The Association Between Bariatric Surgery and Psychiatric Disorders: a National Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that bariatric surgery reduces the risk of cardiovascular outcomes. Less is known about the effects of bariatric surgery on psychiatric disorders. This cohort study compared the differential risk of psychiatric disorders between those who did and did not undergo bariatric surgery, from before until after the surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used PearlDiver-Mariner, a national all-payor claims database. Patients were followed for 1 year before and after the index date and a difference-in-differences (DiD) study design was executed. RESULTS: We included 56,661 bariatric surgery patients matched to 56,661 individuals with obesity. Among bariatric surgery patients, the risk of psychiatric was 18% 1 year before and increased to 70% 1 year after surgery. Among individuals with obesity, the risk of psychiatric disorders also increased from 1 year before to 1 year after, but by less (21% versus 46%). DiD analysis suggested that bariatric surgery was associated with a 27 percentage point differential increase in the risk of psychiatric disorders across all patients, representing a 135% relative increase. Results using 3 years as the pre- and post-periods lead to similar inferences. CONCLUSION: Preexisting psychiatric disorders are similarly prevalent among bariatric surgery patients and individuals with obesity. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders increased over time for both groups, but to a larger extent among bariatric surgery patients. Adequate treatment for psychiatric disorders and appropriate implementation of behavioral health interventions may be needed to reduce the burden of psychiatric disorders following bariatric surgery.

Association of Bariatric Surgery With Risk of Fracture in Patients With Severe Obesity.

Importance: Given the complex relationship between body mass index, body composition, and bone density and the correlative nature of the studies that have established the prevailing notion that higher body mass indices may be protective against osteopenia and osteoporosis and, therefore, fracture, the absolute risk of fracture in patients with severe obesity who undergo either Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) compared with those who do not undergo bariatric surgery is unknown. Objective: To assess the rates of fractures associated with obesity and compare rates between those who do not undergo bariatric surgery, those who undergo RYGB, and those who undergo SG. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this retrospective multicenter cohort study of Medicare Standard Analytic Files derived from Medicare parts A and B records from January 2004 to December 2014, patients classified as eligible for bariatric surgery using the US Centers of Medicare & Medicaid criteria who either did not undergo bariatric surgery or underwent RYGB or SG were exactly matched in a 1:1 fashion based on their age, sex, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, hypertension, smoking status, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea status. Data were analyzed from November to December 2019. Exposures: RYGB or SG. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome measured in this study was the odds of fracture overall based on exposure to bariatric surgery. Secondary outcomes included the odds of type of fracture (humerus, radius or ulna, pelvis, hip, vertebrae, and total fractures) based on exposure to bariatric surgery. Results: A total of 49 113 patients were included and were equally made up of 16 371 bariatric surgery-eligible patients who did not undergo weight loss surgery, 16 371 patients who had undergone RYGB, and 16 371 patients who had undergone SG. Each group consisted of an equal number of 4109 men (25.1%) and 12 262 women (74.9%) and had an equal distribution of ages, with 11 780 patients (72.0%) 64 years or younger, 4230 (25.8%) aged 65 to 69 years, 346 (2.1%) aged 70 to 74 years, and 15 (0.1%) aged 75 to 79 years. Patients undergoing RYGB were found to have no significant difference in odds of fractures compared with bariatric surgery-eligible patients who did not undergo surgery. Patients undergoing undergone SG were found to have decreased odds of fractures of the humerus (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% CI, 0.45-0.73), radius or ulna (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.25-0.58), hip (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33-0.74), pelvis (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.18-0.64), vertebrae (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.48-0.74), or fractures in general (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.46-0.62). Compared with patients undergoing SG, patients undergoing RYGB had a significantly greater risk of total fractures (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.55-2.06) and humeral fractures (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.24-2.07). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced risk of fracture in bariatric surgery-eligible patients. Sleeve gastrectomy might be the best option for weight loss in patients in which fractures could be a concern, as RYGB may be associated with an increased fracture risk compared with SG.

Association of the addition of a transversus abdominis plane block to an enhanced recovery program with opioid consumption, postoperative antiemetic use, and discharge time in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of laparoscopic bariatric surgeries are being performed and enhanced recovery from anesthesia and surgery (ERAS) protocols have been implemented to optimize care for these patients. We evaluated the effects of an anesthesiologist placed preoperative transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) as part of a bariatric surgery ERAS protocol. We hypothesized that an anesthesiologist placed preoperative TAP added to an ERAS protocol following laparoscopic bariatric surgery would reduce total opioid consumption. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 at a single large tertiary care center studied. TAP blocks were added to the ERAS protocol beginning in the second quarter of 2017. The primary outcome was total opioid analgesia use in mg oral morphine equivalents. Secondary outcomes were antiemetics administered and length of hospitalization. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model adjusted for sociodemographic, surgical, and preoperative risk factors that have been associated with opioid and antiemetic use and length of hospitalization. RESULTS: Five hundred and nine cases were analyzed; TAP blocks were performed in 94/144 (65%) laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and in 172/365 (47%) laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) patients. Mean (95% CI) adjusted total opioid administered was lower by 11% (1% to 19%, p=0.02), antiemetic drug administration was lower by 15% (-2% to 25%, p=0.06) and discharge time lower by 39% (26% to 48%, p<0.01) following LRYGB in the TAP group. Mean (95% CI) adjusted total opioid administered was lower by 9% (2% to 16%, p<0.01), antiemetic drug administration was lower by 11% (3% to 18%, p<0.01) and discharge time lower by 11% (2% to 18%, p=0.02) following LSG in the TAP group. CONCLUSIONS: TAP blocks added to a laparoscopic bariatric surgery ERAS protocol were associated with decreased total opioid use, number of antiemetic treatments, and length of stay; however, these changes were not likely clinically important. Our findings do not support widespread clinical benefit of TAP use in ERAS protocols for laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Predictors of long-term success after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in African-American women.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) provides sustained weight loss. However, short-term studies have suggested that African Americans (AAs) are not as successful as Caucasians (CAs) after LRYGB. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that at longer term follow-up AAs are just as successful as CAs after LRYGB. SETTING: University hospital, United States. METHODS: A nested case-control study designed to examine the effect of race as covariate in the long-term success of women undergoing LRYGB. The study matched 3 controls per case subject, and the final numbers for analyses were 78 case patients (AA) and 204 control patients (CA). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The 2 cohorts (N = 282) were well matched for age (AA 40.3±9.1 years versus CA 41.1±8.9 years), preoperative body mass index (AA 50.6±7.5 kg/m(2) versus CA 50.2±7.1 kg/m(2)), prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) (AA 20.5% versus CA 21.1%), hypertension (AA 69.1% versus CA 52%), and sleep apnea (AA 35.9% versus CA 34.8%). In the AA group, the long-term curve for percentage of excess weight loss (EWL) was significantly (P<.001) lower than the CA group at any time-point. In the present model, diagnosis of T2D in the AA group (OR = 6.1 E8) significantly (P = .002) predicted adequate EWL at 3 years, after controlling for relevant confounders. CONCLUSION: Race significantly affected the long-term EWL at 3 years for patients undergoing LRYGB at the authors' institution. Future research should be directed at determining potential genetic reasons for these differences, including genes associated with T2D.

The application of comorbidity indices to predict early postoperative outcomes after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a nationwide comparative analysis of over 70,000 cases.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) often have substantial comorbidities, which must be taken into account to appropriately assess expected postoperative outcomes. The Charlson/Deyo and Elixhauser indices are widely used comorbidity measures, both of which also have revised algorithms based on enhanced ICD-9-CM coding. It is currently unclear which of the existing comorbidity measures best predicts early postoperative outcomes following LRYGB. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, patients 18 years or older undergoing LRYGB for obesity between 2001 and 2008 were identified. Comorbidities were assessed according to the original and enhanced Charlson/Deyo and Elixhauser indices. Using multivariate logistic regression, the following early postoperative outcomes were assessed: overall postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and conversion to open surgery. Model performance for the four comorbidity indices was assessed and compared using C-statistics and the Akaike's information criterion (AIC). RESULTS: A total of 70,287 patients were included. Mean age was 43.1 years (SD, 10.8), 81.6 % were female and 60.3 % were White. Both the original and enhanced Elixhauser indices modestly outperformed the Charlson/Deyo in predicting the surgical outcomes. All four models had similar C-statistics, but the original Elixhauser index was associated with the smallest AIC for all of the surgical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The original Elixhauser index is the best predictor of early postoperative outcomes in our cohort of patients undergoing LRYGB. However, differences between the Charlson/Deyo and Elixhauser indices are modest, and each of these indices provides clinically relevant insight for predicting early postoperative outcomes in this high-risk patient population.

Endoscopic versus surgical ampullectomy: an algorithm to treat disease of the ampulla of Vater.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness, morbidity, and mortality associated with endoscopic ampullectomy (EA) and surgical ampullectomy (SA). BACKGROUND: The proposed management of benign ampullary lesions includes local resection (EA or SA) and en bloc resection (pancreaticoduodenectomy). Most agree that en bloc resection entails a significant morbidity and mortality. No study has previously compared EA and SA for the treatment of benign ampullary lesions. METHODS: Medical records of patients selected for ampullectomy at Duke University Medical Center from 1991 to 2010 were reviewed. RESULTS: After review, 109 patients were confirmed to have undergone ampullectomy for a suspected benign ampullary lesion. Sixty-eight patients underwent EA, whereas 41 patients underwent SA. Patients in each group were identical in terms of age, sex, race, and comorbid conditions, except that EA had a higher rate of severe obesity (body mass index >35). Endoscopic ampullectomy was found to have a significantly reduced length of stay, lower morbidity, and readmission rates, but it had similar rates of mortality, margin-positive excisions, and reinterventions. CONCLUSIONS: In patients selected for ampullectomy for benign ampullary lesions, EA was found to have equivalent efficacy when compared with SA. Moreover, EA had lower morbidity and identical mortality. These findings suggest that patients would likely benefit from an aggressive endoscopic approach before consideration for surgery.

Algorithm to diagnose etiology of hypoglycemia after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity: case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Gastric bypass is a proven treatment option for weight loss and the reduction of medical co-morbid conditions in the obese population. Severe refractory and/or recurrent hypoglycemia can occur, especially in postoperative patients who do not comply with the guidelines for oral glucose consumption. In a very small number of patients, the cause is not dietary indiscretions but, instead, factitious insulin administration or nesidioblastosis. The optimal evaluation and management for these diagnoses is not completely lucid yet important for bariatric surgeons and physicians alike to be familiar. Our objectives were to review the appropriate evaluation and treatment options for etiologies of hypoglycemia after gastric bypass and to create an algorithm that biochemically assesses the etiology of hypoglycemia. The setting was a university hospital in the United States. METHODS: We present the cases of 3 patients who developed symptomatic hypoglycemia from distinct etiologies after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. We also reviewed the current data regarding diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: Each patient's evaluation and management is elaborated in detail. We propose a novel algorithm for the biochemical evaluation of hypoglycemia after gastric bypass according to our experience and the review of the literature. CONCLUSION: Most cases of symptomatic hypoglycemia that develop in gastric bypass patients are associated with dietary indiscretions. However, a small subset of patients can develop refractory, recurrent, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia from factitious insulin administration or nesidioblastosis.

Effectiveness of laparoscopic computer simulator versus usage of box trainer for endoscopic surgery training of novices.

OBJECTIVE: Teaching of laparoscopic skills is a challenge in surgical training programs. Because of the highly technical nature and the steep learning curve, students and residents must learn laparoscopic skills before performing them in the operating room. To improve efficiency of learning and patient safety, research in simulation is essential. Two types of simulators currently in use include virtual reality and box trainers. Our study examined which simulator technique was most effective in teaching novice trainees laparoscopic techniques. DESIGN: This is a prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled trial that enrolled fourth-year medical students and surgical interns to participate in a supervised 6-month laparoscopic training program with either computer simulators or box trainers. Subjects were randomized and trained on appropriate laparoscopic camera skills, instrument handling, object positioning, dissection, ligation, suturing, and knot tying. Students within one group were not allowed to practice, learn or train on the opposing trainers. At time points 0, 2, and 6 months all subjects completed a series of laparoscopic exercises in a live porcine model, which were captured on DVD and scored by blinded expert investigators. RESULTS: Scores improved overall from the pretest to subsequent tests after training with no difference between the virtual reality and box simulator groups. In the medical students specifically, there was overall improvement, and improvement in the needle-transfer and knot-tying skills specifically, with no difference between the box simulator and virtual reality groups. For the interns, both groups showed significant overall improvement with no difference between the virtual reality and box simulator groups or on individual skills. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that laparoscopic simulator training improves surgical skills in novice trainees. We found both the box trainers and the virtual reality simulators are equally effective means of teaching laparoscopic skills to novice learners.

Single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the TriPort system: a case report.

Single port access surgery may be the next generation of minimally invasive surgery. This study reports a recent experience with the TriPort system (trademark pending, Advanced Surgical Concepts, Wicklow, Ireland) to perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy via a single peri-umbilical incision. To the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first cases of single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy ever performed with this device in the United States. Randomized studies to compare single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy with traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with specific regard to postoperative pain scores, would be helpful in determining how much additional benefit, if any, there is to the patient.

Giant polypoid gastric heterotopia of the jejunum presenting with intermittent intussusception.

We report the case of a 17-year-old female with symptoms of intermittent small bowel obstruction. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed an intussusception. The patient underwent a laparoscopic-assisted resection of the mass, which proved to be gastric heterotopia of the jejunum. We report on the case, discuss the surgical approach, and review the pertinent literature.