Obesity in laparoscopic surgery

Evaluation of the benefit of indocyanine green as an educational and practical tool for ureteral identification in laparoscopic pelvic surgery: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a visible near-infrared fluorescent dye. Several studies have reported its benefit in identifying important anatomical structures, tissue vascularization, and sentinel lymph nodes in the case of tumors. Studies have shown that ICG is critical and safe in gynecologic surgeries. However, research on how ICG dye can help surgeons in laparoscopic surgeries correctly identify the course of the ureter has yet to be further investigated.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study enrolled 62 gynecology attending and resident surgeons who were asked to identify the course of the ureter on images of laparoscopic surgeries. The results were then compared with images in which ICG dye highlighted the course of the ureter. The purpose of this study was to detect the ability of surgical assistants and residents to adequately identify the course of the ureter in laparoscopic pelvic surgeries.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were found in terms of year of residency, years of experience, number of laparoscopic procedures attended, and correct identification of ureter course. ICG proved useful in identifying the correct ureteral trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS

ICG can be a valuable tool to improve the correct identification of ureters and improve surgical outcomes.

A Modified Purse-String Stapling Technique for Intracorporeal Circular Stapled Esophagojejunostomy During Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy: Comparison with Extracorporeal Reconstruction Technique

Background: Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy (EJ) in the context of laparoscopic total gastrectomy remains a complex and technically demanding procedure. We have previously introduced a novel method of intracorporeal circular stapled EJ utilizing a conventional purse-string suture instrument. Since May 2018, we have refined this technique, and the aim of this study was to assess its safety and efficacy. Methods: Between May 2018 and June 2022, we enrolled 92 patients who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with the modified intracorporeal reconstruction method. In addition, between March 2014 and June 2022, we enrolled 121 patients who underwent the procedure with the extracorporeal reconstruction method. We retrospectively collected and compared the clinical data of these 2 patient cohorts. Results: Intracorporeal reconstruction group experienced lower postoperative pain scores (2.7 ± 1.3 versus 4.5 ± 1.4, P = .032), reduced administration of analgesics (3.1 ± 2.2 versus 5.0 ± 3.5, P = .041), and shorter postoperative hospital stays (4.9 ± 2.3 versus 6.3 ± 3.5, P = .045) compared with the extracorporeal reconstruction group. In addition, anastomotic time and postoperative pain score were not increased in the overweight patients in the intracorporeal reconstruction group. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 (2.2%) patients in the intracorporeal reconstruction group and 4 (3.3%) patients in the extracorporeal reconstruction group. Anastomotic stricture occurred in 1 (1.1% and 0.8%) patient in each group. There was no significant difference in the overall postoperative complication rate between the 2 groups. Conclusions: The modified intracorporeal purse-string stapling technique for EJ during laparoscopic total gastrectomy is a safe and viable option, exhibiting less invasiveness and comparable outcomes to the extracorporeal reconstruction method, especially suitable for obese patients.

Challenges of morbid obesity in gynecological practice

Obesity is currently a global pandemic, with increasing trends worldwide. Data from the WHO, US CDC, and the UK show an increasing trend, with 50% and 25% of the US population expected to be obese and morbidly obese by 2030. Obesity affects several aspects of health, with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and several malignancies. Morbid obesity significantly impacts several aspects of female life and health, from adolescence, through the reproductive years, to the postmenopausal age group. In gynecology, there is a higher prevalence of menstrual disorders and infertility and reduced success rates of assisted reproduction; increased risk of miscarriage; pelvic organ prolapse; and endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers. Surgery in the patient with morbid obesity is associated with several logistical challenges as well as increased surgical and peri-operative risks and increased cost. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature, with a focus on challenges of morbid obesity in gynecological practice.

Long-Term Assessment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Reoperation Risk in Obese Women: Vaginal and Laparoscopic Approaches

The aim of this study was to compare reoperation risks after pelvic organ prolapse repair at 5-year follow-up between obese, overweight, and normal-weight women and to assess these risks accounting for the surgical procedure. We performed a retrospective chart review of all the women who underwent POP repair by transvaginal mesh surgery between January 2005 and January 2009 or laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy between January 2003 and December 2013 at the Gynecologic Surgery Department of the Lille University Hospital. During the study period, 744 women who underwent POP repair were divided into three groups: 382 (51%), 240 (32%), and 122 (16%) in the nonobese group (BMI < 25 kg/m²), overweight group (25 kg/m² ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m²), and obese group (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), respectively. The primary outcome was global reoperation. The median duration of follow-up was 87 months. The risks of global reoperation did not significantly differ between the three BMI groups (adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.12 (0.69 to 1.82) for overweight women and 0.90 (0.46 to 1.74) for obese women compared to normal-weight women, adjusted p = 0.80), nor among the women who underwent transvaginal mesh surgery or laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. The risks of reoperation for POP recurrence, stress urinary incontinence, or mesh-related complications did not significantly differ between the three BMI groups in the overall population nor accounting for the surgical procedure. In conclusion, obesity does not seem to be a risk factor of reoperation for POP recurrence, SUI, or mesh-related complications in the long term regardless of the surgical approach.

Comparison of complications in very obese women undergoing hysterectomy - Abdominal vs laparoscopic approach with short- and long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatment of obese female patients represents a real challenge. Over the last decade, minimally invasive techniques for hysterectomy have emerged. These approaches reduce the invasiveness of standard surgical procedures while maintaining efficacy and feasibility.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the rates of perioperative, early, mid-term and late postoperative complications in very obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 and < 40 kg/m²] and severely obese (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²) women who underwent total (non-radical) hysterectomy.

DESIGN

A prospective comparative multi-centre non-randomized study.

METHODS

In total, 328 consecutive total (non-radical) hysterectomies were performed at seven teaching gynaecological centres. Of these, 153 (46.6%) were performed using an open laparotomy (LT) approach and 175 (53.4%) were performed laparoscopically (LS). All data were collected by medical specialists at the pre-operative examination prior to surgery, during surgery and three times postoperatively (during hospital stay, at 6-week follow-up and 6 months following surgery). Another analysis considered a total of 206 women who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy. The subjects were divided according to BMI into 120 very obese women (BMI ≥ 35 and < 40 kg/m²) and 86 severely obese women (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²).

RESULTS

The total number of composite perioperative complications was significantly lower in the LS group (p = 0.006). Composite complications occurred significantly more often in patients in the LT group compared with the LS group in the early (p < 0.001) and mid-term (p < 0.001) postoperative periods. In the late postoperative period, the total number of composite postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the groups (p < 0.396). Among 206 patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy, the number of complications was generally low; the rates of composite perioperative (p = 0.393), early (p = 0.642), mid-term (p = 0.738) and late (p = 1) postoperative complications were generally low; and frequency did not differ significantly with BMI.

CONCLUSION

The LS approach does not increase intra-operative morbidity associated with surgery, and has significantly better outcomes in terms of the postoperative complication rate.

Operative Difficulty, Morbidity and Mortality Are Unrelated to Obesity in Elective or Emergency Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Bile Duct Exploration

OBJECTIVES

The challenges posed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in obese patients and the methods of overcoming them have been addressed by many studies. However, no objective tool of reporting operative difficulty was used to adjust the outcomes and compare studies. The aim of this study was to establish whether obesity adds to the difficulty of LC and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) and affects their outcomes on a specialist biliary unit with a high emergency workload.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained database of 4699 LCs and LCBDEs performed over 19 years was analysed. Data of patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35, defined as grossly obese, was extracted and compared to a control group.

RESULTS

A total of 683 patients (14.5%) had a mean BMI of 39.9 (35-63), of which 63.4% met the definition of morbidly obese. They had significantly more females and significantly higher ASA II classifications. They had equal proportions of emergency admissions, similar incidence of operative difficulty grades 4 or 5 and no open conversions and were less likely to undergo LCBDE than non-obese patients. There were no significant differences in median operative times, morbidity, readmission or mortality rates.

CONCLUSIONS

This study, the first to classify gall stone surgery in obese patients according to operative difficulty grading, showed no difference in complexity when compared to the non-obese. Refining access and closure techniques is key to avoiding difficulties. Index admission surgery for biliary emergencies prevents multiple admissions with potential complications and should not be denied due to obesity.

Needle insufflation into the liver as a cause of massive gas embolus and CVA

Laparoscopy is being applied more frequently and in broader applications. Complications of this technique are infrequent, and rare among them are gas emboli due to insufflation. This paper describes a 65-year-old obese female presenting for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy who suffered a cerebral vascular accident after Veress needle insertion into undiagnosed severe fatty liver led to a massive gas embolus. Our patient experienced immediate cardiac compromise and acute monoparesis. Intra-operative transesophageal echocardiogram revealed copious air in the right atria and ventricle. A needle track within the liver was visible on a post-operative computerized tomography scan. The patient made a full recovery, but this acts as a reminder to be vigilant for potential complications of laparoscopy and highlights challenges of laparoscopic entry in the severely obese.

Randomized control trial on effectiveness and safety of direct trocar versus Veress needle entry techniques in obese women during diagnostic laparoscopy

PURPOSE

To determine the benefits and safety of direct trocar insertion versus Veress needle technique in obese women undertaking diagnostic laparoscopy procedures.

METHODS

Randomized-controlled trial on 135 obese women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy and dye test for infertility was conducted. Women were randomly assigned to either direct trocar access (n = 68) or Veress needle access (n = 67) before achieving pneumoperitoneum. The same surgeon executed the laparoscopic techniques with a single-puncture technique. The primary outcome measures included total length of the procedure and incidence of any complications, while the mean laparoscopic entry time, volume of CO₂ required, and total of tries needed to attain successful entry were secondary outcomes. Intention-to-treat principle was applied to analysis.

RESULTS

Women in both groups had similar socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and none were lost to follow-up. The overall length of the procedure was significantly lesser in the direct trocar group compared to the Veress needle group (9.9 ± 6.0 vs 16.7 ± 4.7 min; p < 0.001). No significant differences occurred in other outcomes including mean entry time, volume of CO₂ used, number of attempts for successful entry, and major/minor complications (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Direct trocar technique may be an effective alternative to Veress needle for pneumoperitoneum in obese women for diagnostic laparoscopy. It has a comparable rapid laparoscopic entry time but a significantly lower duration of the procedure and shorter exposure to anesthesia. Both methods are equally effective as there was no significant difference in the complications recorded. A greater sample trial may be essential for more corroborative substantiation.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

PACTR201510000999192.

Location of the umbilicus in Korean women and its changes after breast reconstruction with an ipsilateral pedicled rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap

Background

The umbilicus makes an important contribution to the natural appearance of the abdomen. To date, studies on its position in Korean women are lacking, and no standards have been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the position of umbilicus in Korean women and to review changes in its position after ipsilateral pedicled rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (IP-RAM) flap.

Methods

This research consisted of two studies. In first study, 100 females who visited the emergency department with gastroenteritis between 2007 and 2011 were included. In second study, 40 women who underwent IP-RAM flap in the same period were included. Using abdominal computed tomography, we measured the distance between xiphoid process and umbilicus, represented by value a, and the distance between umbilicus and symphysis pubis, represented by value b. Thus, the location of the umbilicus was represented by the ratio a/b. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation test and paired t-test.

Results

In study 1, the mean value of a/b was 1.07. Pearson correlation test revealed a significant correlation between age and a/b. In study 2, the mean value of a/b was 1.16 in preoperative measurements and 1.01 in postoperative measurements. The paired t-test showed a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative measurements, indicating cephalic migration of the umbilicus after surgery.

Conclusions

The natural position of the umbilicus showed caudal migration with aging. Additionally, in a comparison of preoperative and postoperative measurements in patients who underwent IP-RAM flap, cephalic migration of the umbilicus was observed after surgery.

Peri- and postoperative management and outcomes of morbidly obese patients (BMI > 40 kg/m2) with gynaecological disease

INTRODUCTION

For the last two decades, obesity rates have been increasing in both developed and developing countries, with the number of obese women roughly doubling during this period (Stevens et al. in Popul Health Metr 10(1):33, 2012). Obesity represents one of the biggest epidemics of the 21st century. The aim of this retrospective study is to characterise the outcomes of gynaecologic surgeries in cases of extremely obese women with a body mass index (BMI) over 40 kg/m2.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective case control study in a single-centre setting. Our clinical database was searched for gynaecological operations performed on morbidly obese patients (BMI > 40 kg/m2) between 2009 and 2014 in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Hannover Medical School. We matched these results with random patients of normal body weight who had similar surgical procedures and diseases.

RESULTS

We included 97 obese patients in our case group and 99 patients in the control group. We found an association between a strongly elevated BMI and peri- and postoperative morbidity. Both intraoperative and postoperative complications are significantly increased in morbid obesity with a BMI over > 40 kg/m2. We observed intraoperative complications in 55.6% and postoperative complications in 50.5% of patients with extreme obesity. In contrast, the complication rate in the control group with a normal BMI was 11% intraoperatively (p = 0.0001) and 3% postoperatively (p = 0.0001). The data showed that perioperative and postoperative morbidity could be reduced by laparoscopic surgery in many cases, with a significant lower rate of difficulties with closing the wound, a significant shorter duration of surgery and a significant lower rate of infections combined with a significant lower reoperation rate and shorter hospital stay. In gynaecological-oncological diseases, we could demonstrate a reduced radicality during the operative procedure due to extreme obesity.

DISCUSSION

Dealing with the growing number of obese patients is essential, because the problems emerging from obesity are manifold for the treating hospitals as well as the general health system. For this high-risk patient group, it is indispensable to obtain a thorough overview of the patient's overall situation preoperatively to ensure good perioperative care and complications management.

Considerations for minimally invasive gynecologic surgery in obese patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose is to review the key anatomical and physiological changes in obese patients and their effects on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care and to highlight the best practices to safely extend minimally invasive approaches to obese patients and provide optimal surgical outcomes in this high-risk population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Minimally invasive surgery is safe, feasible, and cost-effective for obese patients. Obesity is associated with anatomical and physiological changes in almost all organ systems, which necessitates a multimodal approach and an experienced, multidisciplinary team. Preoperative counseling, evaluation, and optimization of medical comorbidities are critical. The optimal minimally invasive approach is primarily determined by the patient's anatomy and pathology. Specific intraoperative techniques and modifications exist to maximize surgical exposure and panniculus management. Postoperatively, comprehensive medical management can help prevent common complications in obese patients, including hypoxemia, venous thromboembolism, acute kidney injury, hyperglycemia, and prolonged hospitalization.

SUMMARY

Given significantly improved patient outcomes, minimally invasive approaches to gynecological surgery should be considered for all obese patients with particular attention given to specific perioperative considerations and appropriate referral to an experienced minimally invasive surgeon.

How Rescue Echocardiography Changed the Intraoperative Management of an Obese Patient with Refractory Hypotension?

The value of perioperative echocardiography as a rescue tool to complement the clinical assessment of patients who develop hemodynamic instability during noncardiac surgery is becoming increasingly recognized. Several studies have demonstrated the utility of echocardiography in establishing a diagnosis during clinical emergencies. We present the case of an obese patient with refractory hypotension during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery in which rescue transesophageal echocardiography was pivotal in elucidating a diagnosis and changing the course of management.

Laparoscopic hysteropexy: 10 years' experience

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Uterine prolapse is common and has traditionally been treated by vaginal hysterectomy. Increasingly, women are seeking uterine-preserving alternatives. Laparoscopic hysteropexy offers resuspension of the uterus using polypropylene mesh. We report on 10 years' experience with this technique.

METHODS

All hysteropexy procedures in our unit since 2006 were reviewed. Primary outcome was safety of hysteropexy, as assessed by intraoperative and major postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes were measures of feasibility, including operating time, length of stay, conversion to alternative procedures, change in point C, patient satisfaction, and repeat apical prolapse surgery.

RESULTS

Data were available for 507 women. Complications were rare (1.8%) with no evidence of any mesh exposure. Mean operating time was 62.5 min and median length of stay 2 nights. In 17 patients (3.4%), hysteropexy was abandoned. There was a mean change in point C of 7.9 cm and 93.8% of patients felt that their prolapse was "very much" or "much" better. Of these women, 2.8% have had repeat apical surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the largest series to date, describing 10 years' experience with laparoscopic hysteropexy. The surgical technique appears to be safe, with low complication rates, which supports the choice of appropriately selected women to opt for uterine preservation surgery as an alternative to hysterectomy for the management of uterine prolapse.