Nutritional Status after Roux-En-Y (Rygb) and One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (Oagb) at 6-Month Follow-Up: A Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) are two effective bariatric surgical procedures with positive outcomes in terms of weight loss, comorbidities remission, and adverse events profiles. OAGB seems to carry a higher risk of malnutrition, but existing data are controversial. The aim of this study is to objectively evaluate and compare malnutrition in patients undergoing RYGB and OAGB. METHODS: Retrospective monocentric study of obese patients undergoing RYGB or OAGB between the 15 September 2020 and the 31 May 2021. Nutritional status was assessed using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and compared between groups. The primary outcome was the mean CONUT score at 6 months. The secondary outcomes included the incidence of malnutrition, comorbidities, including hypertension, insulin resistance and type II diabetes mellitus, and weight loss. RESULTS: 78 patients were included: 30 underwent RYGB and 48 underwent OAGB. At 6-Month Follow-Up there was no difference between groups in the mean CONUT score nor in incidence of malnutrition. In both groups, the nutritional status significantly worsened 6 months after surgery (preoperative and postoperative score of 0.48 ± 0.9 and 1.38 ± 1.5; p = 0.0066 for RYGB and of 0.86 ± 1.5 and 1.45 ± 1.3; p = 0.0422 for OAGB). Type II Diabetes mellitus (DMII) and hypertension remission were significant in the OAGB group with a 100% relative remission in the DMII-OAGB group (p = 0.0265), and a 67% relative remission in the hypertension-OAGB group (p = 0.0031). CONCLUSIONS: No difference in nutritional status has been detected between patients undergoing RYGB or OAGB at the 6-Month Follow-Up. Both procedures may have significant mal-absorptive effects leading to decline in nutritional status. OAGB may be more efficacious in inducing DMII and hypertension remission. Larger prospective studies dedicated specifically to nutritional status after gastric bypass are needed to confirm the impact of different bypass procedures on nutritional status.

Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is related to parathyroid dysfunction even in patients with normal parathyroid hormone concentrations early after surgery.

BACKGROUND: Hypocalcemia may develop even in the presence of normal postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. We aimed to identify risk factors of hypocalcemia in patients with normal PTH concentration early after total thyroidectomy (TT). METHODS: We included 1,504 consecutive patients who underwent TT between January 2012 and December 2013. Significant hypocalcemia was defined as serum calcium concentrations of <8.0 mg/dL. RESULTS: Overall, 333 patients had subnormal PTH 4 hours after surgery (4-hour PTH; <10 pg/mL) and received oral calcium (OC) and calcitriol supplementation. Among the 1,171 patients with normal 4-hour PTH (≥ 10 pg/mL; euparathyroid), 211 experienced hypocalcemia and required OC administration. Among the euparathyroid patients, no difference was found between normocalcemic and hypocalcemic patients in terms of age, hormonal status, preoperative PTH, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OH-VD), magnesium, and phosphate concentrations. On univariate analysis, euparathyroid hypocalcemic patients were more frequently females, had significantly lower preoperative serum calcium and 4-hour PTH concentrations, and greater decreases in PTH. Independent risk factors for hypocalcemia with normal 4-hour PTH were preoperative serum calcium concentration and PTH decline of ≥ 50%. CONCLUSION: Female sex, toxic goiter, and 25OH-VD deficiency are not risk factors for post-TT hypocalcemia. Relative parathyroid insufficiency seems to be the principal mechanism of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia, even in patients with normal postoperative PTH concentrations.

Ipsilateral Central Neck Dissection Plus Frozen Section Examination Versus Prophylactic Bilateral Central Neck Dissection in cN0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Ipsilateral central compartment node dissection (IpsiCCD) can reduce the morbidity of prophylactic bilateral central compartment node dissection (BilCCD) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) but it carries the risk of contralateral metastases being overlooked. Frozen section examination (FSE) of removed ipsilateral nodes has been proposed to intraoperatively assess nodal status. We compared IpsiCCD plus FSE and BilCCD in clinically unifocal and node negative PTC. METHODS: One hundred patients were prospectively assigned to undergo total thyroidectomy (TT) plus BilCCD or TT plus IpsiCCD. In the IpsiCCD group, removed lymph nodes were sent for FSE. If FSE was positive for metastases, a BilCCD was accomplished. RESULTS: The two groups included 50 patients each. Overall, occult lymph node metastases were found in 41 patients-20 in the IpsiCCD group and 21 in the BilCCD group. FSE correctly identified occult node metastases in 13 of 20 pN1a patients in the IpsiCCD group (overall accuracy 86 %). Seven node metastases were not detected at FSE-five were micrometastases (≤2 mm). Six of 13 patients in the IpsiCCD group who underwent BilCCD and 6 of 21 BilCCD pN1a patients had bilateral metastases. More patients in the BilCCD group showed transient hypocalcemia (27/50 vs. 18/50, respectively) [p = NS]. No patient experienced recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: FSE of ipsilateral nodes is accurate in determining nodal status, allowing the extension of the central neck clearance to be reliably modulated. Routine IpsiCCD plus FSE of the ipsilateral nodes could be a valid alternative to prophylactic BilCCD since it allows accurate staging and may reduce morbidity.

Anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer with mesorectal excision: incidence, risk factors, and management.

We investigated risk factors and prognostic implications of symptomatic anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer, and the influence of a diverting stoma. Our retrospective review of prospective collected data analyzed 475 patients who underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer. Uni- and multivariate analysis was made between anastomotic leakage and patient, tumor, and treatment variables, either for the overall group (n = 475) and in the midlow rectal cancer subgroup (n = 291). Overall rate of symptomatic leakage was 9 per cent (43 of 475) with no related postoperative mortality. At univariate analysis, significant factors for leak were a tumor less than 6 cm from the anal verge (13.7 vs 6.6%; P = 0.011) and intraoperative transfusions (16.9 vs 4.3%; P = 0.001). Similar results were observed in the midlow rectal cancer subgroup. At multivariate analysis, no parameter resulted in being an independent prognostic factor for risk of leakage. In patients with a leakage, a temporary enterostomy considerably reduced the need for reoperation (12.5 vs 77.8%; P < 0.0001) and the risk of a permanent stoma (18.7 vs 28.5%; P = 0.49). The incidence of anastomotic failure increases for lower tumors, whereas it is not influenced by radiotherapy. Defunctioning enterostomy does not influence the leak rate, but it mitigates clinical consequences.

Actual incidence and clinical behaviour of follicular thyroid carcinoma: an institutional experience.

Follicular thyroid carcinoma classically accounts for 10-32% of thyroid malignancies. We determined the incidence and the behaviour of follicular thyroid carcinoma in an endemic goitre area. A comparative analysis between minimally invasive and widely invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma was performed. The medical records of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy from October 1998 to April 2012 for thyroid malignancies were reviewed. Those who had a histological diagnosis of follicular carcinoma were included. Among 5203 patients, 130 (2.5%) were included. Distant metastases at presentation were observed in four patients. Sixty-six patients had a minimally invasive follicular carcinoma and 64 a widely invasive follicular carcinoma. In 63 patients an oxyphilic variant was registered. Minimally/widely invasive ratio was 41/26 for usual follicular carcinoma and 25/38 for oxyphilic variant (P < 0.05). Patients with widely invasive tumors had larger tumors (P < 0.001) and more frequently oxyphilic variant (P < 0.05) than those with minimally invasive tumours. No significant difference was found between widely invasive and minimally invasive tumors and between usual follicular carcinoma and oxyphilic variant regarding the recurrence rate (P = NS). The incidence of follicular thyroid carcinoma is much lower than classically retained. Aggressive treatment, including total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation, should be proposed to all patients.

Management of duodeno-pancreato-biliary perforations after ERCP: outcomes from an Italian tertiary referral center.

BACKGROUND: The management of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) perforation is often unknown by many physicians, and there is a paucity of literature regarding the best surgical management approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of ERCP-related perforations to the duodeno-pancreato-biliary tract observed at the Digestive Surgery Department of the Catholic University of Rome was conducted to identify their optimal management and clinical outcome. RESULTS: From January 1999 to December 2011, 30 perforations after ERCP were observed. Seven patients underwent ERCP at another institution, and 23 patients underwent an endoscopic procedure at our hospital. Diagnosis of perforation was both clinical and instrumental. Fifteen patients (50 %) were successfully treated conservatively. Fifteen patients (50 %) underwent surgery after a mean time of 8.1 days (range 1-26 days) from ERCP: ten received a retroperitoneal laparostomy approach, three of them both an anterior and posterior laparostomy approach, and two an anterior laparostomy approach. Duodenal leak closure was observed after a mean (± standard deviation, SD) of 12.6 (± 4.6) and 24.6 (± 7.9) days after conservative and surgical treatment, respectively (p < 0.001). The overall and postoperative mortality rates were 13.3 % (4 of 30 patients) and 26.6 % (4 of 15 patients), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Post-ERCP perforation is burdened by a high risk of mortality. Early clinical and radiographic features have to be used to determine which type of surgical or conservative treatment is indicated. Half of patients can be treated conservatively, but in case of sepsis or unstable general conditions, early surgical procedure is indicated as the only possible chance of recovery.

Prospective evaluation of total thyroidectomy versus ipsilateral versus bilateral central neck dissection in patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic central neck dissection (PCND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is controversial. We compared 3 different approaches to the management of central compartment nodes in patients with clinically unifocal and N0 PTC. METHODS: A total of 186 patients were prospectively assigned to one of the following procedures: total thyroidectomy (TT), TT plus ipsilateral PCND (Ipsi-PCND), and TT plus bilateral PCND (Bil-PCND). RESULTS: No difference was found concerning demographic, clinical or pathologic characteristics (P = NS). More patients in the Bil-PCND group had transient hypocalcemia (P < .001). One patient in the Bil-PCND group experienced permanent hypoparathyroidism (P = NS). One transient and one permanent unilateral laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in the Ipsi-PCND group (P = NS). Significantly more patients in the Bil-PCND and Ipsi-PCND groups had node metastases recognized (26 vs 18 vs 6; P < .001). Six of 26 pN1 patients (23%) in the Bil-PCND group had bilateral metastases. No difference was found concerning mean postoperative basal and stimulated thyroglobulin and mean postoperative radioiodine uptake. One patient in the Ipsi-PCND group experienced recurrent disease (P = NS). CONCLUSION: TT seems adequate treatment for most patients with clinically N0 PTC. PCND could be considered for a more accurate staging. Ipsi-PCND could be a valid option, but it includes the risk of overlooking contralateral metastases.