Effect of probiotics on postoperative quality of gastric bypass surgeries: a prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Gastric bypass surgery is the recommended treatment for severely obese patients. However, postoperative symptomatic gastrointestinal (GI) episodes are common complaints. OBJECTIVES: To determine if administration of probiotics improves symptomatic GI episodes after gastric bypass surgery. SETTING: Hospital-based bariatric center. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized trial was conducted between March 2010 and September 2010 with 60 patients who underwent gastric bypass for severe obesity and experienced postoperative symptomatic GI episodes. Patients were randomly assigned to the probiotics group A (n = 20; 1 g Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI twice daily); probiotics group B (n = 20; Bifidobacterium longum BB536 twice daily); or digestive enzymes group (n = 20; Aczym, containing 100 mg takadiastase N, 20 mg cellulase AP, 50 mg lipase MY, and 100 mg pancreatin, twice daily). Quality of life was measured using the modified Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (mGIQLI) before and after the 2-week intervention. RESULTS: Preintervention patient characteristics and mGIQLI scores were similar among the 3 groups. After the 2-week intervention, the mean mGIQLI score improved from 57.4 to 63.9 points in the entire sample and also within each group for 7 items specifically for 7: excessive passage of gas, foul smell of flatulence, belching, heartburn, abdominal noises, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of probiotics or digestive enzymes may improve symptomatic GI episodes after gastric bypass surgeries and improve quality of life, at least initially.

Laparo-Endoscopic Gastrostomy (LEG) Decompression: a Novel One-Time Method of Management of Gastric Leaks Following Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Leakage is the most feared and challenging complication following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as it can either be life-threatening or lead to major morbidity. Its management can be very complex. Endoscopic stents seem to be the mainstay of the current modality of treatment but are associated with a high rate of complications and also need supportive procedures for sepsis control and feeding. We aimed to approach this problem through a one-step intervention, achieving three objectives: a prolonged decompression of the gastric tube through a laparo-endoscopically placed gastrostomy, feeding jejunostomy and external drainage. METHODS: Between 2014 January and March 2015, seven patients were managed for gastric leaks (post LSG) in our center by this novel approach. Their records were reviewed for details like prior operation, presence of comorbidities, if revisional surgery, day of presentation following surgery, intraoperative findings, post-op recovery, length of hospital stay, and time to heal. The results were tabulated and studied. RESULTS: Three were post primary LSG. Four were following revisional surgeries. Six out of seven (85.7 %) healed without alternative intervention. One patient with a large rent was managed by fistulojejunostomy. The average length of stay was 20.7 days. All patients were on postoperative enteral feeding through jejunostomy. There were no gastrostomy-related complications or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Laparo-endoscopic gastrostomy (LEG) decompression is a feasible, single-step, successful procedure in managing post LSG leaks and may be a viable alternative to avoid stent-related morbidity.

Duodenal-jejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy versus the sleeve gastrectomy procedure alone: the role of duodenal exclusion.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has become accepted as a stand-alone procedure as a less complex operation than laparoscopic duodenojejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (DJB-SG). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare one-year results between DJB-SG and SG. SETTING: University hospital. METHODS: A total of 89 patients who received a DJB-SG surgery were matched with a group of SG that were equal in age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Complication rates, weight loss, and remission of co-morbidities were evaluated after 12 months. RESULTS: The mean preoperative patient BMI in the DJB-SG and SG groups was similar. There were more patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the DJB-SG group than in the SG group. The mean operative time and length of hospital stay (LOS) were significantly longer in the DJB-SG group than in the SG group. At 12 months after surgery, the BMI was lower and excess weight loss higher in DJB-SG than SG. Remission of T2DM was greater in the DJB-SG group. Low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome (MS) improved after operation in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study DJB-SG was superior to SG in T2DM remission, triglyceride improvement, excess weight loss, and lower BMI at 1 year after surgery. Adding duodenal switch to sleeve gastrectomy increases the effect of diabetic control and MS resolution.

The Effect and Predictive Score of Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with BMI < 30 kg/m(2).

BACKGROUND: Metabolic surgery is a novel therapy for mild obesity (BMI 30-35 Kg/m(2)) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The ABCD score, which comprise age, BMI, C-peptide level, and duration of T2DM (years), was reported as useful in predicting the success of T2DM treatment using metabolic surgery. This study examines gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy as a salvage treatment for non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m(2)) T2DM patients and evaluates the role of ABCD scores. METHODS: From January 2007 to July 2013, 512 (71.2%) of 711 T2DM patients enrolled in a metabolic surgical program had at least 1-year follow-up were recruited. Clinical data and outcomes of 80 (15.6%) patients with BMI < 30 Kg/m(2) were compared with those of the other 432 (84.4%) patients with BMI ≥ 30 Kg/m(2). Complete remission was defined as HbA1c ≤ 6%, and partial remission was defined as HbA1c < 6.5%. A binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of T2DM remission. RESULTS: Mean age of the 80 non-obese T2DM patients was 47.7 ± 9.1 years, and mean HbA1c and disease duration were 9.1 ± 1.8% and 6.5 ± 5.1 years, respectively. Mean total body weight loss was 17.1 ± 7.4% at 1 year, and mean BMI decreased from 26.9 ± 2.2 to 22.7 ± 2.5 kg/m(2) at 1 year. Complete remission of T2DM was achieved in 25.0% of patients, and partial remission was achieved in 23.8%. The complete remission rate was significantly lower than the 49.5% found in patients with BMI 30-35 and 79.0% of patients with BMI > 35 Kg/m(2). In univariate analysis, non-obese patients who had T2DM remission after surgery were heavier and had a wider waist, higher C-peptide levels, shorter disease duration, more weight loss, and higher ABCD score than those without remission. The ABCD score remained the only independent predictor of success after multivariate logistical regression analyses (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic surgery may be useful in achieving glycemic control of selected non-obese T2DM patients. The ABCD score is a simple multidimensional grading system that can predict the success of T2DM treatment.

Gastric cancer after mini-gastric bypass surgery: a case report and literature review.

Gastric cancer in the stomach after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or mini-gastric bypass is rare, but a few cases have been reported since 1991, when the first case emerged. According to the literature, the interval between bypass surgery and the diagnosis of cancer ranged from 1 to 22 years. Given the difficulty of monitoring a bypassed stomach, the potential for gastric cancer must be considered, especially in countries with high incidence of this cancer. The literature reported the first case in the Asia-Pacific region - a woman developed advanced gastric cancer in her stomach 9 years after laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass for morbid obesity.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y vs. mini-gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity: a 10-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is considered the gold standard for the treatment of morbid obesity but is technically challenging and results in significant perioperative complications. While laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (LMGB) has been reported to be a simple and effective treatment for morbid obesity, controversy exists. Long-term follow-up data from a large number of patients comparing LMGB to LRYGB are lacking. METHODS: Between October 2001 and September 2010, 1,657 patients who received gastric bypass surgery (1,163 for LMGB and 494 for LRYGB) for their morbid obesity were recruited from our comprehensive obesity surgery center. Patients who received revision surgeries were excluded. Minimum follow-up was 1 year (mean 5.6 years, from 1 to 10 years). The operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and operative complications were assessed. Late complication, changes in body weight loss, BMI, quality of life, and comorbidities were determined at follow-up. Changes in quality of life were assessed using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index. RESULTS: There was no difference in preoperative clinical parameters between the two groups. Surgical time was significantly longer for LRYGB (159.2 vs. 115.3 min for LMGB, p < 0.001). The major complication rate was borderline higher for LRYGB (3.2 vs. 1.8%, p = 0.07). At 5 years after surgery, the mean BMI was lower in LMGB than LRYGB (27.7 vs. 29.2, p < 0.05) and LMGB also had a higher excess weight loss than LRYGB (72.9 vs. 60.1%, p < 0.05). Postoperative gastrointestinal quality of life increased significantly after operation in both groups without any significant difference at 5 years. Obesity-related clinical parameters improved in both groups without significant difference, but LMGB had a lower hemoglobin level than LRYGB. Late revision rate was similar between LRYGB and LMGB (3.6 vs. 2.8%, p = 0.385). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that LMGBP can be regarded as a simpler and safer alternative to LRYGB with similar efficacy at a 10-year experience.

Predictors of diabetes remission after bariatric surgery in Asia.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are closely related and difficult to control by current medical treatment. Bariatric surgery has been proposed for inadequately controlled T2DM in association with obesity. However, prediction of successful T2DM remission after surgery has not been clearly studied in Asian patients. This information might be helpful for applying gastrointestinal surgery as metabolic surgery for T2DM. METHODS: This was a retrospective clinical study. From January 2002 to December 2008, 88 consecutive patients with morbid obesity, who were enrolled into a surgically supervised weight loss program, and who had T2DM before surgery with at least 1 year complete follow-up data were included. Sixty-eight (77.2%) patients received gastric bypass procedures, and the remaining 20 (22.8%) received restrictive procedures. We analyzed the available information during the initial evaluation of patients who were referred for bariatric surgery, by logistic regression analysis and data mining methods for predictors of successful diabetes remission after surgery. RESULTS: Overall, 68 (77.2%) of the 88 patients had remission of their T2DM 1 year after surgery. Patients in the bypass group had a higher remission rate than those in the restrictive group [59/68 (86.7%) vs. 9/20 (45.0%), p=0.000]. In univariate analysis, patients who had T2DM remission after surgery were younger, heavier, had a wider waist, less severe disease, shorter duration, and higher C-peptide levels than those without remission. Type of operation and T2DM duration remained independent predictors of success after multivariate logistical regression analysis (p<0.000). Data mining analysis confirmed that T2DM duration was the most important predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery is a treatment option for T2DM. Duration of diabetes is the most predictor of success after surgery.