Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeon Criteria-An International Experts' Consensus.

PURPOSE: With the global epidemic of obesity, the importance of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is greater than ever before. Performing these surgeries requires academic training and the completion of a dedicated fellowship training program. This study aimed to develop guidelines based on expert consensus using a modified Delphi method to create the criteria for metabolic and bariatric surgeons that must be mastered before obtaining privileges to perform MBS. METHODS: Eighty-nine recognized MBS surgeons from 42 countries participated in the Modified Delphi consensus to vote on 30 statements in two rounds. An agreement/disagreement among ≥ 70.0% of the experts was regarded to indicate a consensus. RESULTS: Consensus was reached on 29 out of 30 statements. Most experts agreed that before getting privileges to perform MBS, surgeons must hold a general surgery degree and complete or have completed a dedicated fellowship training program. The experts agreed that the learning curves for the various operative procedures are approximately 25-50 operations for the LSG, 50-75 for the OAGB, and 75-100 for the RYGB. 93.1% of experts agreed that MBS surgeons should diligently record patients' data in their National or Global database. CONCLUSION: MBS surgeons should have a degree in general surgery and have been enrolled in a dedicated fellowship training program with a structured curriculum. The learning curve of MBS procedures is procedure dependent. MBS surgeons must demonstrate proficiency in managing postoperative complications, collaborate within a multidisciplinary team, commit to a minimum 2-year patient follow-up, and actively engage in national and international MBS societies.

Bariatric surgery in the treatment of patients with obesity and type 1 diabetes: A retrospective study of clinical data.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of bariatric surgery in patients with coexisting type 1 diabetes and obesity who choose to undergo bariatric surgery for weight management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal review of the clinical data of patients with type 1 diabetes, followed up at our centre after bariatric surgery had been performed elsewhere. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were included, of whom 51% were women, and 57 (93%) were Emirati Arab, three (5%) were other Arab, and one (2%) was White in ethnic origin. The mean age at surgery was 31 years. A total of 42 patients (69%) underwent sleeve gastrectomy, 17 (28%) gastric bypass, and two (3%) gastric banding. In 48 patients with complete follow-up data, improvements were observed at 12 months in the median (interquartile range [IQR]) values for body mass index (BMI; 38.5 [34.9-40.9] to 26.1 [24.2-29.6] kg/m2 , P <0.001), glycated haemoglobin concentration (8.6 [7.8-9.2]% to 7.8 [7.2-8.5]%; P <0.001), daily insulin dose (1.0 [0.7-1.2] to 0.8 [0.6-0.9] units/kg/d; P <0.001), systolic blood pressure (127 [116-136] to 116 [110-120] mmHg; P <0.001), total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (3.4 [2.9-4.3] to 3.0 [2.6-3.5]; P <0.001), and albuminuria. In 32 patients followed up at 3 years, the median (IQR) reduction in BMI was 10.4 (5.9-11.7) kg/m2 , 50% reduced or stopped antihypertensive medication and 58% reduced or stopped lipid-modifying medication. Three patients each reported a single episode of diabetic ketoacidosis; in one case this was due to cessation of insulin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of patients with obesity and type 1 diabetes, bariatric surgery led to significant improvements in weight and cardiometabolic variables, with modest improvements in glycaemia. Few adverse events were reported.

The Peri-operative Bariatric Surgery Care in the Middle East Region.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is common in the Middle East region. However, regional accreditation bodies and guidelines are lacking. We present the current peri-operative practice of bariatric surgery in the Middle East region. SETTING: Public and private practice in the Middle East region. METHODS: A questionnaire was designed to study trends of peri-operative care in bariatric surgery. It was sent to members of the Pan Arab Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (PASMBS). RESULTS: Ninety-three surgeons (88.6%) responded, 63.4% were in private practice, 68.5% have been in practice for more than 5 years, and 61.1% performed more than 125 cases per year. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was the commonest procedure performed, then laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), one anastomosis gastric bypass/mini gastric bypass (OAGB/MGB), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Pre-operatively as a routine, 65% referred patients for dietitian and (78.3%) for smoking cessation. In contrast as a routine, 22.6% referred patients to a psychologist, 30% screened for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and when they did, they did not use a questionnaire. For patients 50 years of age, 22% performed a screening colonoscopy and 33.7% referred patients to a cardiologist. Intra-operatively as a routine, 25.3% placed a drain and 42.2% placed urinary catheters. In contrast, 77.1% performed a leak test (82.7% as a methylene blue leak test). Post-operatively, 79.5% used chemoprophylaxis for venous thromboembolism and 89% required patients to take vitamins. In contrast, 25% prescribed ursodeoxycholic acid. CONCLUSION: The wide variation in the peri-operative care of bariatric surgery in the Middle East region highlights the need for regional guidelines based on international guidelines.

The Use of Intraoperative Endoscopy May Decrease Postoperative Stenosis in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is becoming one of the most common bariatric surgeries performed worldwide. Leak or stenosis following LSG can lead to major morbidity. We aim to evaluate whether the routine use of intraoperative endoscopy (IOE) can reduce these complications. METHODS: All cases of LSG between 2009 and 2015 were reviewed. In all cases, we place the 32 Fr endoscope once we are done with the greater curvature dissection. We perform an IOE at the end of surgery. If IOE shows stenosis, the over-sewing sutures are removed and the IOE is repeated. RESULTS: During the study period, 310 LSG were performed (97.4 % were primary LSG cases). The study population included 213 (68.7 %) females. The average age for our cohort was 34.9 years (range 25-63 years), the average BMI was BMI 45 kg/M2 (range 35-65 kg/M2), and the average weight was 120 kg (89-180 kg). The average length of stay was 2.2 days [1-7]. Our clinical leak rate was 0.3 % (1/310). Our leak rate in primary LSG was 0 % (0/302), and in revisional LSG was 12.5 % (1/8). All IOE leak tests were negative and the only patient with leak had negative radiographic studies as well. In contrast, IOE showed stenosis in 10 LSG cases (3.2 %), which resolved after removing over-sewing sutures. Our clinical stenosis after LSG was 0 %. CONCLUSION: Routine use of IOE in LSG has led to a change in the operative strategy and could be one of the reasons behind the acceptable leak and stenosis in this series of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Intraoperative Endoscopy Decreases Postoperative Complications in Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

BACKGROUND: Leak or stenosis following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) can lead to a major morbidity. We aim to evaluate whether the routine use of intraoperative endoscopy (IOE) can reduce this morbidity. METHODS: All cases of LRYGB in 2009-2014 were reviewed. In all cases, we perform an IOE. If IOE shows a leak, the area of the leak is re-enforced and IOE is repeated. If the leak persisted, a feeding tube and drains are placed. RESULTS: During the study period, we performed 342 LRYGB cases. Primary LRYGB represented 82 % (282/342). Average BMI 48 kg/m(2) (range was 35-92) and females represented 76 % (261/342). Our clinical leak rate was 3/342 (0.88 %) in LRYGB (0.4 % in primary and 3.3 % in revisional LRYGB). IOE showed a positive air leak test in six LRYGB cases (1.75 %). We were able to achieve a negative leak test after re-enforcement in 5/6 (83 %) cases, and all those patients had no clinical leak. The patient with persistent air leak test had a clinical leak after surgery. IOE was negative in 336 LRYGB cases and we had two clinical leaks in this group (0.59 %). Our stenosis rate at the gastrojejunostomy was 3/342 (0.88 %). The positive predictive value (PPV) of the performing IOE to detect leaks in LRYGB was 75 % while the negative predictive value was 99.5 %. CONCLUSIONS: Routine IOE has led to a change in the operative strategy and could be one reason for our low leak and stenosis in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Screening colonoscopy in the initial workup of bariatric surgery patients: guidelines are needed.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is one of the most common causes of death among morbidly obese individuals. Obese individuals have a well-documented increased risk of colon cancer. No guidelines are available for the workup of bariatric surgery patients in relation to colon cancer. METHODS: The indications for screening colonoscopy at the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute Abu Dhabi (BMI Abu Dhabi) include all patients older than 50 years [40 years if patients are United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals] with unexplained abdominal symptoms, anemia of unknown cause, or a family or personal history of colonic pathology. This study retrospectively reviewed the charts of all the patients who had colonoscopy during the period January 2009 to January 2013. The patients were divided into two groups: group A [patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m(2)] and group B (patients with a BMI < 30 kg/m(2)). The demographics and the prevalence of polyps and cancer in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: During the study period, 341 colonoscopies were performed: 137 for patients with a BMI higher than 30 kg/m(2) (mean age, 44 years) and 204 for patients with a BMI lower than 30 kg/m(2) (mean age, 46 years) (P > 0.05). The overall prevalence of adenomatous polyps was 6.74 % and that of cancer was 1.75 %. Further analysis showed that the prevalences of adenomatous polyps and cancer were respectively 12.4 and 2.1 % for the patients with a BMI higher than 30 kg/m(2), whereas the prevalences were respectively 2.9 and 0.9 % for the patients with BMI lower than 30 kg/m(2) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The risk for the development of colonic adenomatous polyps and cancer is high among young obese individuals in the Middle East. Guidelines are needed to establish criteria for screening in this group of individuals.

Are results of bariatric surgery different in the Middle East? Early experience of an international bariatric surgery program and an ACS NSQIP outcomes comparison.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric operations performed at the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute Abu Dhabi are submitted randomly from the entire surgery volume at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) NSQIP. Our aim is to report our early experience and compare our bariatric surgery outcomes with ACS NSQIP hospitals of similar size. STUDY DESIGN: We queried the ACS NSQIP database for bariatric surgery codes between August 2009 and August 2012 for hospitals with >500 beds. Statistical analysis was performed (p < 0.05). RESULTS: We performed 275 bariatric operations compared with a total of 29,715 at other NSQIP hospitals. The ACS NSQIP bariatric surgery cohort at the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute Abu Dhabi represents 275 of 312 (89.3%) of our entire bariatric surgery volume. Our patients were statistically significantly younger (mean age 36 vs 44.8 years), healthier (American Society of Anesthesiologists scores 1 to 2 in 78.6% vs 35.7%), and heavier (body mass index 47.4 vs 45.5). In addition, we had fewer diabetic (18.5% vs 27.3%) and hypertensive (21.1% vs 52.2%) patients. We performed more Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (69.8% vs 54.5%) and sleeve gastrectomy (24.8% vs 17.2%) and fewer laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (0.8% vs 22.7%). Outcomes were similar with regard to rates of reoperation, wounds, urinary tract infection, bleeding, thromboembolic, respiratory, and overall complications. We had lower septic, cardiac, and renal failure complications; lower mortality, and longer hospital stay by 0.4 days. We achieved 94.9% 30-day follow-up compared with 90.7% at other ACS NSQIP hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report comparing outcomes of an international bariatric surgery program (Bariatric and Metabolic Institute Abu Dhabi) with ACS NSQIP bariatric surgery programs. Our outcomes are equivalent to ACS NSQIP bariatric surgery programs.

Single-stage operative management of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy leaks without endoscopic stent placement.

BACKGROUND: Leaks occur in 1.4-20 % (Bohdjalian et al., Obes. Surg. 20:535-540, 2010; Nocca et al., Obes Surg. 18:560-565, 2008; Stroh et al., 19:632-640, 2009; Aurora et al., Surg. Endosc. 26:1509-1515, 2012) of patients following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Leaks may lead to major morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Endoscopic stent placement is a potential management strategy that needs expertise and also has recognized complications (stent migration, significant dysphagia, and failure) (Rosenthal et al., Surg. Obes Relat. Dis. 8:8-19, 2012). A standard method of managing leaks following LSG has not been established. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of consecutive patients with leaks following LSG managed at BMI Abu Dhabi Tertiary Multidisciplinary Bariatric Surgery, Abu Dhabi, UAE. METHODS: We examined all patients presenting to BMI Abu Dhabi between February 2010 and May 2012 with leaks following LSG. Data were obtained from the hospital medical record, and IRB approval was obtained. All patients were managed by utilizing a standardized operative management strategy without the use of endoscopic stenting. RESULTS: A total of five patients were referred to us for higher level of care; during the same time period, we performed 71 LSGs without a leak. Patients were optimized and resuscitated adequately before surgery. Intraoperatively, all patients had endoscopy, and a T tube was placed inside the leak if clearly identifiable. Otherwise, the leak site was drained adequately without attempting to place sutures, and a jejunostomy tube was inserted. All leaks healed following an initial period of hospital stay, followed by an outpatient period on jejunostomy tube feeding and nil per os. CONCLUSION: Single-stage operative management of leaks after LSG utilizing a standardized operative strategy without the use of endoscopic stenting is both safe and effective.