Associations between Zinc Deficiency, Taste Changes, and Salivary Flow Rates following Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgeries.

Background: The prevalence of taste change (hypogeusia) and its association with zinc deficiency is unclear due to differences in methods of assessment. We investigate the prevalence of hypogeusia using mixed methods and link it with changes in zinc levels following mini gastric bypass (MGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Methods: This was a prospective observational study of MGB (N = 18) and SG (N = 25). Hypogeusia was evaluated by using a validated questionnaire and by taste strips procedure along with serum zinc levels and salivary flow rate measurements. Results: The mean age was 40.0 ± 9.7 years; 60.5% were female. By using a questionnaire, MGB patients experienced greater hypogeusia than SG at 3 months (72.0% vs 36.0%; (p=0.03)), but not at 6 months (56.0% vs 45.0%; (p=0.74)), respectively. Using taste strips, at 6 months, more MGB patients experienced hypogeusia compared with SG (44.0% vs 11.0%; p=0.03). Zinc level was reduced following MGB at 6 months (85.6 ± 16.9 µgm/dl vs 67.5 ± 9.2 µgm/dl; (P=0.004)) but was increased at 6 months following SG (76.9 ± 11.4 vs 84.9 ± 21.7 µgm/dl). Reduction in the rate of salivary flow was observed in 66.0% and 72.0% of MGB and SG patients, respectively, at 3 months and in 53.0% and 70.0% at 6 months. Conclusion: Taste change is more prevalent following MGB compared with SG, especially at 6 months postoperation which parallel with changes in zinc levels. More than half of all patients who had undergone bariatric surgery (BS) had low to very low salivary flow rates during the follow-up. This study suggests an association between low zinc levels and reduced salivary flow with hypogeusia following BS.

Chylous Ascites Post Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Video Case Report of a Rare Complication.

We report a 38-year-old morbidly obese female patient, who presented 10 days post sleeve gastrectomy with chylous ascites. A lymphangiogram showed free leakage from a small tributary of the cisterna chyli. Conservative measures failed to control the leak. The patient was taken for surgery. Laparoscopic exploration with intralipid injection through an orogastric tube revealed the leaking area near the hiatal surface posterior to the stomach and it was ligated with non-absorbable sutures and wrapped with a thrombin patch. The patient was discharged home in a good condition. Patient was followed up in the clinic after 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months with no complaint.

Intermittent use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in penetrating gunshot wound of the lower extremity

Summary: The use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in penetrating injuries is an emerging adjunct in the civilian trauma surgeon's toolbox for the management of traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Furthermore, within the Canadian civilian context, little has been reported with regard to its use as an assisted damage-control measure in vascular reconstruction of the lower extremity. We report a case of penetrating gunshot injury of the lower extremity where the preoperative deployment of REBOA had a remarkable positive impact in the resuscitation phase and the intraoperative control of blood loss. A description of the procedure and the advantage gained from REBOA are discussed.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA): indications: advantages and challenges of implementation in traumatic non-compressible torso hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is regaining popularity in the treatment of traumatic non-compressible torso bleeding. Advances in invasive radiology coupled with new damage control measures assisted in the refinement of the technique with promising outcomes. The literature continues to have substantial heterogeneity about REBOA indications, applications, and the challenges confronted when implementing the technique in a level I trauma center. Scoping reviews are excellent platforms to assess the diverse literature of a new technique. It is for the first time that a scoping review is adopted for this topic. Advances in invasive radiology coupled with new damage control measures assisted in the refinement of the technique with promising outcomes. The literature continues to have substantial heterogeneity about REBOA indications, applications, and the challenges confronted when implementing the technique in a level I trauma center. Scoping reviews are excellent platforms to assess the diverse literature of a new technique. It is for the first time that a scoping review is adopted for this topic. METHODS: Critical search from MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, COCHRANE CENTRAL, PUBMED and SCOPUS were conducted from the earliest available dates until March 2018. Evidence-based articles, as well as gray literature at large, were analyzed regardless of the quality of articles. RESULTS: We identified 1176 articles related to the topic from all available database sources and 57 reviews from the gray literature search. The final review yielded 105 articles. Quantitative and qualitative variables included patient demographics, study design, study objectives, methods of data collection, indications, REBOA protocol used, time to deployment, zone of deployment, occlusion time, complications, outcome, and the level of expertise at the concerned trauma center. CONCLUSION: Growing levels of evidence support the use of REBOA in selected indications. Our data analysis showed an advantage for its use in terms of morbidities and physiologic derangement in comparison to other resuscitation measures. Current challenges remain in the selective application, implementation, competency assessment, and credentialing for the use of REBOA in trauma settings. The identification of the proper indication, terms of use, and possible advantage of the prehospital and partial REBOA are topics for further research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA): a scoping review protocol concerning indications-advantages and challenges of implementation in traumatic non-compressible torso haemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Haemorrhage remains the leading cause of preventable death in trauma. Damage control measures applied to patients in extremis in order to control exsanguinating bleeding from non-compressible torso injuries use different techniques to limit blood flow from the aorta to the rest of the body. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is regaining momentum recently as an adjunct measure that can provide the same results using less invasive approaches. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the existing literature on REBOA. The objective is to analyse evidence and non-evidence-based medical reports and to describe current gaps in the literature about the best indication and implementation strategies for REBOA. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using the five-stage framework of Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology as a guide, we will perform a systematic search in the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, COCHRANE CENTRAL, PUBMED and SCOPUS from the earliest available publications. The aim is to identify diverse studies related to the topic of REBOA. For a comprehensive search, we will explore organisational websites, key journals and hand-search reference lists of key studies. Data will be charted and sorted using a descriptive analytical approach. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not necessary as the data are collected from publicly available sources and there will be no consultative phase. The results will be disseminated through presentations at local, national, clinical and medical education conferences and through publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Medium to long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery in older adults with super obesity.

BACKGROUND: Indications and outcomes of bariatric surgery in older adults suffering from morbid obesity remain controversial. We aimed to evaluate safety and medium to long-term outcomes of bariatric procedures in this patient population. SETTING: University Hospital, Canada. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study of a prospectively collected database. We included patients aged ≥60 years who underwent sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch between January 2006 and December 2014 and had at least 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Of patients, 115 underwent bariatric surgeries (11 patients had 2 procedures). There were 66 were super-obese patients (body mass index>50 kg/m2). Of patients, 74% had sleeve gastrectomy, 16% Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 8% underwent biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. Mean age and body mass index were 63.3 ± 2.6 years and 51.7 ± 8.1 kg/m2, respectively. Average follow-up time was 42 ± 19 months. At baseline, 78% had hypertension, 60% had type 2 diabetes, and 30% had obstructive sleep apnea. There was no 30-day mortality. Complication rate was 14% (n = 16): 2 leaks post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 1 leak post-biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, 1 obstruction post-sleeve gastrectomy, 1 bleeding requiring transfusion, 1 liver injury with bile leak, 2 port-site hernias, 1 myocardial infarction, 2 gastrojejunal strictures, 1 wound infection, 1 urinary tract infection, and 3 gastric reflux exacerbations. Mean percent excess weight loss at 2 years was 52.2 ± 23.8. Remission rates of hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea were 26%, 44%, and 38%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery is safe and effective in improving obesity-related co-morbidities in older patients suffering from morbid obesity. Age alone should not preclude older patients from getting the best bariatric procedure for obesity and related co-morbidities.

Laparoscopic Wedge Resection of Gastrojejunostomy for Weight Recidivism after Gastric Bypass.

BACKGROUND: Weight recidivism after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a common problem. Often, this weight loss failure or regain may be due to a wide gastrojejunostomy (GJ). We evaluated the feasibility and safety of a novel approach of laparoscopic wedge resection of gastrojejunostomy (LWGJ) for a wide stoma after RYGB associated with weight recidivism. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study of a prospectively collected database. We analyzed outcomes of patients with weight recidivism after RYGB and a documented wide GJ (>2 cm) on imaging, who underwent LWGJ between 11/2013 and 05/2016. RESULTS: Nine patients underwent LWGJ for dilated stomas. All patients were female with a mean ± SD age of 53 ± 7 years. Mean interval between RYGB and LWGJ was 9 ± 3 years. All cases were performed laparoscopically with no conversions. Mean operative time and hospital stay were 86 ± 9 min and 1.2 ± 0.4 days, respectively. The median(IQR) follow-up time was 14(12-18) months. During follow-up, there were no deaths, postoperative complications, or unplanned readmissions or reoperations. The mean and median(IQR) BMI before RYGB and LWGJ were 55.4 ± 8.1 kg/m2 and 56.1(47.9-61.7) and 43.4 ± 8.6 kg/m2 and 42.1(38.3-47.1), respectively. One year after LWGJ, mean and median(IQR) BMI significantly decreased to 34.9 ± 7.3 kg/m2 and 33.3(31.7-35.0) corresponding to a mean %EWL of 64.6 ± 19.9 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LWGJ is safe and can lead to further weight loss in patients experiencing weight recidivism after RYGB with a wide GJ (>2 cm). Long-term follow-up is needed to determine the efficacy and durability of LWGJ and compare its outcomes with other endoscopic/surgical approaches for weight recidivism after RYGB with a documented wide GJ.

Laparoscopic Transgastric Resection of a Gastric Submucosal Tumor near Esophagogastric Junction with Concomitant Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Video Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, there has been a significant rise in bariatric surgery. As a consequence, the prevalence of obese patients with a combined gastric pathology such as a submucosal tumor (SMT) requiring excision at the same time as bariatric surgery is higher but the management remains controversial. We report the safety and effectiveness of a simultaneous laparoscopic transgastric resection of a large gastric SMT near the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) with sleeve gastrectomy (SG). METHODS: We present a video report of a 52-year-old male (BMI = 49 kg/m2) referred for bariatric surgery, who was found to have a large SMT 2 cm from the EGJ on the lesser curvature on previous gastroscopy. RESULTS: Using five ports placed for laparoscopic SG, the gastric SMT was localized through an anterior gastrotomy and fully excised using a linear stapler and the gastrotomy site was closed. SG was then performed over a 54Fr bougie, including the gastrotomy suture closure. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors play important roles in deciding the best surgical approach for patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery and have concomitant gastric SMTs. This video report describes a safe and effective technique of simultaneous transgastric resection of a lesser curvature gastric SMT near the EGJ in a patient undergoing SG.