Five Hundred Patients With Gut Malrotation: Thirty Years of Experience With the Introduction of a New Surgical Procedure.

OBJECTIVES: Define clinical spectrum and long-term outcomes of gut malrotation. With new insights, an innovative procedure was introduced and predictive models were established. METHODS: Over 30-years, 500 patients were managed at 2 institutions. Of these, 274 (55%) were children at time of diagnosis. At referral, 204 (41%) patients suffered midgut-loss and the remaining 296 (59%) had intact gut with a wide range of digestive symptoms. With midgut-loss, 189 (93%) patients underwent surgery with gut transplantation in 174 (92%) including 16 of 31 (16%) who had autologous gut reconstruction. Ladd's procedure was documented in 192 (38%) patients with recurrent or de novo volvulus in 41 (21%). For 80 patients with disabling gastrointestinal symptoms, gut malrotation correction (GMC) surgery "Kareem's procedure" was offered with completion of the 270° embryonic counterclockwise-rotation, reversal of vascular-inversion, and fixation of mesenteric-attachments. Concomitant colonic dysmotility was observed in 25 (31%) patients. RESULTS: The cumulative risk of midgut-loss increased with volvulus, prematurity, gastroschisis, and intestinal atresia whereas reduced with Ladd's and increasing age. Transplant cumulative survival was 63% at 10-years and 54% at 20-years with best outcome among infants and liver-containing allografts. Autologous gut reconstruction achieved 78% and GMC had 100% 10-year survival. Ladd's was associated with 21% recurrent/de novo volvulus and worsening (P > 0.05) of the preoperative National Institute of Health patient-reported outcomes measurement information system gastrointestinal symptom scales. GMC significantly (P ≤ 0.001) improved all of the symptomatology domains with no technical complications or development of volvulus. GMC improved quality of life with restored nutritional autonomy (P < 0.0001) and daily activities (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Gut malrotation is a clinicopathologic syndrome affecting all ages. The introduced herein definitive correction procedure is safe, effective, and easy to perform. Accordingly, the current standard of care practice should be redefined in this orphan population.

Disease recurrence after gut transplantation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite three decades of clinical experience, this article is the first to comprehensively address disease recurrence after gut transplantation. Pertinent scientific literature is reviewed and management strategies are discussed with new insights into advances in gut pathobiology and human genetics. RECENT FINDINGS: With growing experience and new perspectives in the field of gut transplantation, the topic of disease recurrence continues to evolve. The clinicopathologic spectrum and diagnostic criteria are better defined in milieu of the nature of the primary disease. In addition to neoplastic disorders, disease recurrence is suspected in patients with pretransplant Crohn's disease, gut dysmotility, hypercoagulability and metabolic syndrome. There has also been an increased awareness of the potential de-novo development of various disorders in the transplanted organs. For conventionally unresectable gastrointestinal and abdominal malignancies, ex-vivo excision and autotransplantation are advocated, particularly for the nonallotransplant candidates. SUMMARY: Similar to other solid organ and cell transplantations, disease recurrence has been suspected following gut transplantation. Despite current lack of conclusive diagnostic criteria, recurrence of certain mucosal and neuromuscular disorders has been recently described in a large single-centre series with an overall incidence of 7%. Disease recurrence was also observed in recipients with pretransplant hypercoagulability and morbid obesity with respective incidences of 4 and 24%. As expected, tumour recurrence is largely determined by type, extent and biologic behaviour of the primary neoplasm. With the exception of high-grade aggressive malignancy, disease recurrence is still of academic interest with no significant impact on overall short and long-term outcome.

Management of Five Hundred Patients With Gut Failure at a Single Center: Surgical Innovation Versus Transplantation With a Novel Predictive Model.

OBJECTIVE(S): To define the evolving role of integrative surgical management including transplantation for patients gut failure (GF). METHODS: A total of 500 patients with total parenteral nutrition-dependent catastrophic and chronic GF were referred for surgical intervention particularly transplantation and comprised the study population. With a mean age of 45 ±â€Š17 years, 477 (95%) were adults and 23 (5%) were children. Management strategy was guided by clinical status, splanchnic organ functions, anatomy of residual gut, and cause of GF. Surgery was performed in 462 (92%) patients and 38 (8%) continued medical treatment. Definitive autologous gut reconstruction (AGR) was achievable in 378 (82%), primary transplant in 42 (9%), and AGR followed by transplant in 42 (9%). The 84 transplant recipients received 94 allografts; 67 (71%) liver-free and 27 (29%) liver-contained. The 420 AGR patients received a total of 790 reconstructive and remodeling procedures including primary reconstruction, interposition alimentary-conduits, intestinal/colonic lengthening, and reductive/decompressive surgery. Glucagon-like peptide-2 was used in 17 patients. RESULTS: Overall patient survival was 86% at 1-year and 68% at 5-years with restored nutritional autonomy (RNA) in 63% and 78%, respectively. Surgery achieved a 5-year survival of 70% with 82% RNA. AGR achieved better long-term survival and transplantation better (P = 0.03) re-established nutritional autonomy. Both AGR and transplant were cost effective and quality of life better improved after AGR. A model to predict RNA after AGR was developed computing anatomy of reconstructed gut, total parenteral nutrition requirements, cause of GF, and serum bilirubin. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical integration is an effective management strategy for GF. Further progress is foreseen with the herein-described novel techniques and established RNA predictive model.

Composite and Multivisceral Transplantation: Nomenclature, Surgical Techniques, Current Practice, and Long-term Outcome.

The successful development of multivisceral and composite visceral transplantation is among the milestones in the recent history of human organ transplantation. All types of gastrointestinal transplantation have evolved to be the standard of care for patients with gut failure and complex abdominal pathologic conditions. The outcome has markedly improved over the last 3 decades owing to technical innovation, novel immunosuppression, and better postoperative care. Recent data documented significant improvement in the long-term therapeutic indices of all types of visceral transplantation close to that achieved with thoracic and solid abdominal organs.

Composite and Multivisceral Transplantation: Nomenclature, Surgical Techniques, Current Practice, and Long-term Outcome.

The successful development of multivisceral and composite visceral transplantation is among the milestones in the recent history of human organ transplantation. All types of gastrointestinal transplantation have evolved to be the standard of care for patients with gut failure and complex abdominal pathologic conditions. The outcome has markedly improved over the last 3 decades owing to technical innovation, novel immunosuppression, and better postoperative care. Recent data documented significant improvement in the long-term therapeutic indices of all types of visceral transplantation close to that achieved with thoracic and solid abdominal organs.

Autologous Reconstruction and Visceral Transplantation for Management of Patients With Gut Failure After Bariatric Surgery: 20 Years of Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Bariatric surgery (BS) is currently the most effective treatment for severe obesity. However, these weight loss procedures may result in the development of gut failure (GF) with the need for total parenteral nutrition (TPN). This retrospective study is the first to address the anatomic and functional spectrum of BS-associated GF with innovative surgical modalities to restore gut function. METHODS: Over 2 decades, 1500 adults with GF were referred with history of BS in 142 (9%). Of these, 131 (92%) were evaluated and received multidisciplinary care. GF was due to catastrophic gut loss (Type-I, 42%), technical complications (Type-II, 33%), and dysfunctional syndromes (Type-III, 25%). Primary bariatric procedures were malabsorptive (5%), restrictive (19%), and combined (76%). TPN duration ranged from 2 to 252 months. RESULTS: Restorative surgery was performed in 116 (89%) patients with utilization of visceral transplantation as a rescue therapy in 23 (20%). With a total of 317 surgical procedures, 198 (62%) were autologous reconstructions; 88 (44%) foregut, 100 (51%) midgut, and 10 (5%) hindgut. An interposition alimentary conduit was used in 7 (6%) patients. Reversal of BS was indicated in 84 (72%) and intestinal lengthening was required in 10 (9%). Cumulative patient survival was 96% at 1 year, 84% at 5 years, and 72% at 15 years. Nutritional autonomy was restored in 83% of current survivors with persistence or relapse of obesity in 23%. CONCLUSIONS: GF is a rare but serious life-threatening complication after BS. Successful outcome is achievable with comprehensive management, including reconstructive surgery and visceral transplantation.

An in-depth assessment into simultaneous monitoring of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and low-molecular-weight organic phosphorus (LMWOP) in aquatic environments using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT).

Long-term laborious and thus costly monitoring of phosphorus (P) fractions is required in order to provide reasonable estimates of the levels of bioavailable phosphorus for eutrophication studies. A practical solution to this problem is the application of passive samplers, known as Diffusive Gradient in Thin films (DGTs), providing time-average concentrations. DGT, with the phosphate adsorbent Fe-oxide based binding gel, is capable of collecting both orthophosphate and low molecular weight organic phosphorus (LMWOP) compounds, such as adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6). The diffusion coefficient (D) is a key parameter relating the amount of analyte determined from the DGT to a time averaged ambient concentration. D at 20 °C for AMP and IP6 were experimentally determined to be 2.9 × 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1) and 1.0 × 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1), respectively. Estimations by conceptual models of LMWOP uptake by DGTs indicated that this fraction constituted more than 75% of the dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) accumulated. Since there is no one D for LMWOP, a D range was estimated through assessment of D models. The models tested for estimating D for a variety of common LMWOP molecules proved to be still too uncertain for practical use. The experimentally determined D for AMP and IP6 were therefore used as upper and lower D, respectively, in order to estimate minimum and maximum ambient concentrations of LMWOP. Validation of the DGT data was performed by comparing concentrations of P fractions determined in natural water samples with concentration of P fractions determined using DGT. Stream water draining three catchments with different land-use (forest, mixed and agriculture) showed clear differences in relative and absolute concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and dissolved organic P (DOP). There was no significant difference between water sample and DGT DRP (p > 0.05). Moreover, the upper and lower limit D for LMWOP proved reasonable as water sample determined DOP was found to lie in-between the limits of DGT LMWOP concentrations, indicating that on average DOP consists mainly of LMWOP. "Best fit" D was determined for each stream in order to practically use the DGTs for estimating time average DOP. Applying DGT in a eutrophic lake provided insight into P cycling in the water column.

Bariatric surgery complications leading to small bowel transplant: a report of 4 cases.

Obesity is a major chronic disease affecting the U.S. population. Bariatric surgery has consistently shown greater weight loss and improved outcomes compared with conservative therapy. However, complications after bariatric surgery can be catastrophic, resulting in short bowel syndrome with a potential risk of intestinal failure, ultimately resulting in the need for a small bowel transplant. A total of 6 patients became dependent on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) after undergoing bariatric surgery at an outside facility. Four of the 6 patients required evaluation for small bowel transplant; 2 of the 6 patients were successfully managed with parenteral nutrition and did not require further small bowel transplant evaluation. Catheter-related bloodstream infection, a serious complication of HPN, occurred in 3 patients despite extensive patient education on catheter care and use of ethanol lock. Two patients underwent successful small bowel transplantation, 1 died before transplant could be performed, and 1 was listed for a multivisceral transplantation. Surgical procedures to treat morbid obesity are common and growing in popularity but are not without risk of serious complications, including intestinal failure and HPN dependency. Despite methods to prevent complications, failure of HPN may lead to the need for transplant evaluation. In selected cases, the best therapeutic treatment may be a small bowel transplant to resolve irreversible, post-bariatric surgery intestinal failure.

Intestinal failure management at the Cleveland Clinic.

The Cleveland Clinic institutional guidelines for the management of intestinal failure, including long-term or home parenteral nutrition and related complications, intestinal rehabilitation, and small bowel transplantation, were reviewed. PubMed was searched for relevant articles. The search was performed in November 2008; keywords used were home parenteral nutrition, short bowel syndrome, intestinal rehabilitation, and small-bowel transplantation. Randomized, prospective, observational, retrospective reviews and case report articles that contained relevant data for long-term parenteral nutrition, intestinal rehabilitation, and intestinal transplantation were selected. Researchers reviewed 67 selected articles that met our inclusion criteria. Our institution data registries for intestinal rehabilitation and home parenteral nutrition were also reviewed for relevant data. The survival of tens of thousands of children and adults with complicated gastrointestinal problems has been possible because of parenteral nutrition. In selected patients, a program of intestinal rehabilitation may avoid the need for long-term parenteral nutrition.

The multidisciplinary approach to the care of patients with intestinal failure at a tertiary care facility.

Intestinal failure is a complex disease state for which extensive therapy is often required. Parenteral nutrition is one of these therapies, but with its long-term use, life-threatening complications may develop. Intestinal rehabilitation to enhance intestinal absorption and function through diet and medication is another therapy that can be used in hopes of weaning parenteral nutrition and preventing malnutrition. For patients who develop complications from parenteral nutrition and fail intestinal rehabilitation interventions, intestinal transplantation may be the best option. In this review, therapies available for intestinal failure and the use of a multidisciplinary approach to the patient with intestinal failure will be reviewed.

Short bowel syndrome.

Treatment of short bowel syndrome (SBS) is often a difficult endeavor due to the high variability among patients with SBS in regard to remaining anatomical structure and functional capacity. Research efforts to substantiate the use of existing therapies in the treatment of SBS are ongoing, with newer developments yet to be fully explored. Current therapy for SBS begins with the implementation of a modified diet based on the presence or absence of the colon. Patients with difficulty ingesting enough nutrients and fluids for weight maintenance and fluid balance may benefit from nocturnal enteral nutrition and hydration. Those with inadequate absorptive capacity despite maximization of oral and enteral intake will need parenteral nutrition (PN) or hydration. Medications, including antisecretory agents, antidiarrheals, pancreatic enzymes, bile acid sequestrants, and antibiotics, often are useful in abating symptoms commonly associated with SBS. Growth factors, including recombinant human growth hormone and glucagon-like peptide 2, may be trialed to stimulate intestinal adaptation and enhance absorption in PN-dependent SBS patients. The gradual refinement of surgical procedures for SBS, including small bowel transplantation, has led to improved outcomes, and early referral of SBS patients to centers of excellence will optimize care.

The role of parenteral nutrition in acute leukemia.

Patients with acute leukemia who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are susceptible to malnutrition caused by several factors including intensive cytotoxic therapy. This paper discusses the significance of malnutrition in these patients and provides an overview of nutrition therapy by the oral, enteral, and parenteral routes. The goal is to investigate whether the use of parenteral nutrition (PN) produces improved clinical outcomes in patients with acute leukemia and to identify criteria for the selection of patients most likely to benefit from this therapy. Although PN may be appropriate for patients suffering from complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and mucositis, the data available at this time do not support PN as first-line therapy for all recipients of HSCT.

Criteria for the use of recombinant human growth hormone in short bowel syndrome.

Extensive resection of the intestinal tract with resulting malabsorption is known as short bowel syndrome (SBS). Adaptation and rehabilitation of the remaining small bowel occurs spontaneously after resection and can be enhanced by diet, medications, and use of intestinal trophic factors such as recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH). Many trials have been published on the influence of r-hGH therapy in SBS patients, with varying results. Analysis of the trials has produced a set of criteria that can be used to define the patient most likely to benefit from r-hGH therapy.

Managing short bowel syndrome: making the most of what the patient still has.

Short bowel syndrome (severe malabsorption after resection of the small bowel) is characterized clinically by chronic diarrhea, dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, and malnutrition. The severity and management depend on the site and extent of the intestinal resection, whether the ileocecal valve remains, whether there is disease in the residual bowel, and the degree of adaptation of the remaining bowel.

Percentage of weight loss as a predictor of surgical risk: from the time of Hiram Studley to today.

Hiram Studley's 1936 article of research was the first publication to present a connection between preoperative weight loss and adverse postoperative outcome. Almost 70 years later, weight loss remains one of the most prominently used tools to assess nutritional status and predict surgical risk. This paper provides an overview of surgical practices at the time of Dr Studley and demonstrates Studley's unique contributions to the field of nutrition support. The search for more accurate methods of preoperative nutrition assessment is traced to show how subsequent research continues to validate the use of weight loss in the assessment of surgical risk. New developments center on techniques of body composition assessment to quantify weight lost as functional weight and clarify the impact of malnutrition on operative outcome.