Laparoscopic conversion of vertical banded gastroplasty (Mason MacLean) into Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Revision of bariatric procedures is required in 10 to 25% of patients either for insufficient weight loss or for complications. Patients undergoing vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG; Mason MacLean) may require revision in up to half of the cases in the long term. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is considered the procedure of choice for revision of VBG gastroplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients, 16 women and 2 men with a mean age of 41.7 years (range 27-72) and a mean BMI at 37.6 kg/m(2) (range 22.5-47), underwent laparoscopic conversion of VBG into RYGBP. Indications for revisional surgery were insufficient weight loss (11 patients), stoma stenosis (4 patients), and acid reflux (3 patients). RESULTS: Operative time was on average 203 min (range 60-300 min), and conversion was required in one patient (5.5%). There was no early postoperative mortality, and four patients (22.2%) developed immediate postoperative complications (gastrojejunostomy leak 1; stenosis of the gastrojejunal anastomosis 2; liver abscess 1). One patient died 6 months after conversion because of a bleeding anastomotic ulcer (late mortality 5.5%). Two patients (11.5%) developed late complications (incisional hernia 1; internal hernia 1). At a mean follow-up of 23, 4 months BMI is on average 29.8 kg/m(2) (range 22.7-37). CONCLUSION: Although revision of failed VBG into RYGBP gives good functional results, the risk of postoperative serious complications must be carefully evaluated before revision.

Internal hernia as a complication of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Internal hernia (IH) is a well known complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) which is more frequently encountered when the RYGBP is done laparoscopically. METHODS: Patients with IH were identified from a prospective data-base of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery at our center. RESULTS: 10 patients with IH were identified out of 625 patients undergoing LRYGBP from 1998 to 2006 (incidence 1.6 %). The defects were closed in the last 155 cases with non-absorbable running sutures. There were 8 women and 2 men with mean age 38 years (range 28-54). The mean interval of time elapsed between LRYGBP and clinical presentation of IH was 26.5 months (range 7 days - 72 months). Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting were the most common complaints. White blood cell count was increased to a mean of 64 mg/dl (range 45-155 mg/dl) in 6 patients. CT scan showed signs of intestinal obstruction in all 7 patients with acute presentation. Surgery was done by laparoscopy in 5 cases (2 in the setting of emergency), and by laparotomy in the remaining 5 cases. All IHs were located at the mesenteric defect and were treated with IH reduction in all but one patient who underwent small bowel resection. There was no mortality, and one patient had pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome that resolved favorably. CONCLUSIONS: IH after LRYGBP occurred mainly at the mesenteric defect and in patients with no closure of the defect. The antecolic approach for the Roux-limb, the division of the greater omentum only when too thick, and the systematic closure of the defects with tight non-absorbable running sutures are recommended.

Torsion of a uterine leiomyoma: MRI features.

We report a case of a patient admitted to our hospital for acute pelvic pain. Ultrasounds and abdominal CT scan found a voluminous mass situated in the upper urinary bladder and contiguous to the uterus and to the ovaries. Magnetic resonance imaging identified a pedicle connecting the uterus to the mass which had an aspect of a necrobiotic leiomyoma. Laparoscopic surgery confirmed the diagnosis of acute torsion of a subserous uterine leiomyoma.

Laparoscopic conversion of vertical banded gastroplasty with an antireflux wrap into Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) is associated with a significant rate of revision because of regain of weight due to staple-line disruption, gastric pouch and stoma dilation, change to sweet eating, outlet stenosis with vomiting and reflux. To avoid reflux, some surgeons added an antireflux wrap. METHODS: We report laparoscopic revision of VBG with antireflux wrap to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) in 4 patients. The indication for revision was insufficient weight loss in all 4 patients, with stenosis of the stoma resistant to endoscopic balloon dilation in one and reflux esophagitis in one, who shifted to high-calorie liquids. Revision was performed 73.5 months (range 57-84) after the primary procedure, at mean BMI 39.5 (range 37-41). RESULTS: Mean operative time was 193.7 min (165-220). There was no conversion to open surgery. There was no mortality. One patient developed a stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy that was managed successfully with endoscopic balloon dilation. Mean length of stay was 6.8 days (range 4-9). At mean follow-up of 11.2 months (range 11-18), mean BMI is 28.5 (range 27-30), and all patients were free of co-morbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic revision of VBG with an antireflux wrap into an LRYGBP is feasible and effective in achieving weight loss, but the safety requires assessment by a larger series.

Atypical MRI features of a biliary cystadenoma revealed by jaundice.

We report on the case of a patient admitted for epigastric pain. An abdominal ultrasound revealed a voluminous cystic lesion of the left hepatic lobe. In magnetic resonance imaging, the mass had a liquid-liquid level that was spontaneously hyperintense on T(1)-weighted images and hypointense on T(2)-weighted images. Magnetic resonance cholangiography identified bilateral intrahepatic bile duct dilatation. A left hepatectomy finally revealed a mucinous cystadenoma with pseudo-ovarian stroma that had a pedunculated intraductal extension to the biliary convergence.