Analysis of Factors Related to Gastroesophageal Reflux After Gastric Bypass at 10-Year Follow-up: A Retrospective Single-institutional Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Long-term gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) after gastric bypass for obesity is underestimated. The present study aimed to evaluate the rate of treated GERD and the factors influencing it in a cohort of patients who underwent gastric bypass. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) as a primary bariatric procedure between 2010 and 2011 at a French private referral center were included in the study. The primary endpoint was the 10-year prevalence of GERD. RESULTS: In total, 422 patients underwent RYGB and 334 underwent OAGB with a biliopancreatic limb of 150 cm. The mean age was 38.9±11.3 years, and 81.6% of patients were female; the mean preoperative body mass index was 42.8±5 kg/m2 Preoperative GERD was diagnosed in 40.8% of patients in the total cohort, 31.7% in the RYGB group versus 49.1% in the OAGB group (p<0.0001). At 10-year follow-up, the rate of GERD was 21.1%, with no difference between the two groups. Remission of preoperative GERD and de novo GERD were comparable between the two types of bypass. Surgery for GERD resistant to medical treatment was more frequent in the OAGB group. At multivariate analysis, factors significantly correlated with long-term GERD were: Preoperative GERD, total weight loss at 120 months <25%, glycemic imbalances and anastomotic ulcers. CONCLUSION: Identification and correction of modifiable factors may help reduce the incidence of long-term GERD.

Roux en Y gastric bypass and iterative intussusception at the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis: Conversion into one anastomosis gastric bypass (with video) - A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this article is to describe a rare complication of Roux en Y gastric bypass (RYGB): recurrent intestinal intussusception of the biliary limb, and an original treatment: the removal of the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis with conversion into "short limb" one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 25-year-old patient underwent RYGB fashioned with a 50 cm-length biliary loop and a 150 cm-length alimentary loop. She was hospitalized other 3 times in the following months for episodes of acute abdominal pain and excessive weight loss, with CT scans showing intussusception at the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis. Conversion from RYGB to OAGB with "short biliary limb" was performed. The patient at 60-month follow-up has no bile reflux and regained weight. DISCUSSION: Small bowel intussusception is a rare complication that can occur following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, leading to symptoms like acute or chronic abdominal pain. Treatment options reported in medical literature include resection and re-fashioning of the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis, simple reduction (with a risk of recurrence), and imbrication/plication of the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis. Given the rarity of this complication, there are no standardized recommendations, and the best treatment should be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the patient's unique circumstances and the medical team's expertise. CONCLUSION: Intestinal intussusception at the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis responsible for chronic abdominal pain is a rare complication after RYGB. One of the possible treatments is conversion into OAGB.

Large and bleeding gastroduodenal artery aneurysm: Challenging diagnosis and treatment. A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA), including gastroduodenal artery aneurysms (GAA), are rare pathologies that can be challenging to diagnose due to their often-asymptomatic nature. VAA are usually correlated to atherosclerosis, fibro dysplasia, or hemodynamics changes, while pseudo aneurysms are mostly correlated to infection, inflammation, traumas, or iatrogenic lesions. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report the case of an 82-years-old female presenting with abdominal pain and hematemesis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy retrieved a large duodenal mass and subsequent CT scans identified a large GAA with contrast extravasation. Endovascular procedure included selective arteriography, microcatheterization, and embolization. DISCUSSION: VAA are mostly located in the splenic and hepatic artery. Symptoms of VAA are related to pressure on neighboring organs. VAA rupture is associated with a high mortality risk (over 76 %) and presents with symptoms like acute abdominal pain, hematemesis, and hemodynamic shock. Diagnosis is often made through CT scans and angiography. Treatment options for VAAs and GAAs include both surgical and endovascular methods. Endovascular treatment is preferred, with a success rate of 89 %-98 %. CONCLUSION: This case provides an example of challenging diagnosis and treatment of a large and bleeding GAA.

Wandering spleen causing small bowel obstruction: Laparoscopic surgical treatment (with video).

INTRODUCTION: Wandering spleen (WS) is a clinical entity in which the spleen is not located in its normal anatomical site. Few cases have been reported, mainly in women of childbearing age. This condition can be congenital or acquired due to excessive elasticity of the spleen's suspensory ligaments. WS may cause acute complications requiring emergency surgery, especially related to the rotation of its vascular pedicle, leading to chronic or acute ischemia. The aim of the present case is to show a rare complication of WS, small bowel obstruction (SBO), and its management. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report the case of a 40-year-old female presenting with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. CT scan showed SBO caused by WS located in the pelvis with an enlarged spleen vascular pedicle (SVP). Laparoscopic exploration, splenectomy, small bowel resection and anastomosis were performed. DISCUSSION: WS may cause chronic or acute complications, mainly linked with enlargement and torsion of SVP, including acute ischemia and spleen necrosis, or compression of the near organs such as small intestine, stomach, pancreas. The diagnosis is based on physical examination, CT scan and blood exams. Generally, the WS's treatment is laparoscopic splenectomy or splenopexy. In case of vital spleen, splenopexy can be performed, in case of not vital spleen, splenectomy should be preferred. CONCLUSION: This case provides an excellent example of SBO related to WS. In the video, the management of this complex situation is shown. In these cases, splenectomy represents a valuable option.

Photodynamic Topical Antimicrobial Therapy for Infected Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Patients With Diabetes: A Case Series.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are common, complex, costly complications, associated with frequent recurrences and increased morbidity and mortality. DFUs can be prevented and their healing can be mostly influenced by appropriately and aggressively managing any infection, but the role of antiseptic therapies in reducing healing time lacks sufficient evidence. Several therapeutic interventions have been developed based on the principles of photomedicine to overcome the issue of poor drug circulation in infected areas, with the aim of killing microbial agents while leaving the surrounding host cells unharmed. Such techniques use absorption of photons by specific chromophores. Among these, RLP068 is a tetracationic Zn(II) phthalocyanine derivative activated by exposure to red light, used as a topical treatment for superficial bacterial and fungal infections. The photoactivation of RLP068 results in the production of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species, able to affect a range of cellular targets, including cell membrane and/or wall, cytoplasm, and cellular components, resulting in a rapid, broad range, bactericidal and fungicidal effect. The phase IIa study showed that photoactivated RPL068 is capable of inducing a dose-dependent reduction in total and pathogen microbial load in infected diabetic foot ulcers. In this article, a case series of 22 DFU treated with photoactivated RLP068 at 5 different centers in Italy is presented. Considering microbial agents reduction, ulcer healing facilitation, healing rate (9 DFUs out of 22), and amputation rate (only 1 case over 22), the decrease in the cost of DFU seems to be a point in favor of RLP068 and its cost-effectiveness.