First prospective clinical trial of reduced incision bariatric procedures using magnetic liver retraction.

BACKGROUND: Exposure of the surgical field is an essential component of minimally invasive surgery. Liver retraction is an important element of bariatric procedures because visualization of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction is key. The magnetic surgical system provides a well-tolerated and effective option for adjustable liver retraction without the use of a dedicated port. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety profile and effectiveness of the magnetic surgical system in patients undergoing bariatric procedures. SETTING: Two investigational sites in Chile. METHODS: A prospective, single-arm study (ClinicalTrials.govNCT03508674) with adherence to Good Clinical Practices and ISO 14155:2011(E) was undertaken to evaluate the safety profile and effectiveness of the magnetic surgical system in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Patient follow-up occurred at 7 and 30 days postprocedure. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients who met the inclusion criteria had a body mass index ranging from 28.4 to 58.2 kg/m2. All procedures were completed without complications or conversions. The average overall procedure time was 61 minutes, and the amount of coupling time between the magnetic controller and the detachable grasper was 37 minutes. In all cases the device was able to adequately retract the liver to achieve an effective exposure of the target tissue and perform the bariatric procedure. A total of 24 adverse effects were reported throughout the course of the study. All device-related adverse effects were mild in severity and resolved with no clinical sequelae. CONCLUSION: The magnetic surgical system is a well-tolerated and effective option for liver retraction in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery in patients with a varying range of body mass indexes.

Changes in iron transporter divalent metal transporter 1 in proximal jejunum after gastric bypass.

AIM: To describe the variation that divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) shows in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. METHODS: Prospective and analytical study of DMT1 level at the brush border of proximal jejunum in patients having undergone RYGB surgery. The mucosa of proximal jejunum forming the gastrojejunal anastomosis was biopsied during surgery and after 6 mo later with an endoscopic biopsy. All the patients received precise instructions regarding feeding and nutritional supplementation. Both samples were processed at the same time by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Samples were analysed by a pathologist. For statistical analysis, the χ(2) and Wilcoxon tests were used. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were recruited, 13 of whom completed the study. Twelve were women. Average age and body mass index (BMI) were 44.1 and 40.4, respectively. Both body weight and BMI decreased significantly during the study period, with an average percent excess weight loss (%EWL) of 60% ± 13.3% and an average percent excess BMI loss (%EBMIL) of 79.6% ± 21.6%. Only two patients presented with mild anaemia 6 mo after surgery, but their ferritin levels stayed within normal ranges. Staining for DMT1 showed a significant increase in the cytoplasm of enterocytes located at the tips of the villi (χ(2) = 6.03; P = 0.049). Nevertheless, the total quantity of DMT1 decreased significantly (Z = 2.04; P = 0.04). Associated with these results, we observed a significant increase in goblet cells in the villi 6 mo postoperatively (Z = -2.47; P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Six months after RYGB surgery, patients exhibit an increase in DMT1 expression in the enterocytes of the tips of the villi at the proximal jejunum.

[Mortality of acute pancreatitis in a 20 years period]. / Mortalidad de la pancreatitis aguda: experiencia de 20 años en el Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile.

BACKGROUND: Mortality for acute pancreatitis (AP) in Chile has fluctuated between 7 ana 10% in last years. AIM: To evaluate AP mortality over a period of 20 years in a clinical hospital in Santiago, Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of the database of hospital discharges with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, between 1990 and 2010 and the medical records of those patients. Age, gender, length of hospital stay, surgeries, percutaneous interventions and mortality were registered. To compare the evolution of the disease over time, patients were divided in two groups: those hospitalized between 1990 and 1999 and those hospitalized between 2000 and 2010. RESULTS: We reviewed the records of 1367 patients with a median age of 48 years (48% men). In the first period, 93 of 637 (14.6%) patients died, whereas in the second period, 22 of 730 patients died (3.0%). In the first and second period, 41.9 and 25.3% of patients were subjected to surgical procedures. The hospital stay was shorter in the second group, compared with the first (14.2 and 25.9 days respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There was a decrease in mortality caused by AP in the last 10 years, probably associated with a better interdisciplinary management of these patients.

Mortalidad de la pancreatitis aguda: experiencia de 20 años en el Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile / Mortality of acute pancreatitis in a 20 years period

Background: Mortality for acute pancreatitis (AP) in Chile has fluctuated between 7 ana 10% in last years. Aim: To evaluate AP mortality over a period of 20 years in a clinical hospital in Santiago, Chile. Material and Methods: Review of the database of hospital discharges with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, between 1990 and 2010 and the medical records of those patients. Age, gender, length of hospital stay, surgeries, percutaneous interventions and mortality were registered. To compare the evolution of the disease over time, patients were divided in two groups: those hospitalized between 1990 and 1999 and those hospitalized between 2000 and 2010. Results: We reviewed the records of 1367 patients with a median age of 48 years (48% men). In the first period, 93 of637 (14.6%) patients died, whereas in the second period, 22 of 730 patients died (3.0%). In the first and second period, 41.9 and 25.3% of patients were subjected to surgical procedures. The hospital stay was shorter in the second group, compared with the first (14.2 and 25.9 days respectively). Conclusions: There was a decrease in mortality caused by AP in the last 10 years, probably associated with a better interdisciplinary management of these patients.

Enhanced skeletal muscle lipid oxidative efficiency in insulin-resistant vs insulin-sensitive nondiabetic, nonobese humans.

CONTEXT: Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is proposed to result from impaired skeletal muscle lipid oxidative capacity. However, there is no evidence indicating that muscle lipid oxidative capacity is impaired in healthy otherwise insulin-resistant individuals. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess muscle lipid oxidative capacity in young, nonobese, glucose-tolerant, insulin-resistant vs insulin-sensitive individuals. DESIGN AND VOLUNTEERS: In 13 insulin-sensitive [by Matsuda index (MI) (22.6 ± 0.6 [SE] kg/m(2)); 23 ± 1 years; MI 5.9 ± 0.1] and 13 insulin-resistant (23.2 ± 0.6 kg/m(2); 23 ± 3 years; MI 2.2 ± 0.1) volunteers, skeletal muscle biopsy, blood extraction before and after an oral glucose load, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Skeletal muscle mitochondrial to nuclear DNA ratio, oxidative phosphorylation protein content, and citrate synthase and ß-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities were assessed. Muscle lipids and palmitate oxidation ((14)CO2 and (14)C-acid soluble metabolites production) at 4 [1-(14)C]palmitate concentrations (45-520 µM) were also measured. RESULTS: None of the muscle mitochondrial measures showed differences between groups, except for a higher complex V protein content in insulin-resistant vs insulin-sensitive volunteers (3.5 ± 0.4 vs 2.2 ± 0.4; P = .05). Muscle ceramide content was significantly increased in insulin-resistant vs insulin-sensitive individuals (P = .04). Total palmitate oxidation showed a similar concentration-dependent response in both groups (P = .69). However, lipid oxidative efficiency (CO2 to (14)C-acid soluble metabolites ratio) was enhanced in insulin-resistant vs insulin-sensitive individuals, particularly at the highest palmitate concentration (0.24 ± 0.04 vs 0.12 ± 0.02; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of impaired muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity in young, nonobese, glucose-tolerant, otherwise insulin-resistant vs insulin-sensitive individuals. Enhanced muscle lipid oxidative efficiency in insulin resistance could be a potential mechanism to prevent further lipotoxicity.

Changes in ghrelin concentrations one year after resective and non-resective gastric bypass: associations with weight loss and energy and macronutrient intakes.

OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin is a potent stimulator of appetite and synthesized in the stomach. Its role in weight loss after gastric bypass (GBP) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between weight loss and food intake and between weight loss and changes in serum ghrelin concentrations 1 y after GBP with resection of the bypassed stomach (R-GBP) and without resection (NR-GBP). METHODS: Of 50 women (37.6 ± 10.2 y old, body mass index 43.8 ± 4.8 kg/m²) with GBP, 26 had R-GBP and 24 had NR-GBP. Body weight, body composition (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), food intake, and serum ghrelin at baseline and 12 mo after GBP were measured. RESULTS: The percentage of excess weight loss was 68.9 ± 12.8% at 12 mo after GBP. At 12 mo, the decrease of serum ghrelin was greater in the R-GBP group (-25.3 ± 22.5%) compared with the NR-GBP group (+11.2 ± 50.9%, P < 0.005). After adjustment by the baseline excess of body weight, there was a greater percentage of excess weight loss in the R-GBP group only at 6 mo (61.8% versus 54.9%, P = 0.011). After controlling for the baseline intake, a significant lower carbohydrate intake was observed in the R-GBP group 6 mo after surgery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A greater decrease in ghrelin levels was observed only in patients who underwent R-GBP at 12 mo after surgery. This difference was not associated with differences in dietary intakes or weight loss at the same time point. Therefore, the small gastric pouch is probably more important than decreased ghrelin levels in producing long-term weight loss after R-GBP.

Gastrectomía casi total abierta o laparoscópica en obesidad refractaria a tratamiento médico: fundamentos y resultados / Total open gastrectomy or laparoscopy in refractory obesity to medical treatment

Se presenta la experiencia protocolizada de 375 pacientes con obesidad grave refractaria a tratamiento médico, que han sido sometidos a gastrectomía casi total de 98 por ciento con reservorio de 20 ml. y asa yeyunal desfuncionalizada en Y de Roux de 150 cm. ya sea por abordaje abierto o por laparoscopía, basados en la experiencia publicada de los riesgos que representa dejar un estómago ciego abandonado. Los resultados muestran que el método es muy eficaz para manejar en forma definitiva la obesidad y que puede ser realizado por vía laparoscópica. Sin embargo, dado que tiene riesgos de morbilidad relacionados con la técnica quirúrgica, debe ser realizado por grupos con experiencia en cirugía gastro-esofágica, que sepan manejar oportuna y adecuadamente las complicaciones, bajo protocolos de estudio, con pacientes debidamente informados y en el marco de un trabajo trans-disciplinario que involucre a otros profesionales de la salud, tanto para el manejo inmediato del paciente operado como para su seguimiento y control alejado.