Prevalence, predictors and outcomes of bleeding events in patients with COVID-19 infection on anticoagulation: Retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to examine risk factors and complications associated with bleeding events in patients with COVID-19 who are on anticoagulation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted retrospective review of all patients who were admitted with COVID-19 and developed bleeding events between March and June 2020. Data were analyzed in accordance with three major outcomes. Mortality within 30 days of bleeding episode, resolution of the bleeding event, and the type of bleeding event. RESULTS: Of 122 bleeds, there was 55 (28 %) gastrointestinal (GI) bleeds. Overall mortality was 59 % (n = 72). The prevalence of therapeutic invasive interventions was 11.5 % (n = 14) all were successful in resolving the bleeding event. We found that having a GI bleeds was associated with higher risk of mortality compared to non-GI bleeds (p = 0.04) and having occult bleeds to be associated with 15 times increased risk of mortality (OR 15, 95%CI 1.97-29.1, p = 0.01). Furthermore, patients who were on no anticoagulation (none) (OR 0.1, 95%CI 0.01-0.86, p < 0.00), on prophylactic dose anticoagulation (OR 0.07, 95%CI 0.02-0.28, p = 0.03) or intermediate dose anticoagulation (OR 0.36, 95%CI 0.09-1.34, p = 0.13) were less likely to die than patients on therapeutic dose. CONCLUSIONS: The best approach to manage COVID-19 bleeding patients is to prioritize therapies that manage sepsis induce coagulopathy and shock over other approaches. In COVID-19 patients' routine prescription of supra-prophylactic dose anticoagulation should be revisited and more individualized approach to prescription should be the norm. Regardless of the cause of bleeding event it appears that the majority of bleeding events resolve with noninvasive interventions and when invasive interventions were necessary, they were associated with high success rate despite the delay.

The Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Serum Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Levels in Obese Patients with Overt and Subclinical Hypothyroidism: a 7-Year Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Inconsistent results were reported by several studies that evaluated the effect of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery on thyroid function panel. This study is aimed at evaluating this effect on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone replacement dosages in obese population with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism (SH). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on all morbidly obese patients with previous diagnosis of overt and subclinical hypothyroidism who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from October 2009 to January 2017. The correlation between TSH and body mass index (BMI) and the effect of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery on TSH were investigated. RESULTS: The prevalence of overt and SH in morbidly obese patients was 10.8% and 7.2%, respectively. Thirty-six hypothyroid patients and 67 subclinically hypothyroid patients were included in the study. Hypothyroidism improved in 44.5% of patients and completely resolved in 22.2%, and 33.3% experienced no change. Ninety-one percent of SH patients completely resolved, 6% improved, but 3% worsened, with one patient developed hypothyroidism. Both groups achieved a significant decrease in postoperative BMI. A positively statistically significant association was found between BMI and TSH (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our results favor the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in the obese population with overt and SH as shown by the majority of SH resolution and overt hypothyroidism improvement.

Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery in the Asia-Pacific Region: APMBSS 2018 Survey.

INTRODUCTION: The Asia-Pacific Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society (APMBSS) held its congress in Tokyo at the end of March, 2018, and representatives from Asia-Pacific countries presented the current status of bariatric/metabolic surgery in the "National Reports" session. The data are summarized here to show the current status and problems in the Asia-Pacific region in 2017. METHODS: A questionnaire including data of 2016 and 2017 and consisting of eight general questions was prepared and sent to representatives in 18 Asia-Pacific countries by e-mail before the congress. After the congress, the data were analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: Seventeen of 18 countries responded to the survey. The frequency of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in the 4 Gulf countries was > 30%, much higher than that in the other countries. In total, 1640 surgeons and 869 institutions were engaging in bariatric/metabolic surgery. In many East and Southeast Asian countries, the indication for bariatric surgery was BMI ≥ 35 or ≥ 37, whereas in many Gulf countries and Australia, it was BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with obesity-related disease. Ten of the 17 countries (58.8%) but only one of the 5 Southeast Asian countries (20.0%) had public health insurance coverage for bariatric surgery. In 2017, 95,125 patients underwent bariatric/metabolic surgery, with sleeve gastrectomy accounting for 68.0%, bypass surgery for 19.5%, and others for 12.5%. Current problems included public insurance coverage, training system, national registry, and lack of awareness and comprehension. CONCLUSION: This summary showed that bariatric/metabolic surgery is rapidly developing along with various problems in Asia-Pacific countries.

Is body mass index ≥50 kg/m2 a predictor of higher morbidity for patients who have undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy?

BACKGROUND: Super-morbid obese (SMO) patients (body mass index [BMI] >50 kg/m2) carry a higher risk for bariatric surgery. Despite several studies addressing this patient group, the number of patients included tends to be relatively small. METHODS: We reviewed 708 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between 2009 and 2015 and compared the outcome of SMO (BMI ≥50 kg/m2) patients with MO (BMI <50 kg/m2) patients. RESULTS: Of 708 patients, 217 were SMO and 491 were MO. Both groups had homogeneous baseline characteristics and comorbidities, except sleep apnea which was higher in SMO group. There was no significant difference for the duration of operation, length of stay, or recovery room time. The mean number of trocars was four for both groups. There were no conversions to open or documented intraoperative complications in either group. Postoperative complications occurred in 13 (6%) SMO patients (3 patients with leakage and 10 with bleeding). Postoperative complications occurred in 21 (4.3%) MO patients (11 patients with leakage and 10 with bleeding). No reoperation was done in both groups. There was no surgical mortality. CONCLUSION: We detected no significant difference in the duration of operation and intra- or postoperative complication between SMO and MO groups. The possibility of the safety of this procedure in SMO group can be adopted.

Identification of Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens in Patients with Post-Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Leakage.

BACKGROUND: Post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) leak leads to serious complications, and death may occur. The microbial pattern should be established in order to plan empirical antimicrobial therapy. The intra-abdominal leaks post-LSG were cultured and reviewed. METHODS: Microbial cultures collected from all post-sleeve leakage cases managed at the King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) from May 2011 until April 2016 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients with positive leak post-LSG were included. The mean presentation time was postoperative day 12. Computed tomography (CT) was done for all patients on presentation with CT-guided aspiration and drainage next day. Samples from the collection were aspirated first for culture then a pigtail drain was kept in place. The average time of drain removal was on the 75th postoperative day. A total of 28 patients (90.3%) had positive culture results. Candida species were the most common organism isolated from 19 patients (61.2%), among them, 10 (32.2%) were positive for Candida species only. Positive bacterial cultures were found in 18 patients (58%). Majority of which single bacterial pathogen isolate, only seven patients had two organisms, and four patients had three organisms. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequent isolated bacteria [8 patients (44.4%)] followed by Streptococcus and Pseudomonas species. Candida albicans was the most common Candida species isolated, 13 patients (68.4%). CONCLUSION: Fungal microbes isolated from post-LSG leak collection are common and could be considered in the primary empirical therapy. The antibiotic choice for the leak should cover Klebsiella, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas until definitive culture results are obtained.

Prevalence and Predictors of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) might be associated with a new onset or worsening of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We aim to evaluate the prevalence of post-LSG GERD symptoms and its predictors. METHODS: We included patients who underwent primary LSG at a university hospital from 2009 to 2015. We used the GERD-Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire and included questions regarding regurgitation to evaluate symptoms before and after LSG; each item was scored from 1 to 5 based on the symptom severity. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients (mean age, 36.08 ± 10.22 years; 48.36% were men) were included. The mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 47.84 kg/m2, mean percent total weight loss was 37.99% (95% CI, 36.64 to 39.34), mean percent excess weight loss was 84.14% (95% CI, 80.91 to 87.36), and the mean percent excess BMI loss was 84.17% (95% CI, 80.94 to 87.41). The mean heartburn score while standing increased (0.71 vs. 1.09, p < 0.01) as well as the score of heartburn requiring a diet change (0.67 vs. 1.16, p < 0.01) post-LSG. The scores for dysphagia, odynophagia, and regurgitation increased. New-onset heartburn was reported in 47.06% of our cohort. Those with high preoperative BMIs were less likely to develop new-onset or worsening symptoms of GERD (odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-0.99). More severe heartburn symptoms while standing were associated with higher risks of developing or worsening GERD symptoms (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.01-1.47). None of the other variables could predict the development or worsening of the GERD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation are common after LSG; however, none of the variables preoperatively could strongly predict patients who would develop new onset or experience worsening of symptoms postoperatively.