Trends in Utilization and Relative Complication Rates of Bariatric Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding have been popular alternatives to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass due to their technical ease and lower complication rates. Comprehensive longitudinal data are necessary to guide selection of the appropriate bariatric procedures for individual patients. METHODS: We used the Truven Heath Analytics MarketScan® database between 2000 and 2015 to identify patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to compare complication rates between laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, as well as between laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. RESULTS: 256,830 individuals met search criteria. By 2015, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was the most commonly performed bariatric procedure followed by laparoscopic gastric bypass and then laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Overall, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding had fewer complications relative to laparoscopic gastric bypass with the exceptions of heartburn, gastritis, and portal vein thrombosis following sleeve gastrectomy and heartburn and dysphagia following adjustable gastric banding. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is now the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in the USA. It is reassuring that its overall postoperative complication rates are lower relative to laparoscopic gastric bypass.

Characterizing Bariatric Surgery Utilization and Complication Rates in the Adolescent Population.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery is an increasingly common treatment of morbid obesity in the United States and has demonstrated effective weight loss and improvement of comorbidities. We used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data to characterize bariatric surgery utilization and complication rates in the adolescent population. METHODS: Demographics, surgical procedures, comorbidities, and 30-day outcomes of 2625 adolescents ages 18-21 who underwent bariatric surgery were analyzed from NSQIP data-bank from 2005 to 2015. RESULTS: 79.5% of patients were females. Majority of patients identified as Caucasian or Black/African American (BAA) at 66.7% (73% of US population) and 15.5% (12.6% of US population), respectively. 15.9% identified as Hispanic. Comorbidities included diabetes in 9.3% (7.8% NIDDM), hypertension (9.5%), and dyspnea on moderate exertion (13.2%). Sleeve Gastrectomy, Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y (RY) and Adjustable Gastric Banding (AGB) were the three most common procedures performed during the study period. There has been a sharp trend towards SG in recent years (11.4% in 2010, to 66.6% in 2015), while RY utilization declined (47.4% in 2010 to 28.6% in 2015). Surgical complications were 2.4%, with the most common being superficial surgical site infection (0.7%), UTI (0.7%), and organ-space infection (0.4%). Reoperation and readmission rates within 30-days post-operation were 1.5% and 4.1%, respectively. Those with complications had longer length-of-stays (2.7 vs. 1.8 days, P < 0.001), greater reoperation rates (OR = 9.6, P < 0.001) and readmission rates (OR = 11.8, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Morbid obesity is associated with significant comorbidity. SG is increasingly the most utilized form of bariatric surgery. While complications are low, they are associated with greater hospital length-of-stay, readmission, and reoperation rates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Treatment Study, Level III.

Laparoscopic Gastric Banding: Game Over?

The laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedure has been used in bariatric surgery for over 20 years, and despite its initial success, it has been most often criticized for causing adverse effects, lacking efficacy, and frequently requiring revision. Evidence-based medicine supports these criticisms, and the LAGB is no longer considered by most bariatric surgeons worldwide to be a standard operation. While we have to admit that its associated food tolerance issues and variable efficacy make the LAGB less desirable for most patients, time will tell whether the current armamentarium of bariatric procedures are still too aggressive and new safer procedures still need to be developed.

Fifth International Consensus Conference: current status of sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: For the purpose of building best practice guidelines, an international expert panel was surveyed in 2014 and compared with the 2011 Sleeve Gastrectomy Consensus and with survey data culled from a general surgeon audience. OBJECTIVES: To measure advancement on aspects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and identify current best practices. SETTING: International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) 2014, Fifth International Summit for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Montréal, Canada. METHODS: In August 2014, expert surgeons (based on having performed>1000 cases) completed an online anonymous survey. Identical survey questions were then administered to general surgeon attendees. RESULTS: One hundred twenty bariatric surgeons completed the expert survey, along with 103 bariatric surgeons from IFSO 2014 general surgeon audience. The following indications were endorsed: as a stand-alone procedure (97.5%); in high-risk patients (92.4%); in kidney and liver transplant candidates (91.6%); in patients with metabolic syndrome (83.8%); body mass index 30-35 with associated co-morbidities (79.8%); in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (87.4%); and in the elderly (89.1%). Significant differences existed between the expert and general surgeons groups in endorsing several contraindications: Barrett's esophagus (80.0% versus 31.3% [P<.001]), gastroesophageal reflux disease (23.3% versus 52.5% [P<.001]), hiatal hernias (11.7% versus 54.0% [P<.001]), and body mass index>60 kg/m(2) (5.0% versus 28.0% [P<.001]). Average reported weight loss outcomes 5 years postoperative were significantly higher for the expert surgeons group (P = .005), as were reported stricture (P = .001) and leakage (P = .005) rates. The following significant differences exist between 2014 and 2011 expert surgeons: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease should have pH and manometry study pre-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (32.8% versus 50.0%; P = .033); it is important to take down the vessels before resection (88.1% versus 81.8%; P = .025); it is acceptable to buttress (81.4% versus 77.3%; P<.001); the smaller the bougie size and tighter the sleeve, the higher the incidence of leaks (78.8% versus 65.2%; P = .006). CONCLUSION: This study highlights areas of new and improved best practices on various aspects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy performance among experts from 2011 and 2014 and among the current general surgeon population.

Trends in bariatric surgery from 2008 to 2012.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a global epidemic that has been increasing in prevalence. The only treatment method for durable weight loss is bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to observe trends in usage and outcomes of bariatric operations used in the United States from 2008 to 2012. METHODS: Analysis was performed on bariatric surgery admissions from 2008 to 2012 based off of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Data were selected from using International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision codes correlating to bariatric procedures for the purpose of obesity. Annual estimates and trends were reviewed for patient demographics, procedure type, patient outcomes, and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: A total of 598,756 bariatric procedures were examined. Laparoscopic gastric bypass was the most commonly used surgical method in 2008 (58.2%). A decreasing trend in its use, and the use of laparoscopic gastric banding (LGB), was equipoised with increasing use of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Use of LSG accounted for 8.2% of procedures in 2011 and 39.6% in 2012. LGB and LSG had the lowest rates of complications, in-hospital morbidity and mortality, and the shortest LOS whereas open bypass and duodenal switch had the highest rates of complications, in-hospital morbidity and mortality, and longest LOSs. Overall rates of venous thromboembolism increased from .08% in 2008 to .215% in 2012. Respiratory complications decreased from 6.1% to 3.9%. There were no observed trends in rates of renal complications, visceral injury, bleeding, and infections. In-hospital morbidity decreased, whereas mortality rates were stable at .1%. CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of bariatric procedures has reached a plateau in the United States. Changes in the composition of procedural types suggest that LSG has become a popular alternative to gastric bypass and LGB.

Concepções de obesidade sobre pacientes gastroplastizados em periódicos biomédicos / Obesity concepts about gastroplasty patients in biomedic journals

Este trabalho se propõe a analisar a abordagem biomédica sobre a recidiva de engorda, após a gastroplastia para tratamento da obesidade. Foram realizadas, na plataforma PubMed, buscas dos seguintes termos: "weight regain AND bariatric surgery OR gastroplasty NOT diabetes". Juntamente com a seleção dos seguintes filtros: artigos sobre humanos, disponibilidade do texto completo, disponibilidade do resumo. Somente publicações entre 2010 e 2014 foram selecionadas. Estas foram analisadas com um questionário auxiliar de 46 perguntas sobre os seguintes temas: a alimentação dos pacientes, a abordagem da re-educação alimentar, o acompanhamento do pós-operado pelos profissionais de saúde, e as hipóteses para o "sucesso" da cirurgia. Como resultados, percebemos que não conseguir emagrecer o suficiente ou não manter o emagrecimento são consideradas algumas das complicações da gastroplastia, atingindo um grande número de pacientes. Estas complicações evidenciam que o método considerado mais eficaz no tratamento da obesidade mórbida também é falho e, em cerca de 8 anos, uma nova intervenção é necessária. O paciente pode voltar a se enquadrar na categoria de obeso, havendo casos de peso pós-cirúrgico maior que o pré-cirúrgico

This essay aims to analyse the biomedic approach concerning weight regain after obesity surgery. Several searches were made in the PubMed database, including the following terms: "weight regain AND bariatric surgery OR gastroplasty NOT diabetes". Also some filters were selected: human species, full text availability and abstract avaibility. Only publications between 2010 and 2014 were selected. These were analysed using an questionnaire within 46 questions including themes as: patient nutrition, nutritional reeducation, medical follow-up after surgery, and surgery "success" hypothesis. Considering the articles, we are able to perceive that insufficient weight loss and overweight relapse are some of gastroplasty's complications, and they reach many patients. Among the objects are cases in which the patients are heavier after the surgery than they were before. Those complications show that the now considered most effective obesity treatment is also capable of failure, the post-surgery patient can regain weight and even become obese again. Around eight years after the first gastroplasty, a new counter obesity intervention will be necessary

Tratamiento endoscópico de la obesidad y los trastornos metabólicos: ¿una realidad? / Endoscopic treatments of obesity and metabolic disease: are we there yet?

La obesidad y sus complicaciones representan un problema mayor en nuestra sociedad. Por este motivo se han empleado diversos tratamientos médicos, conductuales, higiénico dietéticos y quirúrgicos, con la intención de paliar o solventar este problema. En estos últimos años hemos visto aparecer múltiples tratamientos endoscópicos destinados al tratamiento de la obesidad y sus complicaciones, pero su utilidad real es poco conocida. La presente revisión tiene como objetivo realizar una puesta al día sobre las diferentes alternativas existentes para el tratamiento endoscópico de la obesidad, incidiendo en aspectos técnicos y en la evidencia existente en la literatura sobre su utilidad clínica (AU)

Obesity and metabolic diseases represent a major problem for our society. For this reason, a number of medical, behavioral, hygienic-dietetic and surgical therapies have been used in an attempt to solve or palliate this problem. In these last years, we have seen a growing number of endoscopic therapies directly targeted to treat obesity and its complications, and its clinical usefulness is relatively unknown. The current review attempts to update what is known on the different endoscopic therapies for obesity, paying special attention to technical aspects and the existing evidence of their usefulness in clinical practice (AU)

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banded plication: evolution of procedure and 2-year results.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banded plication (LAGBP) is a new restrictive bariatric procedure combining adjustable banding and greater curvature plication of the stomach. This study aimed to report the evolution of this surgical technique and analyze the surgical results. METHODS: Eighty patients who underwent LAGBP were enrolled in this study. The band-first technique was used in 50 patients from May 2009 to June 2011 and was then changed to the plication-first technique from July 2011 to October 2011. Patients' demographics and pre- and postoperative data, including complications and weight loss, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty patients (26 men and 54 women) with a mean age of 30.75 ± 8.68 years and a mean body mass index of 38.05 ± 4.73 kg/m2 were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 10.52 (1-24) months. The average operation duration and hospital stay were 92.85 ± 35.86 min and 1.73 ± 1.04 days, respectively. No intraoperative complications or surgical mortality was observed in this series. Four (8%) postoperative complications occurred with the band-first technique and one (3%) with the plication-first technique. Mean excess weight loss (percentage) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months were 42.59 ± 13.67, 56.38 ± 19.89, 57.59 ± 19.88, and 65.84 ± 17.36%, respectively. The frequency of band adjustment was 2.44 ± 2.21 times in 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: In this present 2-year result, LAGBP using plication-first technique revealed fewer complications and good weight loss. Longer follow-up is still necessary to be accepted as a stand-alone bariatric procedure.

Rejecting the demise of vertical-banded gastroplasty: a long-term single-institute experience.

Surgical interventions have proven to be more effective than other measures in the treatment of morbid obesity. The short-term outcomes of the various surgical interventions have been well documented in the literature, with fewer reports on long-term outcomes. The reported long-term outcome of the vertical-banded gastroplasty (VBG) is conflicting. The aim of the present study was to evaluate our long-term experience with VBG. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was conducted. Records of patients who underwent VBG five or more years ago were retrieved. An analysis of the long-term weight changes and reported complications was conducted. The study included 150 patients: 43 males (29%) and 107 females (71%). Their mean age was 30 years old (12-53), and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 47 ± 8.4 kg/m2. Patients were followed up for an average of 8 years (5-11). More than 60 % of patients had good long-term weight loss (EWL > 50%). A significant negative correlation was found between the excess weight loss percent (EWL%) and the pre-operative BMI (p < 0.05). The differences in EWL% between males and females were not significant (p = 0.061). Nevertheless, the change in EWL% over time for both males and females was significant (p = 0.004). Revision surgery was required in seven patients (4.7%). Five patients had conversion of VBG to gastric bypass (3.3%), while two patients (1.3%) had reversal of the procedure. Late complications included mesh erosion in three cases, staple line dehiscence in two patients, and stomal stenosis in six patients. VBG could be a long-term effective intervention for the treatment of morbid obesity. Good selection is the cornerstone for long-term success. Late complication rate is acceptable after VBG. VBG is a specifically useful tool under stringent financial circumstances.

Is there a future for Laparoscopic Gastric Greater Curvature Plication (LGGCP)? a review of 44 patients.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastric greater curvature plication (LGGCP) is a new restrictive weight loss procedure. METHODS: Between February 2011 and June 2012, 57 patients underwent LGGCP. Thirteen had it associated with a lap band and were excluded from the study. Data was collected through routine follow-up. Demographics, complications, and percentage of excess weight loss (% EWL) were determined. RESULTS: Forty-four patients underwent LGGCP, 40 women and 4 men with a mean age of 40 years (range, 18-72), a mean body mass index of 38 kg/m(2) (range, 35-46). Comorbidities included 2 diabetes mellitus, 11 hypertension, 8 hyperlipidaemia, and 8 obstructive sleep apnea. The mean operative time was 106 min (range, 60-180) and mean duration of hospital stay was 18 h (range, 12-168). Operative complications included one subphrenic abscess, one gastrogastric hernia, and one acute respiratory distress syndrome. Thirty patients experienced strong restriction with nausea and vomiting for the first 10 days (79.5 %). Eleven patients (25.0 %) came back with intractable nausea and vomiting, and were hospitalized, or had their hospital stay prolonged. Four patients needed early reversal of gastric plication (9 %). There was no postoperative death. The mean postoperative % EWL was 30.6 % (n = 40), 57.0 % (n = 24), 50.7 % (n = 13) at 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LGGCP yields an acceptable weight loss compared to other restrictive procedures, but with a higher readmission rate for postoperative nausea and vomiting, or even reversal of plication. We advocate more studies to evaluate safety and effectiveness.

[New data on quality assurance in bariatric surgery in Germany]. / Aktuelle Daten der Qualitätssicherungsstudie für operative Therapie der Adipositas in Deutschland.

BACKGROUND: Since January 1st 2005, the situation of bariatric surgery has been examined in Germany. All data are registered prospectively in cooperation with the Institute of Quality Assurance in Surgery at the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg. METHODS: The voluntary data registration occurs in an internet online data bank. All primary bariatric procedures as well as re- and redo-procedures are documented. Follow-up data were collected once a year. Participation in the quality assurance study is obligatory for certificated centres. RESULTS: Since 2005 13,879 bariatric procedures have been performed at 83 hospitals. The number of primary procedures has increased from 596 in 2005 to 11,835 in 2010. Revisional surgery has been performed in 1,438 patients since 2005. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the major procedure with 1,564 operations in 2010. The mean BMI was 48.8 kg/m². The incidence of comorbidities was 84.8%. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery has become more accepted in Germany. Beside the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy is the most frequently performed operation. BMI and incidence of comorbidities are still high in comparison with literature values. Due to the lack of evidence, more randomised studies are necessary to standardise operative techniques and evaluate patient selection criteria. Quality assurance studies support a detailed analysis of these parameters.

Racial differences among patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery: a population-based trend analysis from 2002 to 2008.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery (LGBS) has become the most widely used bariatric procedure due to its beneficial long-term outcomes for patients with morbid obesity. However, it is unclear whether racial differences in admission for LGBS have changed over time compared to racial differences in all other admissions. We aimed to investigate the trends and differences in the use of LGBS among white, African-American, and Hispanic patients from 2002 to 2008. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data on obese adult patients operated between 2002 and 2008, using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. The probability of being admitted for LGBS was estimated using logistic regression with race, year, and year by race interaction as predictors, controlling for numerous patient and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Among 1,704,972 obese hospitalized patients captured through NIS from 2002 to 2008, 2.6 % underwent LGBS (2.8 % Whites, 1.7 % African-Americans, and 2.6 % Hispanics). In adjusted analysis, obese African-American (OR 0.48, p < 0.001) and Hispanic patients (OR 0.59, p < 0.001) were less likely to be admitted for LGBS than white patients in 2002. Race-year interactions showed that the odds of African-Americans undergoing LGBS significantly increased from 2002 to 2008 compared with Whites (annual OR 1.03, p < 0.001) while no such increase was detected for Hispanics (annual OR 1.02, p = 0.11). In 2008, African-American (OR 0.58, p < 0.001) and Hispanic patients (OR 0.65, p < 0.001) still had lower odds than white patients. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing that the difference in the use of LGBS between obese African-American and white patients declined between 2002 and 2008. However, LGBS use still remained significantly lower for both African-American and Hispanic patients in 2008 compared with white patients.

Robotic bariatric surgery: bypass, band and sleeve. Where are we now? And what is the future?

Rates of Obesity and Bariatric surgery continue to increase worldwide. Obese patients represent a unique cohort with important anatomical and physiological challenges that can influence operative outcome. The aim of this review is to evaluate the current evidence regarding the role of robotics in bariatric surgery. Robotic surgery confers several technical advantages including better visual field with improved three-dimensional image, seven degrees of freedom and anti-tremor filters to enable more precise manipulations and increased dexterity by downscaling the surgeon's movements. These technical advantages are more likely to confer a benefit in terms of clinical outcome in more complicated minimally invasive procedures especially gastric bypass and in particular with important steps of the procedure such as anastomotic suturing. Despite these advantages robotic bariatric surgery is associated with increased cost and operative time, which may limit its use in less complicated procedures such as gastric band surgery. Future highly powered randomized controlled trials are required to accurately evaluate clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of robotics both in gastric bypass and in sleeve gastrectomy.

Técnicas restrictivas en cirugía bariátrica: evolución y tendencias actuales / Restrictive bariatric surgery techniques: evolution and current trends

La cirugía bariátrica ha demostrado ser más efectiva que el tratamiento médico para el control del peso y las comorbilidades asociadas. Se han descrito múltiples técnicas, las cuales pueden ser divididas en tres grupos: cirugías restrictivas, en las que el objetivo principal es disminuir el volumen de la ingesta calórica; cirugías malabsortivas, en las que se limita la absorción a nivel intestinal; y una combinación de ambas. Dentro de las técnicas restrictivas, la gastroplastía fue uno de los primeros procedimientos descritos. Inicialmente horizontal y luego la gastroplastía vertical anillada, mostraban buenos resultados a corto plazo, pero con una importante tasa de fracaso a largo plazo, por lo que estas técnicas fueron abandonadas paulatinamente. La banda gástrica ajustable tiene la ventaja de ser mínimamente invasiva y reversible, la baja de peso es adecuada pero menos efectiva que en el bypass gástrico. Las complicaciones postoperatorias son pocas inicialmente, sin embargo aumentan con los años de seguimiento. La gastrectomía vertical tubular es un procedimiento efectivo para bajar de peso, que puede ser realizado en forma segura como procedimiento primario único o como primera etapa de otro procedimiento. Esto se refleja en una excelente baja de peso y control de las comorbilidades, lo cual la hace comparable a otros procedimientos bariátricos aceptados. Finalmente en los últimos años han aparecido reportes promisorios de una nueva técnica, la plicatura gástrica.

Bariatric surgery has proved to be more effective than medical therapy in the treatment for obesity. Multiple techniques have been described and can be divided into three main groups: Restrictive surgery, where the main objective is to decrease the volume of caloric intake; malabsortive surgery, where a portion of the absortive circuit is bypassed and thus limiting the caloric absortion; and a combination of both. Among the restrictive techniques, gastroplasty was one of the first procedures described. First horizontal gastroplasty and then vertical banded gastroplasty showed good short-term results but with poor long-term outcomes. These techniques have been gradually abandoned. Adjustable gastric banding is a minimally invasive technique and has the advantage of being reversible. Weight loss is adequate, but less effective than gastric bypass. Postoperative complications are low at short-term, but increase per year at long-term follow-up. Sleeve gastrectomy is an effective weight loss procedure that can be performed safely as a first stage or primary procedure. This results in excellent weight loss and co-morbidity reduction that exceeds, or is comparable to, that of other accepted bariatric procedures. Gastric plicature is a relatively new procedure and has reported good short-term outcomes in weight loss with few short-term complications. However, long-term outcomes are yet to be demonstrated.

Trends in adolescent bariatric surgery evaluated by UHC database collection.

BACKGROUND: With increasing childhood obesity, adolescent bariatric surgery has been increasingly performed. We used a national database to analyze current trends in laparoscopic bariatric surgery in the adolescent population and related short-term outcomes. METHODS: Discharge data from the University Health System Consortium (UHC) database was accessed using International Classification of Disease codes during a 36 month period. UHC is an alliance of more than 110 academic medical centers and nearly 250 affiliate hospitals. All adolescent patients between 13 and 18 years of age, with the assorted diagnoses of obesity, who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) were evaluated. The main outcome measures analyzed were morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS), overall cost, intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate, and readmission rate. These outcomes were compared to those of adult bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Adolescent laparoscopic bariatric surgery was performed on 329 patients. At the same time, 49,519 adult bariatric surgeries were performed. One hundred thirty-six adolescent patients underwent LAGB, 47 had SG, and 146 patients underwent LRYGB. LAGB has shown a decreasing trend (n = 68, 34, and 34), while SG has shown an increasing trend (n = 8, 15, and 24) over the study years. LRYGB remained stable (n = 44, 60, and 42) throughout the study period. The individual and summative morbidity and mortality rates for these procedures were zero. Compared to adult bariatric surgery, 30 day in-hospital morbidity (0 vs. 2.2 %, p < 0.02), the LOS (1.99 ± 1.37 vs. 2.38 ± 3.19, p < 0.03), and 30 day readmission rate (0.30 vs. 2.02 %, p < 0.05) are significantly better for adolescent bariatric surgery, while the ICU admission rate (9.78 vs. 6.30 %, p < 0.02) is higher and overall cost ($9,375 ± 6,452 vs. $9,600 ± 8,016, p = 0.61) is comparable. CONCLUSION: Trends in adolescent laparoscopic bariatric surgery reveal the increased use of sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding falling out of favor.

Endoscopic treatment of obesity.

BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents will be reflected by the imminent increase in the number of obese patients who require more definitive methods of treatment. There is great interest in new, safe, simple, nonsurgical procedures for weight loss. OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of new endoscopic methods for the treatment of obesity. METHODS: An English-language literature search on endoscopic interventions, endoscopically placed devices and patient safety was performed in the MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases. RESULTS: The literature search yielded the following weight loss methods: space-occupying devices (widely used), gastric capacity reduction, modifying gastric motor function and malabsorptive procedures. A commercially available intragastric balloon was the most commonly used device for weight loss. In specific subgroups of patients, it improved quality of life, decreased comorbidities and served as a bridge to surgery. More evidence regarding the potential benefits and safety of other commercially available intragastric balloons is needed to clarify whether they are superior to the most commonly used one. Moreover, early experiences with transoral gastroplasty, the duodenal-jejunal bypass sleeve and an adjustable, totally implantable intragastric prosthesis, indicate that they may be viable options for obesity treatment. Other agents, such as botulinum toxin and a device known as the 'butterfly', are currently at the experimental stage. CONCLUSION: New endoscopic methods for weight loss may be valuable in the treatment of obesity; however, more clinical experience and technical improvements are necessary before implementing their widespread use.

Trends and outcomes of adolescent bariatric surgery in California, 2005-2007.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate trends, and outcomes of adolescents who undergo bariatric surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients younger than 21 years who underwent elective bariatric surgery between 2005 and 2007 were identified from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the type of surgery. RESULTS: Overall, 590 adolescents (aged 13-20 years) underwent bariatric surgery in 86 hospitals. White adolescents represented 28% of those who were overweight but accounted for 65% of the procedures. Rates of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) increased 6.9-fold from 0.3 to 1.5 per 100,000 population (P<.01), whereas laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) rates decreased from 3.8 to 2.7 per 100 000 population (P<.01). Self-payers were more likely to undergo LAGB (relative risk [RR]: 3.51 [95% confidence interval: 2.11-5.32]) and less likely to undergo LRYGB (RR: 0.45 [95% confidence interval: 0.33-0.58]) compared with privately insured adolescents. The rate of major in-hospital complication was 1%, and no deaths were reported. Of the patients who received LAGB, 4.7% had band revision/removal. In contrast, 2.9% of those who received LRYGB required reoperations. CONCLUSIONS: White adolescent girls disproportionately underwent bariatric surgery. Although LAGB has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in children, its use has increased dramatically. There was a complication rate and no deaths. Long-term studies are needed to fully assess the efficacy, safety, and health care costs of these procedures in adolescents.

Metabolic/bariatric surgery Worldwide 2008.

Periodically, the state of bariatric surgery worldwide should be assessed; the most recent prior evaluation was in 2003. An email survey was sent to the leadership of the 36 International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders nations or national groupings, as well as Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Responses were tabulated; calculation of relative prevalence of specific procedures was done by weighted averages. Out of a potential 39, 36 nations or national groupings responded. In 2008, 344,221 bariatric surgery operations were performed by 4,680 bariatric surgeons; 220,000 of these operations were performed in USA/Canada by 1,625 surgeons. The most commonly performed procedures were laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (AGB; 42.3%), laparoscopic standard Roux-Y gastric bypass (RYGB; 39.7%), and total sleeve gastrectomies 4.5%. Over 90% of procedures were performed laparoscopically. Comparing the 5-year trend from 2003 to 2008, all categories of procedures, with the exception of biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch, increased in absolute numbers performed. However, the relative percent of all RYGBs decreased from 65.1% to 49.0%; whereas, AGB increased from 24.4% to 42.3%. Markedly, different trends were found for Europe and USA/Canada: in Europe, AGB decreased from 63.7% to 43.2% and RYGB increased from 11.1% to 39.0%; whereas, in USA/Canada, AGB increased from 9.0% to 44.0% and RYGB decreased from 85.0% to 51.0%. The absolute growth rate of bariatric surgery decreased over the past 5 years (135% increase), in comparison to the preceding 5 years (266% increase). Bariatric surgery continues to grow worldwide, but less so than in the past. The types of procedures are in flux; trends in Europe vs USA/Canada are diametrically opposed.