Predictors of Two Obesity Complications: diabetes and hypertension

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as first stage or definitive intent in 300 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) was originally used as a bridge to definitive surgery in high-risk patients. Recently it has been considered as a stand-alone procedure due to its effectiveness on weight loss and comorbidities resolution. This study was designed to evaluate the results of SG on complications, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities resolution in 300 consecutive obese patients and to analyze the lesson learned from this experience.

METHODS

From October 2002 to November 2009, 300 patients underwent SG. In the first 100 cases (group 1: mean BMI, 54.4±9.3), SG was intended as a first stage of biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch in high risk super-obese patients. In the last 200 cases (group 2: mean BMI, 45.5±7.3), SG was intended as a definitive procedure. No routine reinforcement was performed in group 1. In group 2, oversewn reinforcement was performed routinely. SG was redo surgery in 21 patients (7%).

RESULTS

Mean operative time was 119±48.6 min in group 1 and 72±33.8 in group 2. Conversion rate was 0.6% (massive hepatomegaly). Mortality was 0.6%. Major postoperative complications were registered in 15 patients in group 1 and 11 in group 2. In 3 cases, a reoperation was needed. The mean BMI in group 1 was 46, 43, 39, and 31 at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. In group 2, the mean BMI was 32.9, 30.6, and 31.7 at 6, 12, and 18 months. At 12 months, the diabetes, hypertension, and OSAS were cured on 69%, 62%, and 50% in group 1 and 88%, 57%, and 58% in group 2. In group 2, no patient required second stage.

CONCLUSIONS

SG is a safe and effective treatment for morbid obesity at mid-term follow-up. SG is effective for comorbidities resolution, especially for the treatment of diabetes. Suture line reinforcement allows a significant reduction of bleeding.

Early postoperative insulin-resistance changes after sleeve gastrectomy

INTRODUCTION

Biliopancreatic diversion and gastric bypass are associated with a rapid improvement in insulin resistance few days after surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects in insulin resistance following sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between December 2007 and September 2008, 17 consecutive obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (three men, mean age 51.1 years, mean BMI 44.7 kg/m(2)) were submitted to laparoscopic SG. Fasting serum glucose, insulin concentration, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA IR) were drawn preoperatively and at 5, 15, 30, and 60 postoperative days. In seven of these patients insulin sensitivity was evaluated on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 4. Moreover a control group of three overweight and diabetic patients (one man, mean age 52.1 years and mean BMI 26.8 kg/m(2)) submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and undergoing the same diet protocol was studied.

RESULTS

In all obese patients, a sharp (5 days) and significant reduction of serum glucose and insulin concentration and HOMA IR values was observed after SG. In seven patients, serum glucose and insulin concentration and HOMA IR values were significantly lower at third postoperative day. At the 15th postoperative day both serum glucose and insulin concentration and HOMA IR remained significantly lower in the absence of significant weight modifications. At 30 and 60 postoperative days, these values remained substantially unchanged in spite of a greater weight loss. In the cholecystectomy patients group, at postoperative day 5, only the serum glucose concentrations were significantly reduced although with the higher values than normal in respect to the preoperative values.

CONCLUSIONS

After SG the improvement of insulin action occurred rapidly and independently of EWL. The results of the present study confirm that a hormonal mechanism may contribute to changes in insulin resistance following SG.

Current status of bariatric surgery in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Bariatric surgery (from the Greek words baros meaning 'weight' and iatrikos 'the art of healing') is a rapidly evolving branch of surgical science. The aim is to induce major weight loss in those whose obesity places them at high risk of serious health problems. In an attempt to balance the risks of surgery against the benefits of weight loss, bariatric operations are currently performed only in the morbidly obese, or those with a body mass index (BMI) > 35 kgm(-2) who already have developed comorbidity such as type 2 diabetes. Although weight loss is beneficial for obese patients with diabetes, current medical treatment for obesity is difficult. In contrast, observational studies show a major impact of bariatric surgery on diabetes, raising the question whether this approach should be used more widely to treat diabetes in obese patients? If bariatric surgery were shown to be the best way to treat diabetes in obese subjects the implications for health services would be wide-ranging. Bariatric surgery leads to withdrawal of diabetic treatment in about 60% or more of patients, and reductions of therapy for many others. Although data on bariatric surgery in subjects with diabetes are provocative, most studies have been uncontrolled or flawed in other ways. Most importantly, bariatric surgery has not yet been compared against standard medical treatment for diabetes in randomized controlled trials with diabetes-specific endpoints in all relevant patient groups. Potential indications for bariatric surgery are discussed, and the unanswered questions that need to be addressed by clinical trials are summarized. Although small numbers of patients may be interested in bariatric surgery for type 2 diabetes, current data are insufficient to endorse its wide scale use for this indication. Until essential studies are undertaken the role and economics of bariatric surgery in the diabetic clinic will remain uncertain.