Preoperative High Dose of Methylprednisolone Improves Early Postoperative Pulmonary Function, in Super-Obese Patients Undergoing Open Surgery; a Prospective, Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Surgery stimulates an intense systemic inflammatory response which might increase postoperative morbidity. Corticosteroids may reduce this inflammatory reaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate any possible effect on postoperative morbidity and recovery after administrating methylprednisolone in super-obese patients undergoing open surgery. METHODS: Sixty super-obese patients with BMI ≥50 kg/m2 (mean 57.48 ± 7.33), mean age of 39 ± 9 years, who underwent an open bariatric procedure, were enrolled. Thirty patients (group A) were allocated to a preoperative single dose of 30 mg/kg (ideal body weight) methylprednisolone versus placebo (group B, 30 patients). Endpoints included assessment of IL-6 and CRP; evaluation of postoperative pulmonary function, pain management, nausea, and vomiting; and documentation of postoperative complications. RESULTS: Significant improvement in spirometry parameters and arterial blood gas analysis, in the first and third postoperative days, was observed in the methylprednisolone group. IL-6 and CRP levels were significantly lower in that group. Administration of methylprednisolone was associated with less postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting, with no statistical difference in septic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative administration of a single high dose of methylprednisolone in super-obese patients undergoing open surgery inhibits the inflammatory signaling cascade, lessens the systemic inflammatory response, and results in fewer pulmonary complications and better patient recovery.

Cortisol in tissue and systemic level as a contributing factor to the development of metabolic syndrome in severely obese patients.

CONTEXT: Adrenal and extra-adrenal cortisol production may be involved in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the expression of HSD11B1, nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1 (glucocorticoid receptors) α (NR3C1α) and ß (NR3C1ß) in the liver, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of severely obese patients with and without MetS. METHODS: The study included 37 severely obese patients (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2)), 19 with MetS (MetS+ group) and 18 without (MetS- group), studied before and during bariatric surgery. Before the day of surgery, urinary free cortisol (UFC) and diurnal variation of serum and salivary cortisol were estimated. During surgery, biopsies of the liver, VAT and SAT were obtained. The expression of HSD11B1, NR3C1α and NR3C1ß was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: UFC and area under the curve for 24-h profiles of serum and salivary cortisol were lower in the MetS- group. In the MetS- group, mRNA levels of HSD11B1 in liver exhibited a negative correlation with liver NR3C1α (LNR3C1α) and VAT expression of HSD11B1 was lower than the MetS+ group. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a downregulation of the NR3C1α expression and lower VAT mRNA levels of HSD11B1 in the MetS- group, indicating a lower selective tissue cortisol production and action that could protect these patients from the metabolic consequences of obesity. In the MetS- group, a lower activity of the HPA axis was also detected. Taken together, cortisol in tissue and systematic level might play a role in the development of MetS in severely obese patients.