[Observational study on outpatient sleeve gastrectomy]. / Chirurgie bariatrique en ambulatoire: étude observationnelle à propos de 68 sleeve gastrectomies.

UNLABELLED: The development of outpatient surgery is one of the major goals of the public health policy in 2010. The purpose of this observational study is to evaluate the feasibility of the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in ambulatory. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted from May 2011 to June 2013. The procedure was proposed for patients undergoing LSG who were predetermined inclusion criteria. Following preoxygenation, anaesthesia was induced with propofol and sufentanil. Tracheal intubation was facilitated with rocuronium. Anaesthesia was maintained with desflurane and remifentanil target-controlled infusion. Antiemetic prophylaxis was supplied with intravenous (IV) droperidol and dexamethasone; postoperative pain prophylaxis was IV paracetamol, nefopam, tramadol, and ropivacaine infiltration. The patients were extubated in the operating room and kept in the postoperative care unit. A water-soluble contrast examination was performed in the output of the postoperative care unit. Oral feeding was resumed immediately in the absence of fistula on this leak test in an ambulatory surgical unit. When the patient has satisfied the modified Post-Anaesthesia Discharge Scoring System (PADSS) criteria, he or she can then be discharged and sent home. RESULTS: Among 280 patients operated on for obesity by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy during the study period, 68 (24.2 %) underwent ambulatory procedure. Of the 68 obese patients, 94.1 % were female. Mean age was 34.4 years (22-55). Mean preoperative BMI was 42.6kg/m(2). Thirteen patients (19.1 %) had HTN; 7 (10.2 %) had dyslipidemia and 6 (8.8 %) had diabetes not requiring treatment. The mean operating time was 60minutes (range, 45-95) and there were no conversions to open surgery. No intra-operative anesthetic or surgical complications occurred. Mean time in the recovery room was 86.5minutes (35-240). The overall satisfaction rate was 92.6 % (n=63). No patients were admitted because of nausea or inadequate pain control. There were no re-admissions or hospitalizations were reported. We recorded five surgical complications including two case of gastric fistula, one case of gastric stenosis, one case of scar dehiscence and one case of splenic upper pole ischemia. Its complications have arisen from the fourth postoperative day. This does not undermine the ambulatory procedure. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in ambulatory is feasible with a dedicated anesthesiological concept in an expert surgical team. Appropriate patient selection is important in order to secure safety and quality of care within outpatient program. The risk versus benefit must be adequately evaluated on an individual basis.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: imaging of normal anatomic features and postoperative gastrointestinal complications.

Morbid obesity is a public health problem in the United States and Europe and its prevalence is on the increase. Despite certain progress the efficacy of medical treatment remains limited. Bariatric surgery has consequently become an effective alternative for patients with morbid obesity. The bariatric operations most frequently performed are laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LGB), but laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is increasingly popular with both bariatric surgeons and patients due to its simplicity, rapidity and decreased morbidity. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to familiarize radiologists with the normal postoperative anatomic features and the imaging findings of postoperative gastrointestinal complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy because little literature exists on this subject.

Efficiency of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on metabolic syndrome disorders: two years results.

OBJECTIVES: There are very few studies evaluating the efficacy of sleeve gastrectomy on the metabolic syndrome, truly a worldwide pandemic. The main objective of this study was to retrospectively determine the evolution of the metabolic syndrome and its associated comorbidities (type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia) at 24 months after sleeve gastrectomy. The secondary objective was to determine the predictive factors for resolution of this syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between July 2004 and February 2008, 241 patients with morbid obesity (males: 17%) underwent sleeve gastrectomy in our center. Patients were seen in combined medical and surgical outpatient postoperative follow-up consultation at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Patients were classed as responders or not, according to whether or not the metabolic syndrome (as defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III [NCEP-ATPIII]) disappeared at 24 months follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (15% of all patients, 30% of males) presented initially with metabolic syndrome. Twenty-six patients (72%) still had metabolic syndrome at 6 months, 17 patients (47%) at 12 months, and 13 patients (36%) at 24 months. The main parameters that regressed after sleeve gastrectomy were type 2 diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia. In univariate analysis, only one parameter (systolic blood pressure) appeared to be a factor of non-resolution of the metabolic syndrome at 24 months. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that sleeve gastrectomy reduced the incidence of the metabolic syndrome and several of its components.

Is there a place for pigtail drains in the management of gastric leaks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy?

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has a specific morbidity profile in which gastric leak (GL) is the main complication. With a view to defining a standardized protocol for GL management, the present retrospective study sought to describe the clinical patterns of post-LSG GL and treatment of the latter in our university medical center. From July 2004 to December 2010, 25 patients were included. GL was described in terms of clinical presentation, time to onset, and location in the staple line. Treatment of GL with pharmacologic, radiologic, endoscopic, and/or surgical procedures was always validated by a multidisciplinary care team. "Treatment success" was defined as the absence of contrast agent leakage on CT and endoscopy after removal of covered metallic stent or pigtail drains. Systemic inflammation and peritonitis were the main signs for early-onset GL (56%), whereas pulmonary symptoms and intra-abdominal abscesses revealed delayed-onset GL (44%). Surgery was always performed for early-onset GL. In the total study population, the median number of endoscopic procedures was five (range, 1-11) per patient, of covered SEMS was three (range, 1-8), and of pigtail drains was three (range, 1-4). Nine (36%) patients presented endoscopic-related complications. Four (16%) patients with treatment failure underwent radical surgery. The mortality rate was 4% (n = 1). The management of post-LSG GL is challenging. Surgery was always performed for early-onset GL, whereas treatment of delayed-onset GL was based on endoscopy. Pigtail drains required fewer procedures per patient, were better tolerated, and had lower morbidity-mortality than covered SEMS.

Management of supra-mesocolic peritonitis using the Levy helicoid drain (Hélisonde®).

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative peritonitis arising in the upper abdomen requiring reoperative surgery has a mortality rate of up to 50%. One therapeutic modality for these patients is the use of the Hélisonde(®) drain, designed by Levy, the Levy Helical Drain (LHD), but it has not seen widespread use. In this paper, we describe our experience in managing supramesocolic peritonitis with this drain at the University Surgical Center at Amiens and we analyze our results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2005 and 2010, we cared for 190 patients with supramesocolic peritonitis in our unit. Of these, 22 patients with gastric or duodenal fistula underwent transorificial intubation with the LHD. There were 12 men and 10 women with a mean age of 66 years. At surgery, the helical drain was screwed into the fistular orifice, two more flat drains were left adjacent to the fistula, and a jejunal feeding tube was placed. The mean interval between the initial surgery and the drainage procedure was 16.1 ± 14 days. RESULTS: The mean APACHE II score was 20 (10-28). The Mannheim score averaged 28 (19-34). The LHD was completely removed at a mean interval of 35.5 ± 11 days. Six patients (27%) died postoperatively. Postoperative complications included intraperitoneal abscess (n = 3), pneumonia (n=1), and evisceration (n = 2). Two patients required reoperation. The average hospital stay was 70.7 days. Four patients had a persistent chronic fistula. CONCLUSION: The LHD is a useful technical device in the treatment of supramesocolic peritonitis. Its management requires close oversight.

[Management of a retroperitoneal paraganglioma]. / Prise en charge d'un paragangliome rétropéritonéal.

Paragangliomas are rare tumors arising from extraadrenal chromaffin cells. We report a 43-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a large retroperitoneal mass. During an endoscopic biopsy of this tumor, the patient experienced marked hemodynamic fluctuations with tachycardia and high blood pressure, and an extraadrenal pheochromocytoma was suspected. Measurements of plasma and urinary catecholamines and urinary total metanephrines ruled in the diagnosis. Echocardiography disclosed acute myocardial dysfunction that returned to normal after surgical resection of the paraganglioma. This report also underlines the importance of the anesthetic preparation and monitoring around the surgical procedure and the need of a long-term follow-up to detect malignant paraganglioma in the absence of histological criteria of benign tumor.

Supernumerary nipples in association with Hailey-Hailey disease in a Tunisian family.

Supernumerary nipples (SNs) or polythelia are developmental abnormalities of breast tissue. They are located along the embryonic mammary lines. Polythelia usually occurs as a sporadic abnormality, although familial aggregation has been occasionally reported. Hailey-Hailey disease is a rare autosomal genodermatosis characterized by disturbed keratinocyte adhesion. These cutaneous disorders have been described in correlation with many other abnormalities. We report here the association of Hailey-Hailey disease and supernumerary nipples in a Northern Tunisian family. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a clinical association.

[Macrocystic lymphatic lymphangioma (cystic lymphangioma) of the upper extremity: a case report]. / Malformation lymphatique macrokystique (lymphangiome kystique) du membre supérieur: à propos d'un cas.

We report on a case of macrocystic lymphatic malformation of the forearm. A male infant, without any medical history, was followed up in our department since the age of 7 months because of a subcutaneous, soft, painless mass of the left forearm. Ultrasonography and the magnetic reasonance imaging (MRI) were evocative of a macrocystic lymphatic malformation. Five sessions of sclerotherapy led to the reduction of the size of the mass but another axillary tumor appeared afterwards. A surgical excision, unfortunately incomplete, was performed rapidly followed by a recurrence of the macrocystic lymphatic malformation. Macrocystic lymphatic malformations are localized in the neck in 75% and axilla in 20% of the cases. Involvement of the upper extremity and particularly the forearm is very rare. MRI is useful for the diagnosis and the definition of tumor limits. The treatment is usually challenging because of their location and rough delimitation.

Pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus: similar prognosis?

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a rare, life-threatening, acquired autoimmune bullous dermatosis. The prognosis of pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is usually regarded as more favourable than that of pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Our study aims to compare the clinical course of PV and PF in 37 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study over a period of eight years (1994-2001). The patients were referred during this period and were followed until December 2003. PF and PV were included based on clinical, histological and immunopathological criteria. RESULTS: In our study there was no significant difference between PF group and PV group concerning; age, sex, duration of the disease, presence of disseminated lesions, treatment, healing time, remission, relapse, complications, death and follows up duration. The survival graph showed no difference between the two groups for the first two relapses. There was a tendency to significance concerning an additional treatment and relapses frequency in the PF group. CONCLUSIONS: Few studies in the literature were interested in the evolution of the two forms of pemphigus. They showed that the two populations share the same clinical course; nevertheless they revealed the frequency of partial remission, failed treatment, relapses, necessity of high dose of corticosteroids, and difficulties of discontinuing treatment in PF. Our study, suggests that PF and PV may share the same clinical course.

[Dermatological problems of musicians: a prospective study in musical students]. / Dermatoses des musiciens: étude prospective chez des étudiants en musique.

INTRODUCTION: Musicians are at risk of developing particular skin conditions related to their activity. The purpose of our work was to determine the frequency, describe the clinical aspects and identify the risk factors of specific dermatological problems in musical students. POPULATION AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective epidemiological study between April 2003 and April 2004 among music students registered in four musical institutes of Tunisia. The musicians were questioned and examined in systematic fashion at their institutes. Demographic data, characteristics of instrumental practice and dermatologic manifestations were collected. Five hundred and ninety-four students were examined. The sex-ratio was 1.6 with a mean age of 22.0 +/- 4.0 years. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software for Windows (version 12.0). RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-five students (49.7%) had at least one dermatologic lesion. In multivariate analysis, the following factors were significantly correlated with dermatological problems: male gender, age > or = 20 years, history of musical activity > or = 5 years, practice > or = 10 hours/week and percussion instruments. Nine types of lesions were determined: corns and calluses, pigmentation abnormalities, irritant contact dermatitis, mechanical acne, erythema, friction bulla, nail diseases, cicatricial alopecia and allergic contact dermatitis. Corns and calluses were significantly the most frequent (P<0.001). DISCUSSION: The frequency of dermatological lesions was high compared to data reported in the literature, 20 and 32% respectively in the studies by Onder and Rimmer. This difference could be due to the greater number of percussionists in our study.