Factors determining conversion from laparoscopic to open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Conversion from laparoscopic to open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is expensive and time-consuming. METHODS: Data from our first 1,000 laparoscopic RYGBP was entered into a database (Minnesota Database-Bariatric, Exemplo Medical). All patients met NIH criteria for bariatric surgery. RESULTS: 41 (4.1%) of 1,000 consecutive lapRYGBPs were converted to open. Patients requiring conversion to open surgery, analyzed for predictors, revealed: 1) BMI, waist size, and weight all were significantly greater in patients converted to open bypass; 2) Gender: 9 of 109 males (8.3%) and 32 of 891 females (3.6%) were converted (Fischer's exact test, P=0.035); 3) Average age of patients converted was 44.9 compared to 41.3 in the lap group (P=0.02); 4) Conversion was required for 12 large livers (1 palpable preop, 7 had diabetes, 7 had NASH or steatosis); 5) 10 conversions for mechanical/technical reasons - 6 for inability to distend abdominal wall and/or manipulate instruments due to thickness of wall, and 2 due to loss of instruments in abdomen; 6) 9 required conversion for adhesions (2 from previous cholecystectomies with biliary leaks, and 1 from previous transverse colectomy; 7) 4 visceral injuries required conversion (2 stomach, 1 small bowel, 1 esophagus); 8) 3 hemorrhages from spleen with blood loss over 1300 ml required conversion (1 spleen removed, 6 minor not requiring open conversion); 9) 3 conversions were for anomaly/disease (1 malrotation of colon, 1 ovarian teratoma, and 1 intra-thoracic stomach). CONCLUSION: Steatohepatitis, diabetes mellitus, adhesions from various causes, previous bile leaks, large waist size, BMI, and weight are predictors for conversion to open surgery.

Stenosis of the gastroenterostomy after laparoscopic gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Stenosis of the gastroenterostomy after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) is a serious problem that occurs after stapled (linear or circular) and hand-sewn anastomoses. METHODS: Data was prospectively entered into a database to track complications of bariatric surgery. Between Feb 27, 1999 and June 13, 2000, 1000 patients underwent LRYGBP. All patients met NIH criteria for bariatric surgery.The gastroenterostomy was constructed with a linear stapler inserted to 20 mm (15 mm cut). The stapler defect was closed with a polyester running suture to construct a 12-mm diameter anastomosis. The anastomosis was banded with fascia lata to prevent late enlargement. All patients with suspected stenosis were endoscoped. RESULTS: 32 patients (3.2%) developed stenosis (<10 mm diameter orifice) at the gastroenterostomy. There were 27 females. Average age was 44.8. Average BMI was 45.0. Average stenotic orifice was 5.7 mm in diameter. Stenoses occurred in 18 of 32 patients (56.3%) by 3 months, 26 (81.3%) by 6 months, and 31 (96.9%) by 1 year. 30 of the 32 patients underwent endoscopic dilation as initial therapy. 17 of the 32 underwent multiple dilations. Dilation caused 4 perforations, resulting in 2 emergency operations. Perforation occurred at the first attempt at dilation in 3 of 4 patients. Stenoses could not be successfully dilated in 8 patients, and all 8 underwent surgical revision. There were no deaths in these 32 patients, but there were 68 dilations and 10 re-operations. CONCLUSION: Stenosis of the gastroenterostomy after LRYGBP is an infrequent but serious problem, which results in considerable morbidity.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: preoperative determinants of prolonged operative times, conversion to open gastric bypasses, and postoperative complications.

BACKGROUND: We examined our database of 600 consecutive laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses (LRYGBP) to determine predictors of prolonged operations, conversion to open operations and postoperative complications. METHODS: All were primary bariatric operations. Body habitus, gender, and previous surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Regression analysis showed the following parameters to correlate positively with increased operative time: 1) Waist, 2) BMI, 3) Weight, and 4) Waist/Hip ratio. Height and hip measurement did not correlate with operative time. No previous operations affected operative time. Conversion to open operation was necessary in 25/600 cases (4.2%). Conversion was necessary with larger waist measurement (P=0.00007) and increased waist/hip ratio (P=0.01) but not BMI. Conversion occurred more frequently in males (6/43, 14.0%) than females (19/557, 3.4%). This trend was statistically significant (P=0.006). An enlarged liver was responsible for 12/25 conversions. 6/12 patients with large livers had type II diabetes and 6/12 patients had biopsy-proven steatohepatitis. 2/12 had huge yellow-brown livers that were not biopsed. Liver function tests were normal in 8/8 patients preoperatively. Complications including leak (5), pulmonary embolus (2), hemorrhage (12), stenosis of the GI tract (24) and infection (7) occurred in 48/600 patients (8.0%). There were no deaths. Complications did not correlate with body habitus, gender, or previous surgery. CONCLUSION: Larger patients as measured by waist measurement, weight, and BMI but not previous surgery prolonged LRYGBP. Conversion to open surgery was more frequently necessary in patients with larger abdomens, central obesity, and type II diabetes. Complications did not correlate with any preoperative parameter measured.

Clinical and angiographic efficacy of a self-expanding nitinol stent in saphenous vein graft atherosclerotic disease: the Stent Comparative Restenosis (SCORES) Saphenous Vein Graft Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Stent Comparative Restenosis (SCORES) Saphenous Vein Graft (SVG) Registry was a multicenter, prospective registry designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a self-expanding, nickel-titanium (nitinol) stent for de novo SVG lesions. METHODS: In all, 159 patients with de novo vein graft lesions > or =2.75 and < or =4.25 mm in diameter and <30 mm in length underwent stenting with the Radius self-expanding stent. The primary end point was target vessel failure (TVF) at 9 months, which was defined as a composite of procedural failure, death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: Procedural success was achieved in 96.8% of patients, and the 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events was 2.5%. The binary rate of restenosis at 6 months was 28.6%. By 9 months, the rate of TVF was 24.5%, and the rate of major adverse cardiac events was 23.1%. The 9-month Kaplan-Meier survival rates for freedom from TVF and target lesion revascularization were 76.0% and 87.9%, respectively. No clinical or angiographic characteristic was predictive of restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: In de novo atherosclerotic SVG disease, the use of a self-expanding, nitinol stent was associated with high initial procedural success and favorable early and intermediate outcomes. Because few studies have examined the influence of stent composition and design in SVG disease, these findings not only show the safety and efficacy of this self-expanding stent in de novo SVG disease, but also merit further comparison with balloon-expandable stents.