and SG were more effective than AGB. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide study shows that BS reduces the new onset of T2D in patients with obesity by 82%. SG and GB give comparable results and both are more effective than AGB.

Short Gastric Pouch for Laparoscopic Conversion of Failed Band to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastric banding (LGB) is associated with high rate of failure (Stenard and Iannelli. World J Gastroenterol; 21:10348-57 2015, Lazzati et al. Ann Surg. 2016). In case of failure, conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is preferred (Noel et al. Surg Obes Relat Dis;10:1116-22; 2014, Schneck et al. Surg Obes Relat Dis;12:840-8, 2016). METHODS: We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with a BMI of 57 kg/m2 who underwent LGB in 2011. In 2015, she consulted for intolerance of the banding and weight regain, with a BMI of 52. The gastric band was removed, and 6 months later conversion to RYGB was performed. RESULTS: The main technical problem of conversion of LGB to RYGB is where to staple the stomach, either below or above the band-related scarring tissue. Stapling below the band in a fresh non-scarring area often results in the creation of a large pouch; furthermore, the vertical part of the pouch stapling is done on scarring tissue, with a risk of leak. Stapling above the band leaves a very small part of stomach and may be technically challenging. The present video shows the conversion of LGB to RYGB. The hiatal region is dissected, and a small pouch stapling above the band-related scarring tissue is fashioned. An RYGB with a 150-cm alimentary limb and a 50-cm biliopancreatic limb is confectioned. CONCLUSIONS: For conversion of LGB to RYGB, a small gastric pouch above the gastric band scar tissue is confectioned, after dissection of the hiatal region and abdominal esophagus. The small pouch ensures the restriction, and all the stapling and suturing are done on healthy, fresh tissue.

Systematic Endoscopy 5 Years After Sleeve Gastrectomy Results in a High Rate of Barrett's Esophagus: Results of a Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence has indicated an increased risk of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in the long term after sleeve gastrectomy (SG). AIM: The aim of the study is to investigate the spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms as well as the prevalence of BE, at minimum 5 years after SG in patients who underwent SG in different bariatric centers of two countries: France and Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five high volume outpatient centers dedicated to bariatric surgery that routinely perform upper GI endoscopy before any bariatric procedures were invited to participate in the study. From January 2017 to June 2018, each center during scheduled postoperative evaluation after surgery asked a minimum 10 consecutive patients, which had performed SG at least 5 years before and with no evidence of BE preoperatively, to undergo another upper GI endoscopy. RESULTS: Ninety (66 F) consecutive patients were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 78 ± 15 months, and the mean total body weight loss was 25 ± 12%. The prevalence of BE was 18.8% with no significant difference among centers. Weight loss failure was significantly associated with BE (p < 0.01). The prevalence of GERD symptoms, erosive esophagitis, and the usage of PPIs increased from 22%, 10%, and 22% before the SG to 76%, 41%, and 52% at the time of follow-up, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter study show a high rate of BE at least 5 years after SG. Weight loss failure was significantly associated with BE. We suggest to provide systematic endoscopy in these patients to rule out this condition.

Anemia and Bariatric Surgery: Results of a National French Survey on Administrative Data of 306,298 Consecutive Patients Between 2008 and 2016.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery (BS) has grown exponentially in France, and long-term anemia due to micronutrient deficiencies has become common. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the long-term risk of anemia after BS and to investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of this complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the French National Health Service database on patients who had undergone gastric bypass (GB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), or adjustable gastric banding (AGB), between 2008 and 2016 were extracted. Only patients with a primary intervention were considered. RESULTS: Data from 306,298 patients (143.733 SG, 79.188 GB, and 36.413 AGB) were analyzed. Overall, 12.930 of them (5.0%) had a diagnosis of anemia due to micronutrient deficiencies as main diagnosis or related diagnosis at time of a hospital stay between 2008 and 2016. In multivariate analysis, GB surgery, female gender, age younger than 52 years, and 25-OH vitamin D deficiency were positively associated with the occurrence of anemia whereas hospital procedural volume was negatively associated. The risk to be diagnosed with anemia after BS was 13.0% after a GB, 5.6% after a SG and 4.0% after an AGB (Log-rank p < 0.0001). The hazard ratio for anemia after GB compared to SG was 2.0 (95% CI 1.9-2.1), adjusted for age and gender. CONCLUSION: In France, between 2008 and 2016, 5% of patients had anemia after BS. The risk to develop anemia was 2-fold higher after a GB than after a SG. Young women should be particularly aware of this long-term risk.

Revisional But Not Conversional Gastric Bypass Surgery Increases the Risk of Leaks: Review of 176 Redo out of 932 Consecutive Cases.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, surgeons are dealing more and more with patients experiencing failure of a previous bariatric procedure after the worldwide exponential increase of bariatric surgery. Only a few and contradictory studies investigated both outcomes and complications risk factors in this subset population of bariatric patients. We aimed to study a homogeneous population of patients undergoing redo bariatric surgery (REDO-BS) resulting in bypass anatomy to evaluate early postoperative outcomes and identify risk factors of postoperative complications and mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we compared the outcomes of patients undergoing REDO-BS from another former bariatric procedure into Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGP) to those undergoing primary RYGP. Data were extracted from a prospectively maintained database. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-eight conversional bariatric surgery (CBS) cases resulting in RYGP anatomy and 38 RBS cases of pouch resizing (PR) were compared with 756 primary RYGP. There were no statistical significant difference in outcomes between the primary and CBS groups but patients undergoing PR had a significant higher risk of developing a leak than others. CBS complication risk factors were age (OR = 1.05; p = 0.04), operative time, and T2DM (OR = 4.11; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: CBS is safe and leads to similar early postoperative outcomes as primary RYGP whereas the indication for revisional surgery such as PR should be carefully evaluated as it is associated with an increased risk of leak.