Liver failure in an obese middle-aged woman after biliointestinal bypass

Liver Injury and Acute Liver Failure After Bariatric Surgery: An Overview of Potential Injury Mechanisms

The obesity epidemic has caused a surge in the use of bariatric surgery. Although surgery-induced weight loss is an effective treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, it may precipitate severe hepatic complications under certain circumstances. Acute liver injury (ALI) and acute liver failure (ALF) following bariatric surgery have been reported in several case series. Although rare, ALI and ALF tend to emerge several months after bariatric surgery. If so, it can result in prolonged hospitalization, may necessitate liver transplantation, and in some cases prove fatal. However, little is known about the risk factors for developing ALI or ALF after bariatric surgery and the mechanisms of liver damage in this context are poorly defined. This review provides an account of the available data on ALI and ALF caused by bariatric surgery, with emphasis on potential injury mechanisms and the outcomes of liver transplantation for ALF after bariatric surgery.

Treatment of liver failure post one anastomosis gastric bypass by revising to normal anatomy: A case report

Introduction

Obesity and the associated metabolic syndrome are global health problems. Significant weight loss after bariatric surgery can cause a substantial difference in those comorbidities in obese patients. In this case, we described a rare complication of a patient who developed acute liver failure after an uneventful one anastomosis gastric bypass treated conservatively and revision of the one anastomosis gastric bypass to normal anatomy.

Case presentation

We present a 52-year-old female known to have hypothyroidism and morbid obesity with a BMI of 45. For that, she underwent uneventful one anastomosis gastric bypass. Later, she developed liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy, which was managed conservatively and revision surgery to normal anatomy.

Discussion

Bariatric surgery plays an integral role in treating obese patients for its associated impacts, like facilitating weight loss and related metabolic syndrome improvement. The effects of bariatric surgery on liver functioning are controversial. Some malabsorptive procedures are linked to postoperative hepatic complications. However, it is uncommon in a recent new technique in bariatric surgery. Liver transplant and revision of the bariatric surgery have been described as management. However, optimal nutrition support without a liver transplant along with revision surgery is possible in experienced hands.

Conclusion

Early detection of liver impairment and early intervention by a revision to normal anatomy by an experienced surgeon is considered the safest and most effective procedure for such patients. However, late detection where liver failure occurs, liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for preventing fatal outcomes.

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Revision of one anastomosis gastric bypass as a treatment for liver failure

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Optimizing the nutritional status is essential in revision surgeries.

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Monitoring of liver status post-bariatric surgery is important.

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An experienced bariatric surgeon should do the revision surgeries.

Liver transplantation for bariatric surgery-related liver failure: a systematic review of a rare condition

BACKGROUND

Protein malnutrition and bacterial overgrowth occurring after bariatric surgery (BS) might cause severe liver failure (LF) needing liver transplantation (LT).

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate indications and outcomes of LT for BS-related LF.

SETTING

University hospital in France.

METHODS

The EMBASE, MEDLINE, and COCHRANE central databases were systematically searched according to the PRISMA criteria from inception up through December 2017 for articles describing LT for LF after BS.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies reporting 36 patients listed for LT, of which 32 underwent the procedure, were retained. The types of previously performed BS included jejunoileal bypass (n = 16), bilio-pancreatic diversion according to Scopinaro (n = 14) or with duodenal switch (n = 3), bilio-intestinal bypass (n = 1), long-limb Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n = 1), and single anastomosis omega gastric bypass (n = 1). Liver failure developed a median of 20 months after BS (mean ± SD: 105 ± 121 mo; range, 5-300 mo). This interval of time was significantly shorter after biliopancreatic diversion than jejunoileal bypass (mean ± SD: 22 ± 21 mo versus 269 ± 27 mo; P = .0001). Four patients (11.1%) died while on the waiting list for LT, and 4 more (12.5%) died after LT. Morbidity and liver retransplantation were reported in 8 (25%) and 2 (6.2%) patients, respectively. Twenty-one patients (65.6%) had their BS procedure reversed (1 patient before, 15 patients during, and 5 patients after LT, respectively). Biopsy-proven steatosis recurrence after LT was reported in 6 patients (18.7%), 4 of whom did not have BS reversal.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe LF occurring after BS, although rare, might require LT. When indicated, LT is effective at restoring liver function, even when BS reversal is performed synchronously.

Outcomes of Biliointestinal Bypass among Iranian Obese Patients

Background  There are several surgical approaches to treat obesity not cured with medical approaches. Each method has its advantages and complications. In here, we have conducted a study to evaluate complications of biliointestinal bypass surgery (BIBP). Methods  A prospective study was conducted in a private hospital from 2002 to 2016. Those patients, not previously operated for morbid obesity, were eligible. Mean follow-up period was 89 months ( ± 54 months; range: 73-108 months). Main outcome measures were weight, BMI (body mass index), concentrations of blood lipids and glucose, liver transaminases, and obesity-related comorbidities and complications. Results  Twenty-three consecutive patients with morbid obesity, including 16 women (69.7%) and seven men (31.3%) with mean age 38.47 ± 10 years (range: 26-57 years) underwent surgery. At the end of follow-up period, a mean BMI reduction of 12.2 kg/m 2 kg/m 2 ( p  < 0.001)] was observed. An excess weight loss (EWL) of 63% ( ± 34) was achieved at the end of the study. Additionally, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased postoperative significantly. The main long-term complications were flatulence (60%), borborygmus (47.8%), mal odorous stool (30.4%), and diarrhea (21.7%). Revision rate was 4.34%. There were no cases with irreversible hepatic injury, deaths due to the surgery, or progressive renal failure. Conclusion BIBP seems to be a safe, easily reversible, and one of valid therapeutic approaches in morbidly obese patients. BIBP has the potential to achieve durable weight loss and offers an improved quality of life.

Monitoring of Liver Function Tests after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: An Examination of Evidence Base

There is no consensus on the monitoring of liver function tests after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Since the main objective of such monitoring would be to diagnose early those who will eventually develop liver failure after RYGB, we performed a systematic review on this topic. An extensive search of literature revealed only 10 such cases in 6 published articles. It would hence appear that liver failure is a rare problem after RYGB. Routine lifelong monitoring of liver function tests is therefore unnecessary for otherwise asymptomatic individuals. Such monitoring should hence be reserved for high-risk groups, such as patients with liver cirrhosis, those undergoing extended limb/distal RYGB, patients with new illnesses, those abusing alcohol, those on hepatotoxic drugs and those presenting with a surgical complication.

Biopsy-proven progressive fatty liver disease nine months post mini-gastric bypass surgery: A case study

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Performance of MGB with a 200 cm bypassed limb in a morbidly obese female.

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Presentation of anemia, low albumin, elevated LFT at 8th month despite good intake.

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NAFLD activity score progressed from 2/8 to 7/8, leading to revisional surgery.

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Rapid course of weight loss after BS and/or long bypassed limb could be responsible.

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Bowel length measurement is recommended to avoid a short common intestinal channel.

Introduction

Mini-gastric bypass (MGB) is a popular bariatric procedure. Its effect on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), however, has not yet been comprehensively studied.

Presentation of case

A 57 year-old non-alcoholic female with a body mass index of 42.8 kg/m² underwent MGB without any incident. A concurrent liver biopsy showed an NAFLD activity score (NAS) of 2/8 without fibrosis. She presented at postoperative month eight with edema, vague abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting and was hospitalized. Her BMI had dropped to 25.7 kg/m². Her blood workup revealed mild anemia, mildly elevated liver enzymes, and hypoalbuminemia (2.5 g/dL). Liver ultrasound revealed grade-2 fatty liver. She received parenteral nutrition and intensive nutrient supplementation. Nevertheless, with regard to unsuccessful supportive measures and rising liver enzymes, revisional surgery −gastrogastrostomy- was performed. Her liver biopsy demonstrated a NAS of 7/8 at the time of revisional surgery. Her postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged after one week.

Discussion

Bariatric surgery has shown favorable results regarding improvement of NAFLD in morbid obesity. This beneficial effect has been linked to the amount of weight loss. However, case reports have shown deteriorating liver function and NAFLD even after significant weight loss. They all have in common significant weight loss in a relatively short period of time. There may also be a connection between specific bariatric surgery procedures and this phenomenon.

Conclusion

Future studies comparing the effect of various bariatric procedures, including MGB, are necessary to help clinicians decide the optimal procedure for patients with this liver condition.

Liver failure after long-limb gastric bypass

Liver failure is reported with increasing frequency in patients who underwent bariatric surgery for morbid obesity. In most cases, liver transplantation is the only possible treatment to avoid fatal outcome. Although most cases are observed after older bariatric surgery techniques characterized by high malabsorption rates, we report on a 38-year-old woman who developed liver failure seven months after long-limb gastric bypass.

Bariatric Surgery and Liver Transplantation

Obesity is an important public health and medical concern in the United States. The rate of obesity has steadily risen for the past several decades. Obesity is associated with the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation. After liver transplantation, recipients tend to gain weight and develop recurrent fatty liver. Over time, recurrent fatty liver may impact patient and graft survival. A bariatric surgical approach may be beneficial in select patients.

The Effect of Roux-en-Y vs. Omega-Loop Gastric Bypass on Liver, Metabolic Parameters, and Weight Loss

BACKGROUND

Omega-loop gastric bypass (OLGB) results in weight loss (WL) but data on its impact on liver and glucose metabolism compared to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the development of hepatic and metabolic markers as well as WL between the above-mentioned surgical groups during the first postoperative year.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the respective parameters in non-diabetic morbidly obese patients who underwent either RYGB (n = 25) or OLGB (n = 25).

RESULTS

Compared to RYGB, OLGB showed a greater WL percentage. Liver transaminases dropped in RYGB, while rose in OLGB. No correlation between aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and WL could be detected. Gamma-glutamyltransferase decreased significantly in RYGB over the first 3 months, while it increased in OLGB. We found higher levels of triglycerides, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), and liver fat percentage in RYGB at baseline, despite matching the groups for age, sex, and BMI. Those differences disappeared, except for triglycerides, within 1 year. All metabolic parameters correlated with WL.

CONCLUSION

OLGB results in greater WL but transiently deteriorated several liver parameters in the first postoperative year. This was not associated with WL. The impact of these results on hepatic outcomes such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis progression requires further studies. In both groups, improved insulin resistance and sensitivity were correlated with higher WL and lower liver fat percentage, respectively.