Medical and surgical treatment of obesity

Oversewing the Staple Line: Does It Safe to Prevent Leakage?

Introduction: The staple line (SL) leak remains one of the most serious complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). The present study aims to determine whether reinforcing the SL with sutures is effective in maintaining tissue integrity. Materials and Methods: LSG Specimens of 60 patients were ex vivo studied. The specimens were divided into three groups: In group 1, the entire SL was reinforced, while the upper half part of the SL was reinforced from fundus to antrum in group 2. The SL was not reinforced in group 3. Then, the pressure inside the sample was increased, and the bursting pressure location and pressure value during the bursting were recorded. Results: The bursting pressure was significantly higher in entire and half oversewed SL groups than the none reinforced group (group 1: 115 mmHg [95-170]; group 2: 95 mmHg [80-120]; group 3: 40 mmHg [22-60], respectively, [P < .001]). The most common site of bursting was in the middle ⅓ of SL (35, 53.8%), followed by the proximal ⅓ part of SL (18, 27.7%), and the distal ⅓ part of SL (12, 18.5%), respectively. The bursting site was significantly more frequent in the corpus than the other parts of the SL (P = .013). Conclusion: Reinforcing the SL with sutures preserves tissue integrity. Although bursting was most frequently observed in the corpus region ex vivo, the fact that almost all real-life leaks develop in the area close to the Angle of His. This situation suggests that strengthening the suture line with reinforcement alone will not be protective enough against leaks in the fundus line, and factors such as tissue ischemia may be considered.

Clinical outcomes and complications of single anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy: A 2-year follow-up study in Bogotá, Colombia

BACKGROUND

The global prevalence of obesity has increased over the past 40 years, and bariatric surgery has proven to be the most effective therapy for long-term weight loss. Its principles are based on modifying the brain-gut axis by altering the gastrointestinal anatomy and affecting the function of gastrointestinal hormones, thereby modifying satiety signals. Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) combines both techniques and has become an alternative to gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion procedures for treating severe obesity and associated metabolic diseases in selected patients.

AIM

To describe the outcomes and complications of SADI-S.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who underwent SADI-S laparoscopically at the Clínica Reina Sofía in Bogotá, Colombia. This study assessed the therapeutic effectiveness of SADI-S in terms of short-term preoperative clinical characteristics, postoperative complications, comorbidities, nutritional defi-ciencies, and intraoperative complications during a 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 50 ± 7.1 kg/m2 underwent laparoscopic SADI-S. The mean operative time and hospital stays were 143.8 ± 42 min and 2.3 ± 0.8 d, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 18 mo, and the mean BMI decreased to 28.5 ± 12.2 kg/m2. The excess BMI loss was 41.8% ± 13.5%, and the weight loss percentage was 81.1% ± 17.0%. Resolution of obesity-related comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea, was achieved and defined as complete or partial remission. No intraoperative complications were observed. Short-term complications were observed in four (6.8%) patients. However, larger studies with longer follow-up periods are required to draw definitive conclusions.

CONCLUSION

SADI-S has a low intraoperative and postoperative complication rate and is effective for weight loss and improving obesity-related comorbidities, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and sleep apnea syndrome.

Beneficial Effects of Early Time-Restricted Feeding on Metabolic Diseases: Importance of Aligning Food Habits with the Circadian Clock

The importance of metabolic health is a major societal concern due to the increasing prevalence of metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and various cardiovascular diseases. The circadian clock is clearly implicated in the development of these metabolic diseases. Indeed, it regulates physiological processes by hormone modulation, thus helping the body to perform them at the ideal time of day. Since the industrial revolution, the actions and rhythms of everyday life have been modified and are characterized by changes in sleep pattern, work schedules, and eating habits. These modifications have in turn lead to night shift, social jetlag, late-night eating, and meal skipping, a group of customs that causes circadian rhythm disruption and leads to an increase in metabolic risks. Intermittent fasting, especially the time-restricted eating, proposes a solution: restraining the feeding window from 6 to 10 h per day to match it with the circadian clock. This approach seems to improve metabolic health markers and could be a therapeutic solution to fight against metabolic diseases. This review summarizes the importance of matching life habits with circadian rhythms for metabolic health and assesses the advantages and limits of the application of time-restricted fasting with the objective of treating and preventing metabolic diseases.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus status in obese patients following sleeve gastrectomy or one anastomosis gastric bypass

This study aims to compare sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) in terms of remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in obese patients. All T2DM patients were followed-up for at least 36 months. The primary outcome was remission of T2DM. Secondary endpoints included weight reduction and the procedure’s impact on quality of life. In total, 53/1177 morbidly obese patients who underwent SG (Group A, n = 28) or OAGB (Group B, n = 25) had T2DM. Preoperatively, the mean Body Mass Index (BMI) values were 52.2 ± 8.5 kg/m² and 52.9 ± 10.9 kg/m² for Group A and Group B, respectively. Six patients in Group A were insulin dependent, while 8 were insulin dependent in Group B. After 36 months, diabetes remission was achieved by only 10 patients (35.7%) in Group A. However, in Group B, 22 patients (88%) remained off antidiabetic agents (p < 0.0001), with ΔHbA1c (%) reaching 1.4 ± 1.5% in Group A and 2.7 ± 2.1% in Group B (p = 0.02). Excess weight loss% (%EWL) was again significantly different between the two groups (MA = 79.8 ± 14.5%, MB = 93.3 ± 16.0%, p = 0.003). OAGB is more effective in improving glycaemic control and %EWL, with almost immediate resolution of diabetes, as well as long-term weight loss.

The Effects of Acarbose on Non-Diabetic Overweight and Obese Patients: A Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

This systematic review aims to verify the efficacy of acarbose monotherapy in treating obese or overweight patients without diabetes.

METHODS

In the study, we conducted a systematic search of the Pub-Med, EMBASE, Cochrane and Science Citation Index Expanded databases in search of clinical trials on acarbose treatment, overweight and obesity. The crucial inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients were diagnosed as overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²); (2) randomized controlled trials (RCTs); (3) patients had undergone acarbose monotherapy or placebo control; (4) acarbose treatment had been carried out for at least 3 months. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM); (2) patients had received a weight loss medication or surgery in the past 3 months; (3) papers not published in English; (4) repeated research results of the same experiment or repeated published documents.

RESULTS

A total of 7 studies involving 132 in the acarbose group and 137 in placebo group, 269 subjects in total, were included in this meta-analysis. From the selected seven papers, we extracted the following clinical parameters: systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density cholesterol (HDL) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). An important finding of our research is that TG was the only significantly reduced parameter in the acarbose group. Weight mean difference (WMD) was - 0.21 (95% CI - 0.33, - 0.09) mmol/l between acarbose (P = 0.0006) and placebo patients. Reduction of BMI was also greater for acarbose than placebo subjects, although the discrepancy was not statistically significant (P = 0.56). Moreover, no hypoglycemia occurred in either the acarbose group or placebo group. A few subjects experienced gastrointestinal reactions, but these were mild and improved over time. Acarbose has no obvious influence on other metabolic indexes.

CONCLUSION

Acarbose monotherapy is beneficial in reducing TG levels in obese or overweight patients and will not result in hypoglycemia during medication. The side effects of acarbose are mild.

Chitosan Oligosaccharides Improve Glucolipid Metabolism Disorder in Liver by Suppression of Obesity-Related Inflammation and Restoration of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ)

Chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) display various biological activities. In this study, we aimed to explore the preventive effects of COS on glucolipid metabolism disorder using palmitic acid (PA)-induced HepG2 cells and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice as experimental models in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The results showed that COS pretreatment for 12 h significantly ameliorated lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells exposed to PA for 24 h, accompanied by a reversing of the upregulated mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α) and glucolipid metabolism-related regulators (SCD-1, ACC1, PCK1-α). In addition, COS treatment alleviated glucolipid metabolism disorder in mice fed with HFD for five months, including reduction in body weight and fasting glucose, restoration of intraperitoneal glucose tolerance, and suppression of overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines and glucolipid metabolism-related regulators. Furthermore, our study found that COS pretreatment significantly reversed the downregulation of PPARγ at transcriptional and translational levels in both PA-induced HepG2 cells and liver tissues of HFD-fed mice. In summary, the study suggests that COS can improve glucolipid metabolism disorder by suppressing inflammation and upregulating PPARγ expression. This indicates a novel application of COS in preventing and treating glucolipid metabolism-related diseases.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Medicinal and Edible Mushrooms

Obesity is a group of metabolic disorders caused by multiple factors, including heredity, diet, lifestyle, societal determinants, environment, and infectious agents, which can all lead to the enhancement of storage body fat. Excess visceral fat mass in adipose tissue generate several metabolic disorders, including cardiovascular diseases with chronic inflammation based pathophysiology. The objective of the current review is to summarize the cellular mechanisms of obesity that attenuate by antioxidant potentials of medicinal and edible mushrooms. Studies have showed that mushrooms potentially have antioxidant capacities, which increase the antioxidant defense systems in cells. They boost anti-inflammatory actions and thereby protect against obesity-related hypertension and dyslipidemia. The practice of regular consumption of mushrooms is effective in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, and thus could be a good candidate for use in future pharmaceutical or nutraceutical applications.

Managing Care of Critically Ill Bariatric Patients

Nearly 160 million Americans are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. Morbid obesity and its numerous comorbidities are threats to a person's health. Moreover, hospitalized individuals living with adiposity-based chronic conditions are at risk for certain immobility hazards. Many individuals who are morbidly obese look to metabolic surgery as a means for achieving sustainable weight loss. This article addresses critical care needs of people living with excess weight or weight maldistribution, along with specific needs of those undergoing metabolic surgery.

Impact of body weight, low energy diet and gastric bypass on drug bioavailability, cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic biomarkers: protocol for an open, non-randomised, three-armed single centre study (COCKTAIL)

INTRODUCTION

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP) is associated with changes in cardiometabolic risk factors and bioavailability of drugs, but whether these changes are induced by calorie restriction, the weight loss or surgery per se, remains uncertain. The COCKTAIL study was designed to disentangle the short-term (6 weeks) metabolic and pharmacokinetic effects of GBP and a very low energy diet (VLED) by inducing a similar weight loss in the two groups.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This open, non-randomised, three-armed, single-centre study is performed at a tertiary care centre in Norway. It aims to compare the short-term (6 weeks) and long-term (2 years) effects of GBP and VLED on, first, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics (24 hours) of probe drugs and biomarkers and, second, their effects on metabolism, cardiometabolic risk factors and biomarkers. The primary outcomes will be measured as changes in: (1) all six probe drugs by absolute bioavailability area under the curve (AUC_oral/AUC_iv) of midazolam (CYP3A4 probe), systemic exposure (AUC_oral) of digoxin and rosuvastatin and drug:metabolite ratios for omeprazole, losartan and caffeine, levels of endogenous CYP3A biomarkers and genotypic variation, changes in the expression and activity data of the drug-metabolising, drug transport and drug regulatory proteins in biopsies from various organs and (2) body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors and metabolic biomarkers.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The COCKTAIL protocol was reviewed and approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (Ref: 2013/2379/REK sørøst A). The results will be disseminated to academic and health professional audiences and the public via presentations at conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals and press releases and provided to all participants.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02386917.

What to do when it is technically impossible to perform laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is increasingly popular with surgeons because of its apparent technical ease. However, performing LSG safely is sometimes not possible during laparoscopy. The objectives of the present study were to (i) describe the context of LSG failure and (ii) suggest preoperative care options or strategies that enable secondary LSG to be performed safely.

METHODS

We studied patients having undergone primary and secondary LSG between January 2008 and July 2013. The primary efficacy criterion was the LSG success rate. The secondary efficacy criteria were preoperative care procedures, the complication rate, the failure rate, and the frequency of conversion to open surgery.

RESULTS

During the study period, 954 patients underwent first- or second-line LSG. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was technically impossible in 12 patients (1.2 %). The cause of failure was a large left liver lobe in seven cases (58.3 %) and a lack of space in five cases. Of these 12 patients, nine underwent secondary LSG. The median preoperative BMI before the first LSG was 51.5 kg/m(2). The median (range) time interval between the two LSG attempts was 6 months (3-37). Prior to secondary LSG, the preoperative weight reduction measure was a diet in seven cases (78 %), an intragastric balloon in one case, and no treatment in one case. The median preoperative excess weight loss (EWL) before the second LSG was 10 % (0-20). Five LSGs were successful, two required conversion to open surgery, and two failed again. There were two postoperative complications (22 %), both of which concerned the two patients with conversion to laparotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

In the event of LSG technical failure, preoperative weight loss may enable a second attempt at laparoscopic treatment. A preoperative EWL of at least 10 % appears to be required for the avoidance of conversion to laparotomy.

Early experience with the Incisionless Operating Platform™ (IOP) for the treatment of obesity : the Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal (POSE) procedure

BACKGROUND

We report our initial experience and 6-month outcomes in a single center using the per-oral Incisionless Operating Platform™ (IOP) (USGI Medical) to place transmural plications in the gastric fundus and distal body using specialized suture anchors (the Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal [POSE] procedure).

METHODS

A prospective observational study was undertaken with institutional Ethics Board approval in a private hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Indicated patients were WHO obesity class I-II, or III, where patients refused a surgical approach.

RESULTS

Between February 28, 2011 and March 23, 2012, the POSE procedure was successfully performed in 45 patients: 75.6 % female; mean age 43.4 ± 9.2 SD (range 21.0-64.0). At baseline: mean absolute weight (AW, kg), 100.8 ± 12.9 (75.5-132.5); body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), 36.7 ± 3.8 (28.1-46.6). A mean 8.2 suture-anchor plications were placed in the fundus, 3.0 along the distal body wall. Mean operative time, 69.2 ± 26.6 min (32.0-126.0); patients were discharged in <24 h. Six-month mean AW was 87.0 ± 10.3 (68.0-111.5); BMI decreased 5.8 to 31.3 ± 3.3 (25.1-38.6) (p < 0.001); EWL was 49.4 %; TBWL, 15.5 %. No mortality or operative morbidity. Minor postoperative side effects resolved with treatment by discharge. Patients reported less hunger and earlier satiety post procedure. Liquid intake began 12 h post procedure with full solids by 6 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

At 6-month follow-up of a prospective case series, the POSE procedure appeared to provide safe and effective weight loss without the scarring, pain, and recovery issues of open and laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Long-term follow-up and further study are required.

Early experience with the Incisionless Operating Platform™ (IOP) for the treatment of obesity : the Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal (POSE) procedure

BACKGROUND

We report our initial experience and 6-month outcomes in a single center using the per-oral Incisionless Operating Platform™ (IOP) (USGI Medical) to place transmural plications in the gastric fundus and distal body using specialized suture anchors (the Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal [POSE] procedure).

METHODS

A prospective observational study was undertaken with institutional Ethics Board approval in a private hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Indicated patients were WHO obesity class I-II, or III, where patients refused a surgical approach.

RESULTS

Between February 28, 2011 and March 23, 2012, the POSE procedure was successfully performed in 45 patients: 75.6 % female; mean age 43.4 ± 9.2 SD (range 21.0-64.0). At baseline: mean absolute weight (AW, kg), 100.8 ± 12.9 (75.5-132.5); body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), 36.7 ± 3.8 (28.1-46.6). A mean 8.2 suture-anchor plications were placed in the fundus, 3.0 along the distal body wall. Mean operative time, 69.2 ± 26.6 min (32.0-126.0); patients were discharged in <24 h. Six-month mean AW was 87.0 ± 10.3 (68.0-111.5); BMI decreased 5.8 to 31.3 ± 3.3 (25.1-38.6) (p < 0.001); EWL was 49.4 %; TBWL, 15.5 %. No mortality or operative morbidity. Minor postoperative side effects resolved with treatment by discharge. Patients reported less hunger and earlier satiety post procedure. Liquid intake began 12 h post procedure with full solids by 6 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

At 6-month follow-up of a prospective case series, the POSE procedure appeared to provide safe and effective weight loss without the scarring, pain, and recovery issues of open and laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Long-term follow-up and further study are required.

Effect of sleeve gastrectomy on postprandial lipoprotein metabolism in morbidly obese patients

BACKGROUND

Obesity is associated with abnormal fasting and postprandial lipids, which may link obesity with atherosclerosis. We explored fasting and postprandial lipids in morbidly obese patients treated with sleeve gastrectomy and in control subjects.

METHODS

After fasting for 12 h 15 morbidly obese patients (BMI 51.4±6.5 kg/m2, 43.7±12.6 years) received a standardized oral fat load before and 3 months after bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy). Controls (n=9, BMI 23.1±1.4 kg/m²) were studied once. Plasma was obtained fasting and then postprandially every 2 h for 8 h. Triglycerides (TG), chylomicron-TG (CM-TG), VLDL/chylomicron-remnant (VLDL/CR)-TG, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL/CR-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were isolated by ultracentrifugation at each time point. Postprandial values were expressed as area under the curve (AUC) and incremental area under the curve (iAUC). In addition, fasting glucose and insulin values and HOMA-IR-Index was measured (n=14).

RESULTS

Compared to controls morbidly obese patients had elevated TG and slightly altered postprandial lipids. Following surgery (weight loss 23.4 kg±6.2 kg; p<0.001) fasting TG (-19.1%; p=0.04), VLDL/CR-TG (-20.0%; p=0.05) decreased significantly, while fasting cholesterol, VLDL-, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol did not change. AUC and iAUC decreased significantly for VLDL/CR-TG (-20.4%, p=0.04 and -38.5%, p=0.04, respectively). Neither fasting nor postprandial changes correlated with the change in weight. In patients with preoperatively elevated TG (>150 mg/dl) a similar pattern was observed. Fasting insulin and HOMA were reduced significantly (-51.9%; p=0.004 and -47.9%; p=0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Three months after sleeve gastrectomy fasting and postprandial lipoprotein metabolism and glucose metabolism is improved in morbidly obese patients. The potential mechanisms may relate to decreased caloric intake but also to hormonal changes.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass compared with aggressive diet and exercise therapy for morbidly obese patients awaiting renal transplant: a decision analysis

BACKGROUND

The optimal management of morbidly obese patients awaiting renal transplant is controversial and unknown. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) versus diet and exercise on the survival of morbidly obese patients with end-stage renal disease awaiting renal transplant.

METHODS

A decision analytic Markov state transition model was designed to simulate the life of morbidly obese patients with end-stage renal disease awaiting transplant. Life expectancy after RYGB and after 1 and 2 years of diet and exercise was estimated and compared in the framework of 2 clinical scenarios in which patients above a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m(2) or above a BMI of 40 kg/m(2) were ineligible for transplantation, reflecting the BMI restrictions of many transplant centers. In addition to base case analysis (45 kg/m(2) BMI preintervention), sensitivity analysis of initial BMI was completed. Markov model parameters were extracted from the literature.

RESULTS

RYGB improved survival compared with diet and exercise. Patients who underwent RYGB received transplants sooner and in higher frequency. Using 40 kg/m(2) as the upper limit for transplant eligibility, base case patients who underwent RYGB gained 5.4 years of life, whereas patients who underwent 1 and 2 years of diet and exercise gained 1.5 and 2.8 years of life, respectively. Using 35 kg/m(2) as the upper limit, RYGB base case patients gained 5.3 years of life, whereas patients who underwent 1 and 2 years of diet and exercise gained .7 and 1.5 years of life, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In morbidly obese patients with end-stage renal disease, RYGB may be more effective than optimistic weight loss outcomes after diet and exercise, thereby improving access to renal transplantation.

The long-term cost-effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions: systematic literature review

Obesity prevention provides a major opportunity to improve population health. As health improvements usually require additional and scarce resources, novel health technologies (interventions) should be economically evaluated. In the prevention of obesity, health benefits may slowly accumulate over time and it can take many years before an intervention has reached full effectiveness. Decision-analytic simulation models (DAMs), which combine evidence from diverse sources, can be utilized to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of such interventions. This literature review summarizes long-term economic findings (defined as ≥ 40 years) for 41 obesity prevention interventions, which had been evaluated in 18 cost-utility analyses, using nine different DAMs. Interventions were grouped according to their method of delivery, setting and risk factors targeted into behavioural (n=21), community (n=12) and environmental interventions (n=8). The majority of interventions offered good value for money, while seven were cost-saving. Ten interventions were not cost-effective (defined as >50,000 US dollar), however. Interventions that modified a target population's environment, i.e. fiscal and regulatory measures, reported the most favourable cost-effectiveness. Economic findings were accompanied by a large uncertainty though, which complicates judgments about the comparative cost-effectiveness of interventions.