High Rates of Nicotine Use Relapse and Ulcer Development Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Updates in Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective long-term treatment for morbid obesity as well as type-2 diabetes mellitus. The field of metabolic and bariatric surgery has seen tremendous growth over the past decade with dramatically reduced risks. This article aims to provide an update on bariatric surgery, highlighting the latest outcomes, improvements, and challenges in the field. Recently, the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) released a major update to the indications for bariatric surgery at BMI ≥35 kg/m2 regardless of co-morbidities and 30-34.9 kg/m2 with obesity-related comorbidities. Sleeve gastrectomy has emerged as the most popular bariatric procedure in the last 10 years with its remarkable efficacy and safety profile. The implementation of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have significantly improved the quality of care for all bariatric patients. The recent introduction and FDA approval of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists for chronic obesity has garnered significant media coverage and popularity, but no guidelines exist regarding its use in relation to bariatric surgery. This update underscores the need for tailored approaches, ongoing research, and the integration of evidence-based medicine and innovations to enhance patient care.

Risk Factors for Chronic Abdominal Pain After RYGB: Are Patients Adequately Selected Beforehand?

PURPOSE

Chronic abdominal pain after RYGB is a known issue. Identifying the potential patient-related and modifiable risk factors might contribute to diminish the risk for this undesirable outcome.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective cohort study with prospective data collection was conducted with inclusion of all patients who underwent RYGB surgery between 2015 and 2021. Data from the NBSR and medical records were used. Patients with chronic abdominal pain were defined when pain lasting or recurring for more than 3 to 6 months.

RESULTS

Six hundred sixty-four patients who underwent RYGB surgery were included with a median follow-up of 60.5 months. Forty-nine patients (7.3%) presented with chronic abdominal pain. Postoperative complications (OR 13.376, p = 0.020) and diagnosis of depression (OR 1.971, p = 0.037) were associated with developing abdominal pain. On the other hand, ex-smokers (OR 0.222, p = 0.040) and older age (0.959, p = 0.004) presented as protective factors.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative complications and diagnosis of depression are risk factors for chronic pain after RYGB. The role of the bariatric MDT remains crucial to select these patients adequately beforehand.

Incidence of Substance Use Disorder Following Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

New-onset substance use disorder (SUD) following bariatric surgery is a significant concern that is likely multi-factorial, although the etiologies are unclear. Previous studies have identified variable rates of SUD along with utilizing different methods and measures. The objective of this study is to evaluate new-onset SUD diagnoses among adults following bariatric surgery and compare these rates to those in the general population as well as those diagnosed with overweight or obesity.

METHODS

Data was extracted from TriNetX Research Platform and used to build three cohorts of adults: those who had bariatric surgery (bariatric surgery cohort), those diagnosed with obesity or overweight, and a general population cohort. Rates of incident SUD were compared among these three groups. Initial encounters for all individuals were from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of SUD in patients with a history of bariatric surgery was 6.55% (n = 2523). When compared to the general population, persons who had any type of bariatric procedure had a decreased risk of new-onset SUD with an overall odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence limits (CL)] of 0.89 [0.86, 0.93]. When compared to persons with overweight or obesity, bariatric patients were less likely to develop any form of SUD (OR: 0.65 [0.62, 0.67]).

CONCLUSION

While overall rates of new-onset SUD are lower among those who had bariatric surgery, they also vary by surgery and substance type. Efforts should still be made to address new-onset SUD in order to optimize the post-surgical care of patients.

Impact of smoking on weight loss outcomes after bariatric surgery: a literature review

BACKGROUND

The association between smoking and surgical complications after bariatric surgery has been well-established. However, given that this patient population is inherently weight-concerned, understanding the effects of tobacco use on postoperative weight loss is essential to guiding clinicians in counseling patients. We aimed to summarize the current literature examining the effects of preoperative and postoperative smoking, as well as changes in smoking status, on bariatric surgery weight loss outcomes.

METHODS

Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases were queried to identify relevant published studies.

RESULTS

Overall, 20 studies were included. Preoperative and postoperative smoking rates varied widely across studies, as did requirements for smoking cessation prior to bariatric surgery. Reported preoperative smoking prevalence ranged from 1 to 62%, and postoperative smoking prevalence ranged from 6 to 43%. The majority of studies which examined preoperative and/or postoperative smoking habits found no association between smoking habits and postoperative weight loss outcomes. A minority of studies found relatively small differences in postoperative weight loss between smokers and nonsmokers; these often became nonsignificant with longer follow-up. No studies found significant associations between changes in smoking status and weight loss outcomes.

CONCLUSION

While smoking has been associated with weight loss in the general population, most current evidence demonstrates that smoking habits are not associated with weight loss outcomes after bariatric surgery. However, due to the heterogeneity in study design and analysis, no definitive conclusions can be made, and more robust studies are needed to investigate any relationship between smoking and long-term weight loss outcomes. Given the established increased risk of surgical complications and mortality in smokers, smoking cessation should be encouraged.