Role of Ursodeoxycholic Acid in the Prevention of Gallstones Formation in Bariatric Patients-a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Trials

The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess whether treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery reduces gallstone formation. A systematic literature search was performed using electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PROSPERO, Google Scholar and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry platform). RCTs without restrictions on study language, year, status of publication and patient's age were used. Pooled risk ratios were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses for drug dose, duration and procedure types were performed. Sensitivity analyses and a summary of findings table were generated to assess the robustness and the level of evidence provided, respectively. Fourteen trials were included (3619 patients, 2292 in UDCA vs 1327 in control group). Procedures included SG, RYGB, OAGB, AGB and Gastroplasty. UDCA dose ranged from 300 to 1200 mg per day. Gallstone formation occurred in 19.3% (8.3% in UDCA vs 38.1% in the control group). UDCA significantly reduced the risk of gallstone formation (14 trials, 3619 patients; RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.18-0.41; P < 0.001). UDCA significantly reduced the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease (6 trials, 2458 patients; RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.21-0.43; P < 0.001). No subgroup difference was found for different doses, duration and type of procedure performed. Oral UDCA treatment significantly reduces the risks of developing gallstones in postoperative bariatric patients from 38 to 8%. The use of 500 to 600 mg UDCA for 6 months is effective and should be implemented in all patients post-bariatric surgery.

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment.

METHODS

All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals.

RESULTS

A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death.

CONCLUSION

Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions.

OGBN P13 Management of Bouveret Syndrome: an endoscopic approach

Background

Bouveret syndrome is rare complication of gallstones with 600 reported cases since 1950. The syndrome occurs when adhesions develop between the gallbladder to surrounding hollow viscera leading to fistula formation. Large gallstones migrate into the enteric system and become impacted in the stomach or duodenum causing gastric outflow obstruction. Bouveret syndrome accounts for 1–4% of gallstone ileus cases. It is more common in co-morbid women in their 7th and 8th decades. Most common symptoms are vomiting and abdominal pain. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is reported in 15% of cases. CT scan has the highest sensitivity at 79–93% to make the diagnosis. Of note 15–25% of gallstones are isoattenuating. Riglers triad is a diagnostic marker and consists of aerobilia, a gastric outflow obstruction or dilated bowel and the presence of a calculus outside of the biliary tree. The diagnosis was associated with mortality rates as high as 30% but with modern advances mortality has decreased to approximately 12%. Treatment options are surgical or endoscopic retrieval. Endoscopic management carries less risk especially in the frail elderly patient. This approach has low success rates. We present a case of successful endoscopic management of Bouveret syndrome and discuss surgical and endoscopic management strategies.

Methods

A frail 83 year old female attended ED with epigastric pain, vomiting and signs of sepsis. She had a recent diagnosis of severe cholecystitis that was managed conservatively. On examination she had tenderness in the right upper quadrant. Bloods revealed an AKI, a CRP 189 and normal liver function tests. Axial imaging showed aerobilia with a CBD dilated at 14mm and there was a 3.5cm calculus impacted in the duodenum with a cholecysto-duodenal fistula.

Her medical history included diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, primary hyperparathyroidism, reflux and cauda equina (operated). On OGD there was a large stone which had eroded into the first part of the duodenum. A combination of mechanical lithotripsy and the Kudo snare were used to fragment the stone. 2 large fragments were retrieved using a bag to avoid gallstone ileus.

Results

The patient had an uneventful but slow recovery. She re-established oral intake on the second post-operative day. She was discharged 2 weeks later without complication.

Conclusions

The success of endoscopic management is reported as low as 10%. Endoscopic intervention is attempted in 61% of cases. Success is more likely with stones &lt;4cm and if the site of impaction is the stomach or D1/D2.

Surgical management is associated with a morbidity rate of 26% but was successful in 78%. Laparoscopic surgery is possible but less successful in stones &gt;5cm. Endoscopic techniques have evolved and should be considered for extraction of stones in the first instance. If not feasible surgery can be considered. The literature shows that success is more likely when various endoscopic techniques are utilized including mechanical lithotripsy, nets and baskets, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, laser lithotripsy and duodenal stenting.

There is a risk of distal migration of stone fragments causing gallstone ileus in the more distal small bowel. Bouveret syndrome can be resolved with endoscopy in expert hands.

Successful endoscopic management of Bouveret syndrome

We present a frail 83-year-old female with Bouveret syndrome managed using an endoscopic approach. Our patient attended the emergency department with abdominal pain, vomiting and signs of sepsis. She had a recent admission with acute cholecystitis that which had been managed conservatively. Axial imaging revealed aerobilia with a 14 mm common bile duct and a 3.5 cm calculus impacted in the duodenum, in association with a cholecysto-duodenal fistula. After resuscitation, an oesphagoduodenoscopy was performed under general anaesthesia. The large stone was seen impacted in the first part of duodenum. Mechanical lithotripsy and the Kudo snare were employed to fragment the stone and remove large fragments. Bouveret syndrome is rarely managed with success through endoscopy. The syndrome typically occurs in frail, elderly co-morbid patients who would benefit from endoscopic management over open surgery. Despite low success rates historically, endoscopic management is a reasonable and viable option in cases of Bouveret syndrome.

OUP accepted manuscript

Background

Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is a highly demanding procedure with great variability. Previously published randomized trials have proven oncological safety of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) as compared to open surgery. However, these were started after the learning curve (LC) was established. This leaves the question of whether the LC of LLR in the early laparoscopic era has affected the survival of patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM).

Methods

All consecutive LLRs performed by a single surgeon between 2000 and 2019 were retrospectively analysed. A risk-adjusted cumulative sum (RA-CUSUM) chart for conversion rate and the log regression analysis of the blood loss identified two phases in the LC. This was then applied to patients with CRLM, and the two subgroups were compared for recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The analysis was repeated with propensity score-matched (PSM) groups

Results

A total of 286 patients were included in the LC analysis, which identified two distinct phases, the early (EP; 68 patients) and the late (LP; 218 patients) phases. The LC was applied to 192 patients with colorectal liver metastasis (EPc, 45 patients; LPc, 147 patients). For patients with CRLM, R0 resection was achieved in 93 per cent: 100 per cent in the EPc group and 90 per cent in the LPc group (P = 0.026). Median OS and RFS were 60 and 16 months, respectively. The 5-year OS and RFS were 51 per cent and 32.7 per cent, respectively. OS (hazard ratio (h.r.) 0.78, 95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 0.51 to 1.2; P = 0.286) and RFS (h.r. 0.94, 95 per cent c.i. 0.64 to 1.37; P = 0.760) were not compromised by the learning curve. The results were replicated after PSM.

Conclusion

In our experience, the development of a laparoscopic liver resection programme can be achieved without adverse effects on the long-term survival of patients with CRLM.

Early Weight Loss as a Predictor of 2-Year Weight Loss and Resolution of Comorbidities After Sleeve Gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to investigate whether early postoperative weight loss predicts weight loss 1 and 2 years after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and to determine its effect on the resolution of comorbidities.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of patients who underwent LSG at Jordan University Hospital from February 2009 to January 2014.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety patients (mean age 34.0 ± 10.8 years; mean preoperative body mass index 46.2 ± 7.7 kg/m(2)) were included in the study. Of these, 146 were followed for 1 year and 73 were followed for 2 years. Thirty patients (20.5 %) had hypertension, 23 (15.8 %) had diabetes, 78 (53.4 %) had hyperlipidemia, 30 (20.5 %) had obstructive sleep apnea, and 50 (34.2 %) had more than one comorbidity. The percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was 22.7 ± 8.1, 75.1 ± 22.8, and 72.6 ± 17.5 at 1, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Fifty-five patients (37.7 %) had a 1-year %EWL of ≥80 %, and 29 (39.7 %) had a 2-year %EWL of ≥80 %. Linear regression analysis showed a strong correlation between 1-month %EWL and %EWL at 1 year (r (2) = 0.23, p < 0.001) and 2 years (r (2) = 0.28, p < 0.001). Resolution of comorbidities was associated with higher %EWL achieved at 1 year, but early postoperative weight loss did not have a significant effect on comorbidity resolution.

CONCLUSIONS

Early postoperative weight loss can be used to identify and target poor responders.

The impact of family members on weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is multifactorial. Postoperative compliance with appropriate dietary guidance may be affected by psychosocial factors and may influence the success of surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of LSG in siblings compared to case-matched controls.

SETTING

University hospital.

METHODS

Siblings who had undergone LSG were compared with controls case-matched by age, sex, and body mass index. The percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) was calculated at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

We had 32 siblings, of which 4 were lost to follow-up. Thus, 28 (87.5%) siblings completed 1 year of follow-up and were included in the study. In the family group, the %EWL was 72.7±15.0% at 1 year while in the control group the mean %EWL was 62.1±21.4%. Patients in the family group had significantly greater weight loss. Within the family group, the outcomes of family order had no statistically significant difference in weight loss between the first family member who had undergone LSG and subsequent family members. In addition, family members who had resided together in the same home had no advantage over those who resided separately.

CONCLUSION

Genetic and environmental factors may have great influence on outcomes after bariatric surgery.

The Magnitude of Antral Resection in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and its Relationship to Excess Weight Loss

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of antral resection on weight loss and complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of the prospectively collected data of patients who underwent LSG at Jordan University Hospital from February 2011 to February 2012. Patients were divided into two groups based on antral resection: group A underwent a 6-cm antral resection, and group B underwent a 2-cm antral resection. The percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was calculated at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

One hundred and ten patients were included in the study, all of whom completed at least 24 months of follow-up (mean follow-up, 33 months). Their mean body mass index was 46.1 ± 7.9 kg/m(2). In group A, the mean %EWL was 38.1 ± 14.1, 54.9 ± 19.9, 65.6 ± 22.8, and 66.8 ± 28.4% at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. However, in group B, the mean %EWL was 42.1 ± 13.4, 63.8 ± 19.8, 80.0 ± 22.1, and 81.5 ± 22.9% at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Patients in group B experienced statistically significant greater weight loss than patients in group A. Statistically significant greater weight regain was seen in group A. Group A had a higher incidence of reflux symptoms (six patients; 11%) than group B (four patients; 7.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Radical antral resection in association with LSG safely potentiates the restrictive effect achieved and may result in greater and better maintained weight loss.

Spontaneous femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in a young patient

Spontaneous femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare disease and reported cases are very few. Most of them are related to underlying pathology either atherosclerotic disease or connective tissue disease. We present a 29-year-old healthy man with two months history of a painful pulsating mass at the level of the lower right thigh without any previous history of trauma, surgery or puncture of the femoral artery. An angiogram revealed a right superficial femoral artery pseudo-aneurysm. It was treated surgically by resection of the aneurysm, reconstruction with inter-positional saphenous vein graft. We reported this case because of its rare incidence in the young patient with no underlying pathology.