A Retrospective Comparative Study of Primary Versus Revisional Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Long-Term Results.

AIMS: To compare the perioperative parameters and excess weight loss between patients operated by laporoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), as a primary operation or a revisional, for insufficient weight loss after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) or adjustable gastric banding (AGB). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent a LRYGB was performed for the period 2004-2011. Demographics, preoperative body mass index (BMI), co-morbidities, operation time, conversion rate, perioperative complications, hospitalization period, and % of excess BMI loss (%EBMIL) were investigated and compared between groups. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-two laparoscopic gastric bypass operations were performed, 245 were primary, and 97 revisional. Median follow-up was 30 months (range 0-108 months). Mean BMI (kg/m2) before bypass was 45.2 for primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (pLRYGB) and 41.1 for revisional laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (rLRYGB). Median operative time and length of stay were longer for rLRYGB 157.5 versus 235 min (p < 0.001) and 6 versus 6.5 days (p = 0.05). Conversion to laparotomy was performed in eight patients, 0.4% of primary and 7.2% of revisional. Morbidity rate was 6.5% in pLRYGB versus 10% in rLRYGB (NS). There was one death in the primary group. Percentage of EBMIL was significantly lower in the revisional group at 12, 18, and 24 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Revisional and primary gastric bypass have no statistical differences in terms of morbidity. The % of excess BMI loss is lower after revisional gastric bypass during the first 2 years of follow-up. The trend of weight loss or weight regain was similar in both groups.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity: comparison of primary versus revisional bypass by using the BAROS score.

BACKGROUND: Vertically banded gastroplasty or adjustable gastric banding often result in weight regain, complications, or side effects. Failed restrictive bariatric procedures can be converted in revisional laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). This study aimed to compare weight loss, evolution of comorbidities, and quality of life (QOL) between primary versus revisional LRYGB. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2012, 374 patients underwent LRYGB as primary or revisional surgery performed by a single surgeon. Patient data were retrospectively reviewed; questionnaires of QOL were sent to all patients. Outcomes were evaluated according to Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) taking into account excess body mass index loss (EBMIL), correction of comorbidities, improvement in QOL, and complications. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-two patients (62%) responded to the questionnaire, 163 patients in the primary group and 69 in the revisional group. Median follow-up was 36 months (12-108). Median percentages of EBMIL were, respectively, 74% (26.8-126.8) and 50% (-31.6-124.2) in the primary and the revisional groups (p < 0.01). Median BAROS score reached 6.5 (-2-9) in the primary group, against 4.3 (-1.8-9) in the revisional group (p < 0.01). There were significantly less "fair" and more "excellent" scores in the primary group, considering initial BMI before gastroplasty. Arterial hypertension and sleep apnea syndrome resolved, respectively, in 51 and 56% in the primary group and only in 29 and 33% in the revisional group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: According to BAROS score, revisional LRYGB for failed restrictive procedures provided poorer results than primary LRYGB in terms of weight loss, resolution of comorbidities and QOL.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcome of portal vein thrombosis after laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy in ß-thalassemia patients: a prospective exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Portal vein system thrombosis (PVT) is an infrequent but potentially serious complication after laparoscopic splenectomy. Patients with ß-thalassemia are at higher risk as they have splenomegaly and hypercoagulability. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight ß-thalassemia patients who underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy or laparoscopic splenectomy were studied prospectively with pre- and postoperative Doppler ultrasonography or computed tomography scanning. RESULTS: The incidence of PVT was 8.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2%-16.4%) (4 of 48 patients). Spleen weight was the only independent factor associated with the presence of PVT. The odds ratio for spleen weight (100 g increase) was 1.46 (95% CI 1.10-1.94, P=.010). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimal cutoff of spleen weight to the prediction of PVT was 1543 g. Thrombosis resolution was observed after a median of 165 days. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ß-thalassemia who undergo laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy are at high risk of postoperative PVT. Close postoperative surveillance and aggressive coagulation prophylaxis are needed in these patients. Larger studies are required to confirm the present findings.

C-reactive protein, white blood cells, and neutrophils as early predictors of postoperative complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Early detection and treatment of complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are mandatory. This study aimed to evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, and neutrophil (NEU) count in relation to the early diagnosis of major surgical complications after LSG. METHODS: A prospective study of 177 patients who underwent LSG during 2008-2011 was performed. Measurements of WBC, NEU, and CRP performed on postoperative days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 30 were correlated with postoperative surgical complications. RESULTS: Both WBC and NEU were correlated with leak or abscess on postoperative days 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, whereas on day 1, only NEU was significantly increased. Elevated CRP was correlated with leak or abscess on all the days (p < 0.001). The parameters measured were not correlated with postoperative bleeding unless leak or abscess coexisted. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, CRP detected leak or abscess with remarkably higher sensitivity and specificity than WBC or NEU on all the days. Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC) of CRP was higher than the AUC of WBC or NEU, suggesting important statistical significance. On day 1, WBC and NEU achieved 77.8 and 78.3 % sensitivity, respectively, and an even lower specificity (68.4 and 52.6 %), whereas a CRP cutoff at 150 mg/l achieved 83.2 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity. On day 3, the sensitivity and specificity of CRP reached 100 % (cutoff level, 200 mg/l), and on day 5, CRP achieved 83.2 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity (cutoff level, 150 mg/l), whereas for WBC and NEU, specificity was high (>92 %), but sensitivity did not exceed 78.2 %. CONCLUSION: Because CRP detected leak or abscess after LSG with remarkably higher sensitivity and specificity than WBC or NEU, CRP seems to be a more accurate market for the early detection of these complications.

Transanal polypectomy using single incision laparoscopic instruments.

Transanal excision of rectal polyps with laparoscopic instrumentation and a single incision laparoscopic port is a novel technique that uses technology originally developed for abdominal procedures from the natural orifice of the rectum. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a well established surgical approach for certain benign or early malignant lesions of the rectum, under specific indications. Our technique is a hybrid technique of transanal surgery, a reasonable method for polyp resection without the need of the sophisticated and expensive instrumentation of TEM which can be applied whenever endoscopic or conventional transanal surgical removal is not feasible.

Predictive value of procalcitonin for bowel ischemia and necrosis in bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, the predictive value of procalcitonin for bowel strangulation has been evaluated in only 2 experimental studies that had conflicting results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of procalcitonin for early diagnosis of intestinal ischemia and necrosis in acute bowel obstruction. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 242 patients with small- or large-bowel obstructions in 2005. A total of 100 patients who underwent operation were divided into groups according to the presence of ischemia (reversible and irreversible) and necrosis, respectively, as follows: ischemia (n = 35) and nonischemia groups (n = 65) and necrosis (n = 22) and nonnecrosis groups (n = 78). Data analyzed included age, sex, vital signs, symptoms, clinical findings, white blood cell count, base deficit, metabolic acidosis, procalcitonin levels on presentation, the time between symptom onset and arrival at the emergency department and the time between arrival and operation, and the cause of the obstruction. RESULTS: Procalcitonin levels were greater in the ischemia than the nonischemia group (9.62 vs 0.30 ng/mL; P = .0001) and in the necrosis than the non-necrosis group (14.53 vs 0.32 ng/mL; P = .0001). Multivariate analysis identified procalcitonin as an independent predictor of ischemia (P = .009; odds ratio, 2.252; 95% confidence interval, 1.225-4.140) and necrosis (P = .005; odds ratio, 2.762; 95% confidence interval, 1.356-5.627). Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) of procalcitonin for ischemia and necrosis was 0.77 and 0.87, respectively. A high negative predictive value for ischemia and necrosis of procalcitonin levels <0.25 ng/mL (83% and 95%, respectively) and a positive predictive value of procalcitonin >1 ng/mL were identified (95% and 90%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Procalcitonin on presentation is very useful for the diagnosis or exclusion of intestinal ischemia and necrosis in acute bowel obstruction and could serve as an additional diagnostic tool to improve clinical decision-making.

Psychiatric disorder associated with vacuum-assisted breast biopsy clip placement: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy is a minimally invasive technique that has been used increasingly in the treatment of mammographically detected, non-palpable breast lesions. Clip placement at the biopsy site is standard practice after vacuum-assisted breast biopsy. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 62-year-old woman with suspicious microcalcifications in her left breast. The patient was informed about vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, including clip placement. During the course of taking the patient's history, she communicated excellently, her demeanor was normal, she disclosed no intake of psychiatric medication and had not been diagnosed with any psychiatric disorders. Subsequently, the patient underwent vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (11 G) under local anesthesia. A clip was placed at the biopsy site. The pathological diagnosis was of sclerosing adenosis. At the 6-month mammographic follow-up, the radiologist mentioned the existence of the metallic clip in her breast. Subsequently, the woman presented complaining about "being spied [upon] by an implanted clip in [her] breast" and repeatedly requested the removal of the clip. The patient was referred to the specialized psychiatrist of our breast unit for evaluation. The Mental State Examination found that systematized paranoid ideas of persecutory type dominated her daily routines. At the time, she believed that the implanted clip was one of several pieces of equipment being used to keep her under surveillance, the other equipment being her telephone, cameras and television. Quite surprisingly, she had never had a consultation with a mental health professional. The patient appeared depressed and her insight into her condition was impaired. The prevalent diagnosis was schizotypal disorder, whereas the differential diagnosis comprised delusional disorder of persecutory type, affective disorder with psychotic features or comorbid delusional disorder with major depression. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a psychiatric disorder being brought to the fore using a vacuum-assisted breast biopsy clip. Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, and breast biopsy in general, represent a significant experience, encompassing anxiety and pain; it may thus aggravate psychiatric conditions. Apart from these well-established factors, other aspects, such as the clip, may occasionally become significant. In a modern breast unit, the evaluation of patients should be multidisciplinary. A psychiatrist may be needed for optimal management of anxiety-related issues, as well as for the detection of psychiatric disorders.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in nonpalpable solid breast lesions without microcalcifications: the Greek experience.

PURPOSE: To present the initial Greek experience with vacuumassisted breast biopsy (VABB) in the diagnosis of nonpalpable solid mammographic lesions without microcalcifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 83 VABB procedures (using a Fischer table and 11-guage Mammotome probes) in an 18- month period on women with nonpalpable solid breast tumors. We performed VABB procedures on women with breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) categories 3 and 4. VABB procedures excised more than 24 cores. RESULTS: Eighty-three women with nonpalpable lesions identified on mammography were evaluated; 42.2% were BI-RADS category 3, and 57.8% were BI-RADS 4. Of all solid tumors excised, 83.1% were benign, 3.6% were precursor lesions, and 13.3% of the lesions were malignant. No underestimation occurred. Clinically important hematoma developed in 4.8% of cases. CONCLUSION: VABB is an effective method for the diagnosis of nonpalpable solid lesions because of the lack of underestimation, although it is technically more difficult to focus on lesions without microcalcifications than those with microcalcifications on the Fischer table.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in close proximity to the skin: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy is a minimally invasive technique used increasingly for the assessment of mammographically detected, non-palpable breast lesions. The effectiveness of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy has been demonstrated on lesions both with and without microcalcifications. Given that the position of the lesion represents a major factor in stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, targeting lesions in close proximity to the skin (superficial lesions) has been described as a problematic issue. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old woman presented with a newly developed, non-palpable lesion in her left breast. The lesion consisted of widely spread microcalcifications located approximately 5 mm from the skin. The lesion was isoechoic on ultrasound examination. Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy was scheduled (on the Fischer's table, using 11-gauge probes, under local anaesthesia). The vacuum-assisted breast biopsy probe was inserted antidiametrically into the breast, the probe reached the lesion and effort was made to excise the microcalcifications. As only a small proportion of the microcalcifications were excised an accurate diagnosis could not be expected. However, with the probe having entered the breast antidiametrically, the probe tip underlying the skin could be palpated. Following the palpation of the tip, the exact point was marked by a pen, the probe was removed and the patient was transferred to the surgery room to have the remaining lesion removed by a spindle-form excision under local anaesthesia. The mammogram of the removed specimen confirmed the total excision of the suspicious microcalcifications. CONCLUSION: Isoechoic superficial lesions can be localized with a hook-wire and open breast biopsy under general or local anaesthesia can be performed. However, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy might offer an alternative solution and serve as an alternative approach to localize the lesion. The clinical significance of the present exploratory effort remains to be assessed in the future.

Outcome analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients aged 80 years and older with complicated gallstone disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in octogenarians with complicated gallstone disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 51 patients aged 80 years or older who underwent an LC for complicated gallstone disease between 2001 and 2006. This group was compared with 41 octogenarian patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease. RESULTS: There were 51 patients (26 men) with a median (range) age of 87 years (range, 80-93) who underwent an LC for complicated biliary disease, including acute cholecystitis in 29 (57%), gallstone pancreatitis in 14 (27%), cholangitis in 4 (7.8%), and obstructive jaundice in 4 (7.8%). Significantly more patients in the complicated disease group underwent preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (33.3% vs. 12.1%; P = 0.026) The median operative time was 110 minutes (range, 55-165) and this was significantly longer, compared to the uncomplicated disease group (P = 0.031). Postoperative morbidity was 27.3%, a significantly higher rate, compared to the uncomplicated group (27.4% vs. 7.3%; P = 0.015) with zero mortality. The conversion rate was 7.8% and this was not significantly different from the uncomplicated disease group. The median length of hospital stay was 6 days, which was significantly longer than the uncomplicated disease group (P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: The LC can be performed with acceptable morbidity in octogenarians with complicated gallstone disease. Early treatment of gallstone disease in this age group could further improve outcomes.

Secondary breast lymphoma diagnosed by vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Breast lymphoma, either as a manifestation of primary extranodal disease or as secondary involvement, is a rare malignancy, and its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment have not been clearly defined. On the other hand, Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is a minimally invasive technique with ever-growing use for the diagnosis of mammographically detected, non-palpable breast lesions. CASE PRESENTATION: A symptom-free, 56-year-old woman presented with a non-palpable BI-RADS 4B lesion without microcalcifications. She had a positive family history for breast cancer and a history of atypical ductal hyperplasia in the ipsilateral breast four years ago. She reported having been treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma 12 years ago. With the suspicion of breast cancer, mammographically guided VABB with 11-gauge probe (on the stereotactic Fisher's table) was performed. VABB made the diagnosis of a non-Hodgkin, grade II, B-cell germinal-center lymphoma. VABB yielded enough tissue for immunohistochemistry/WHO classification. CONCLUSION: This is the first case in the literature demonstrating the successful diagnosis of breast lymphoma by VABB, irrespectively of the level of clinical suspicion. It should be stressed that VABB was able to yield enough tissue for WHO classification. In general, lymphoma should never be omitted in the differential diagnosis, since no pathognomonic radiologic findings exist for its diagnosis.

Bilateral synchronous breast carcinomas followed by a metastasis to the gallbladder: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is usually associated with metastases to lungs, bones and liver. Breast carcinoma metastasizing to the gallbladder is very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old woman presented with bilateral synchronous breast lesions. A palpable, retroareolar solid lesion of diameter equal to 5 cm was present in the right breast, and a newly developed, non-palpable lesion with microcalcifications (diameter equal to 0.7 cm) was present in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. Modified radical mastectomy was performed on the right breast and lumpectomy after hook-wire localization was performed on the left breast, combined with lymph node dissection in both sides. The pathological examination revealed invasive lobular carcinoma grade II in the right breast and invasive ductal carcinoma grade I in the left breast. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, trastuzumab and letrozole were appropriately administered. At her 18-month follow-up, the patient was free of symptoms; the imaging tests (chest CT, abdominal U/S, bone scan), biochemical tests, blood cell count and tumor markers were also normal. At the 20th month after surgery however, the patient developed symptoms of cholecystitis and underwent cholecystectomy. The histopathological examination revealed metastasis of the lobular carcinoma to the gallbladder. CONCLUSION: This extremely rare case confirms on a single patient the results of large series having demonstrated the preferential metastasis of lobular breast cancer to the gallbladder. Symptoms of cholecystitis should not be neglected in such patients, as they might indicate metastasis to the gallbladder.

Fecopneumothorax: a rare complication of esophagectomy.

Intrathoracic colon herniation after esophagectomy is rare. Furthermore, fecopneumothorax is an extremely infrequent clinical entity. We believe this is the first report in the literature of a patient with fecopneumothorax due to diverticular perforation of intrathoracically herniated transverse colon 2 months after transthoracic esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastric anastomosis. The relative literature addressing cause, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and prevention of this life-threatening complication of esophagectomy is reviewed.

Lipoma induced jejunojejunal intussusception.

Intussusception in adults is rare. The clinical picture of intussusception in adults is subtle and the diagnosis is, therefore, elusive. The presence of a structural abnormality in the great majority of the adult cases mandates high clinical suspicion. Gastrointestinal lipomas are rare benign tumors and intussusception due to a gastrointestinal lipoma constitutes an infrequent clinical entity. The present report describes a case of jejunojejunal intussusception in an adult with a history of severe episodes of hematochezia and colicky upper abdominal pain. The diagnosis was suspected preoperatively but computed tomography scan could not rule out malignancy. Exploratory laparotomy revealed jejunojejunal intussusception secondary to a lipoma which was successfully treated with segmental intestinal resection.

Acute mechanical bowel obstruction: clinical presentation, etiology, management and outcome.

AIM: To identify and analyze the clinical presentation, management and outcome of patients with acute mechanical bowel obstruction along with the etiology of obstruction and the incidence and causes of bowel ischemia, necrosis, and perforation. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study of all adult patients admitted with acute mechanical bowel obstruction between 2001 and 2002. RESULTS: Of the 150 consecutive patients included in the study, 114 (76%) presented with small bowel and 36 (24%) with large bowel obstruction. Absence of passage of flatus (90%) and/or feces (80.6%) and abdominal distension (65.3%) were the most common symptoms and physical finding, respectively. Adhesions (64.8%), incarcerated hernias (14.8%), and large bowel cancer (13.4%) were the most frequent causes of obstruction. Eighty-eight patients (58.7%) were treated conservatively and 62 (41.3%) were operated (29 on the first day). Bowel ischemia was found in 21 cases (14%), necrosis in 14 (9.3%), and perforation in 8 (5.3%). Hernias, large bowel cancer, and adhesions were the most frequent causes of bowel ischemia (57.2%, 19.1%, 14.3%), necrosis (42.8%, 21.4%, 21.4%), and perforation (50%, 25%, 25%). A significantly higher risk of strangulation was noticed in incarcerated hernias than all the other obstruction causes. CONCLUSION: Absence of passage of flatus and/or feces and abdominal distension are the most common symptoms and physical finding of patients with acute mechanical bowel obstruction, respectively. Adhesions, hernias, and large bowel cancer are the most common causes of obstruction, as well as of bowel ischemia, necrosis, and perforation. Although an important proportion of these patients can be nonoperatively treated, a substantial portion requires immediate operation. Great caution should be taken for the treatment of these patients since the incidence of bowel ischemia, necrosis, and perforation is significantly high.

Fracture of the spike of the circular stapler: an unexpected cause of conversion of a laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty.

Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (LVGB), is a safe and efficient bariatric operation, with low intraoperative complications. We report an unusual cause of conversion of a LVGB to an open procedure due to the fracture of the spike of the circular stapler during gastric penetration.