Global 30-Day Morbidity and Mortality of Primary Bariatric Surgery Combined with Another Procedure: The BLEND Study.

BACKGROUND: No robust data are available on the safety of primary bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) alone compared to primary BMS combined with other procedures. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to collect a 30-day mortality and morbidity of primary BMS combined with cholecystectomy, ventral hernia repair, or hiatal hernia repair. SETTING: This is as an international, multicenter, prospective, and observational audit of patients undergoing primary BMS combined with one or more additional procedures. METHODS: The audit took place from January 1 to June 30, 2022. A descriptive analysis was conducted. A propensity score matching analysis compared the BLEND study patients with those from the GENEVA cohort to obtain objective evaluation between combined procedures and primary BMS alone. RESULTS: A total of 75 centers submitted data on 1036 patients. Sleeve gastrectomy was the most commonly primary BMS (N = 653, 63%), and hiatal hernia repair was the most commonly concomitant procedure (N = 447, 43.1%). RYGB accounted for the highest percentage (20.6%) of a 30-day morbidity, followed by SG (10.5%). More than one combined procedures had the highest morbidities among all combinations (17.1%). Out of overall 134 complications, 129 (96.2%) were Clavien-Dindo I-III, and 4 were CD V. Patients who underwent a primary bariatric surgery combined with another procedure had a pronounced increase in a 30-day complication rate compared with patients who underwent only BMS (12.7% vs. 7.1%). CONCLUSION: Combining BMS with another procedure increases the risk of complications, but most are minor and require no further treatment. Combined procedures with primary BMS is a viable option to consider in selected patients following multi-disciplinary discussion.

Internal Hernia as a Rare Complication of Acute Appendicitis.

Appendicitis is a well-known and highly common surgical emergency disease, yet it presents with a wide variety of manifestations. This is a case report of a 47-year-old female who presented with a complaint of having constant crampy right lower abdominal pain for two weeks. The patient reported having a sudden onset of symptoms that went with the typical picture of acute appendicitis that occurred two weeks ago. Our pre-op workup was inconclusive; therefore, we planned to go for a diagnostic laparoscopy, where surprisingly, the appendix was long, inflamed, and attached to the posterior wall of the cecum. Thus, a ring-like structure was developed, in which 8 to 10 cm of the terminal ileum (the last part of the small bowel) was going through and causing an internal hernia. Although blood and radiology workups provide valuable assistance in diagnosing common cases, a highly suspicious sense and skillful surgeons with good clinical experience play a major role in managing such rare presentations.

Midterm Outcome of Early Pregnancy Versus Late Pregnancy After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Controversy regarding the timing of pregnancy and its implications is present in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the midterm outcome of weight loss in women who have undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) followed by pregnancy at two different times. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 53 women who matched the inclusion criteria and included them in the analysis. Demographics and anthropometric measurements were collected. Women who conceived within 12 months of LSG were labeled as early group (EG), and who conceived after 12 months were noted as late group (LG). RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups regarding obesity-associated disease and number of pregnancies before. EG had higher weight (P = 0.0001) and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.002) at LSG. The mean interval time for EG was 6.7 ± 3.2 months, and LG was 20 ± 5.2 months. Gestational weight gain (GWG) was lower in the EG (P = 0.001). There were no differences in the number of small for gestational age (SGA) births or gestational weight. In the first 2 years after LSG, LG had a higher percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) and percentage of body mass index loss (%EBMIL) (P < 0.0001). After 5 years of follow-up, %TWL (P = 0.4) and %EBMIL (P = 0.1) were not statistically significant between both groups. CONCLUSION: Conception within 12 months from LSG might hinder the weight loss process in the short term but have no significant effect over 5 years of follow-up.

Primary Adrenal Angiosarcoma and its Management: A Case Report.

Primary adrenal angiosarcoma is a very rare malignancy. This is a case report of a 54-year-old female, who presented with right-sided abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis showed a right adrenal mass with a maximum dimension of 5.7 cm. The patient went for a laparoscopic right adrenalectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 2. The patient was free from complaints at outpatient follow-up visits. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of adrenal angiosarcoma and the metastasis workup was negative. A multidisciplinary approach through the expertise of medical oncology, surgical oncology, and histopathology is essential for the diagnosis and management of such rare diseases.

A splenic pseudocyst following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a case report.

This is the first report of a patient presenting with a splenic pseudocyst following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). A 26-year-old male with no chronic medical illnesses who underwent LSG presented with vague abdominal pain. An abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a 15 cm well-circumscribed cyst originating from the spleen. Intraoperatively, the findings were significant for a superficial cyst located at the lower pole of the spleen. A laparoscopic spleen-preserving procedure was conducted, specifically marsupialization and packing with omentum. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on Day 2 postoperatively. The patient was free from complaints at outpatient follow-up clinics. Follow-up visits at the outpatient clinic were free from complaints. Pathology confirmed a splenic pseudocyst, and cytology was unremarkable. Since dissection during LSG is close to the spleen, infarction could occur, predisposing to pseudocyst formation. Marsupialization is an excellent surgical option when applied to appropriate splenic cyst types.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with adrenalectomy, feasibility, safety and outcome.

Concomitant surgery is an attractive option because of convenience. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting concomitant laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic right adrenalectomy. A retrospective review of three patients with obesity and a unilateral adrenal mass was conducted. The demographics, workup, surgical technique and outcome were presented. Patient 1 had a body mass index (BMI) of 41 kg/m2, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN) and a right adrenal pheochromocytoma. Patient 2 had a BMI of 40 kg/m2, insulin-dependent DM, uncontrolled HTN, chronic kidney disease, ischemic heart disease and an aldosterone secreting right adrenal adenoma. Patient 3 had a BMI of 41 kg/m2, dyslipidemia, HTN and gout. All patients underwent concomitant LSG and laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA). LSG and LA is a feasible and safe concomitant surgery when performed under specific measures with minimal morbidity and more convenience.

Candy cane syndrome at jejunojejunostomy causing small bowel obstruction following revisional laparoscopic gastric bypass: A case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: The literature described Candy cane syndrome (CCS) as causing various symptoms and affecting patients' quality of life. Most of the literature described this syndrome occurrence at gastrojejunostomy (GJ) anastomosis. The literature lacks data on this syndrome occurring at the jejunojejunostomy (JJ). CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a patient who underwent revision of laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB) due to weight regain and presented three days after the procedure with small bowel obstruction (SBO). The patient was admitted as she demonstrated a picture of SBO. A complete workup and contrast study was done and showed dilated bowel loops. The patient was taken for exploratory laparoscopy, which revealed dilated 10-15 cm candy cane near the JJ, causing and obstruction. Resection of the elongated blind pouch was done, and the patient tolerated the surgery with improvement in her symptoms. Preoperative imaging, perioperative management, procedure videos, and follow-up were used to describe the case. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: After reviewing the literature, eight papers reported CCS, 7 of those articles mentioned the syndrome located at the GJ. CCS located near the JJ can lead to symptoms including SBO. Management is mainly surgical, and prevention of occurrence can be achieved by limiting unnecessary elongated blind pouches. CONCLUSION: CCS is a well-established condition occurring at the GJ following LGB, but it can manifest similarly if an elongated blind limb is left unresected at the JJ.

Heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the gastric antrum an incidental finding during bariatric surgery: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Heterotopic pancreas, also known as ectopic pancreas, is defined as the presence of pancreatic tissue outside its normal location and without anatomic and vascular continuity with the main body of the pancreas. The incidence of heterotopic pancreas has been reported as 0.5 % during laparotomies and at autopsy ranging from 0.6-14 %. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 28 years old obese male, medically free electively admitted for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Intraoperatively after dissecting the greater omentum from the stomach and inserting the 36 Fr gastric bougie, small oval shape mass about 1 cm close to the lesser curvature on the anterior surface of the gastric antrum. Macroscopically benign looking and a thorough laparoscopic exploration showed no signs of other organs involvement. Antrectomy and mini gastric bypass done. The postoperative course was uneventful. The histopathological examination of the antrectomy specimen showed heterotopic pancreas in the subserosa of gastric antrum. DISCUSSION: The Heterotopic pancreatic tissue can be discovered in the stomach (particularly antrum), duodenum, jejunum, or a Meckel diverticulum. Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment if the heterotopic pancreas is symptomatic or when the lesion is found incidentally during surgery in order to prevent complications. CONCLUSION: Heterotopic pancreas should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of incidentally found gastric lesions and can be safely resected. This is the first case report of gastric heterotopic pancreas which is found incidentally during a bariatric surgery procedure.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with concomitant Morgagni hernia repair.

A 36-year-old morbidly obese female with BMI 66 kg/m2, scheduled for elective laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Prior to the surgery patient had symptoms of mild dyspnea, vague abdominal discomfort. CAT scan of thorax and abdomen revealed a right-sided large morgagni diaphragmatic hernia containing omentum and portion of the transverse colon. Patient elected to undergo Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and concomitant morgagni diaphragmatic hernia repair. The post-operative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on post-operative Day 2. This case is an extremely rare case of super obese patient with Morgagni hernia who desires bariatric surgery and found to have incidental finding of morgagni hernia. This kind of combination can safely undergo concomitant laparoscopic hernia repair with mesh and sleeve gastrectomy.

Isolated inferior mesenteric portal hypertension with giant inferior mesenteric vein and anomalous inferior mesenteric vein insertion.

Extrahepatic portal hypertension is not an uncommon disease in childhood, but isolated inferior mesenteric portal varices and lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleed have not been reported till date. A 4-year-old girl presented with lower GI bleed. Surgical exploration revealed extrahepatic portal vein obstruction with giant inferior mesenteric vein and colonic varices. Inferior mesenteric vein was joining the superior mesenteric vein. The child was treated successfully with inferior mesenteric - inferior vena caval anastomosis. The child was relieved of GI bleed during the follow-up.