The Impact of Food Insecurity Rate on Bariatric Surgery Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Various factors impact outcomes following bariatric surgery. Lack of access to healthy food options (food insecurity [FI]) is another potential factor affecting outcomes. No prior studies have directly explored the relationship between residing in a high FI zip code and patient outcomes relating to weight loss after bariatric surgery. We hypothesized that living in a high FI zip code would be associated with decreased weight loss postsurgery. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study with 210 bariatric surgery patients at a tertiary referral center from January to December 2020. Patient weight and body mass index (BMI) were recorded at three time points: surgery date, 1 mo, and 12 mo postoperative. Residential addresses were collected, and FI rates for the corresponding Zip Code Tabulation Areas were obtained from the 2022 Feeding America Map the Meal Gap study (2020 data). RESULTS: The FI rate showed a negative correlation of -18.3% (95% confidence interval: -35% to -0.5%; P = 0.039) with the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) at 1 y. In multivariate analysis, preoperative BMI (P = 0.001), presence of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.008), and bariatric procedure type (P = 0.000) were significant predictors of %EWL at 1 y. After adjusting for confounding factors, including sex, preoperative BMI, insurance status, primary bariatric procedure, and emergency department visits, the increased FI rate (P = 0.047) remained significantly associated with a decreased %EWL at 1 y. CONCLUSIONS: Residing in a high FI, Zip Code Tabulation Areas correlated with a decreased %EWL at 1 y after bariatric surgery. These findings highlight the importance of assessing FI status in pre-bariatric surgery patients and providing additional support to individuals facing FI.

Disposable Gastrointestinal Scopes: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopes are an essential tool in the diagnosis, screening, and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration issued a news release, recommending that duodenoscope manufacturers and health care facilities phase out fully reusable duodenoscopes with fixed endcaps in lieu of duodenoscopes that are either fully disposable or those that contain disposable endcaps. With this study, we systematically reviewed the published literature on single-use disposable gastrointestinal scopes to describe the current state of the literature and provide summary recommendations on the role of disposable gastrointestinal endoscopes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For our inclusion criteria, we searched for studies that were published in the year 2015 and afterward. We performed a literature search in PubMed using the keywords, "disposable," "reusable," "choledochoscope," "colonoscope," "duodenoscope," "esophagoscope," "gastroscope," and "sigmoidoscope." After our review, we identified our final article set, including 13 articles relating to disposable scopes, published from 2015 to 2023. RESULTS: In this review, we show 13 articles discussing the infection rate, functionality, safety, and affordability of disposable gastrointestinal scopes in comparison to reusable gastrointestinal scopes. Of the 3 articles that discussed infection rates (by Forbes and colleagues, Ridtitid and colleagues, and Ofosu and colleagues), each demonstrated a decreased risk of infection in disposable gastrointestinal scopes. Functionality was another common theme among these articles. Six articles (by Muthusamy and colleagues, Bang and colleagues, Lisotti and colleagues, Ross and colleagues, Kang and colleagues, and Forbes and colleagues) demonstrated comparable functionality of disposable scopes to reusable scopes. The most reported functionality issue in disposable scopes was decreased camera resolution. Disposable scopes also showed comparable safety profiles compared with reusable scopes. Six articles (by Kalipershad and colleagues, Muthusamy and colleagues, Bang and colleagues, Lisotti and colleagues, Luo and colleagues, and Huynh and colleagues) showed comparable rates of AEs, whereas 1 article (by Ofosu and colleagues) demonstrated increased rates of AEs with disposable scopes. Lastly, a cost analysis was looked at in 3 of the articles. Two articles (by Larsen et al and Ross and colleagues) remarked that further research is needed to understand the cost of disposable scopes, whereas 1 article (by Kang and colleagues) showed a favorable cost analysis. CONCLUSIONS: After a review of the literature published since the 2015 Food and Drug Administration safety communication, disposable scopes have been shown to be effective in decreasing infection risks while maintaining similar safety profiles to conventional reusable scopes. However, more research is required to compare disposable and reusable scopes in terms of functionality and cost-effectiveness.

Preoperative comorbidities as a predictor of EBWL after bariatric surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of preoperative comorbidities, including depression, anxiety, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, and the type of surgery on %EBWL (percent estimated body weight loss) in patients 1 year after bariatric surgery. Patients who choose to undergo bariatric surgery often have other comorbidities that can affect both the outcomes of their procedures and the postoperative period. We predict that patients who have depression, anxiety, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, or hypothyroidism will have a smaller change in %EBWL when compared to patients without any of these comorbidities. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Data points were retrospectively collected from the charts of 440 patients from March 2012-December 2019 who underwent a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery. Data collected included patient demographics, select comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, depression, and anxiety, and body weight at baseline and 1 year postoperatively. Ideal body weight was calculated using the formula 50 + (2.3 × height in inches over 5 feet) for males and 45.5 + (2.3 × height in inches over 5 feet) for females. Excess body weight was then calculated by subtracting ideal body weight from actual weight at the above forementioned time points. Finally, %EBWL was calculated using the formula (change in weight over 1 year/excess weight) × 100. RESULTS: Patients who had a higher baseline BMI (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.026), hypothyroidism (p = 0.046), and who had a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy rather than Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (p < 0.001) had a smaller %EBWL in the first year after bariatric surgery as compared to patients without these comorbidities at the time of surgery. Controversially, patients with anxiety or depression (p = 0.73) or obstructive sleep apnea (p = 0.075) did not have a statistically significant difference in %EBWL. CONCLUSION: A higher baseline BMI, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy may lead to lower %EBWL in the postoperative period after bariatric surgery. At the same time, patients' mental health status and sleep apnea status were not related to %EBWL. This study provides new insight into which comorbidities may need tighter control in order to optimize weight loss outcomes after bariatric surgery.

Endoscopic closure techniques of bariatric surgery complications: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Leaks following bariatric surgery, while rare, are potentially fatal due to risk of peritonitis and sepsis. Anastomotic leaks and gastro-gastric fistulae following Roux-En-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) as well as staple line leaks after sleeve gastrectomy have historically been treated multimodally with surgical drainage, aggressive antibiotic therapy, and more recently, endoscopically. Endoscopic clipping using over-the-scope clips and endoscopic suturing are two of the most common approaches used to achieve full thickness closure. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed to identify articles on the use of endoscopic clipping or suturing for the treatment of leaks and fistulae following bariatric surgery. Studies focusing on stents, and those that incorporated multiple closure techniques simultaneously, were excluded. Literature review and meta-analysis were performed with the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Five studies with 61 patients that underwent over-the-scope clip (OTSC) closure were included. The pooled proportion of successful closure across the studies was 81.1% (95% CI 67.3 to 91.7). The successful closure rates were homogeneous (I2 = 39%, p = 0.15). Three studies with 92 patients that underwent endoscopic suturing were included. The weighted pooled proportion of successful closure across the studies was shown to be 22.4% (95% CI 14.6 to 31.3). The successful closure rates were homogeneous (I2 = 0%, p = 0.44). Three of the studies, totaling 34 patients, examining OTSC deployment reported data for reintervention rate. The weighted pooled proportion of reintervention across the studies was 35.0% (95% CI 11.7 to 64.7). We noticed statistically significant heterogeneity (I2 = 68%, p = 0.04). One study, with 20 patients examining endoscopic suturing, reported rate of repeat intervention 60%. CONCLUSION: Observational reports show that patients managed with OTSC were more likely to experience healing of their defect than those managed with endoscopic suturing. Larger controlled studies comparing different closure devices for bariatric leaks should be carried out to better understand the ideal endoscopic approach to these complications.

The evidence behind robot-assisted abdominopelvic surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advancements, the advantage of robotic surgery over other traditional modalities still harbors academic inquiries. We seek to take a recently published high-profile narrative systematic review regarding robotic surgery and add meta-analytic tools to identify further benefits of robotic surgery. METHODS: Data from the published systematic review were extracted and meta-analysis were performed. A fixed-effect model was used when heterogeneity was not significant (Chi2 p ≥ 0.05, I2 ≤ 50%) and a random-effects model was used when heterogeneity was significant (Chi2 p < 0.05, I2 > 50%). Forest plots were generated using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: Robotic surgery had comparable overall complications compared to laparoscopic surgery (p = 0.85), which was significantly lower compared to open surgery (odds ratio 0.68, p = 0.005). Compared to laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery had fewer open conversions (risk difference - 0.0144, p = 0.03), shorter length of stay (mean difference - 0.23 days, p = 0.01), but longer operative time (mean difference 27.98 min, p < 0.00001). Compared to open surgery, robotic surgery had less estimated blood loss (mean difference - 286.8 mL, p = 0.0003) and shorter length of stay (mean difference - 1.69 days, p = 0.001) with longer operative time (mean difference 44.05 min, p = 0.03). For experienced robotic surgeons, there were less overall intraoperative complications (risk difference - 0.02, p = 0.02) and open conversions (risk difference - 0.03, p = 0.04), with equivalent operative duration (mean difference 23.32 min, p = 0.1) compared to more traditional modalities. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that compared to laparoscopy, robotic surgery may improve hospital length of stay and open conversion rates, with added benefits in experienced robotic surgeons showing lower overall intraoperative complications and comparable operative times.

Robotics vs Laparoscopy in Foregut Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Analyzing Hiatal Hernia Repair and Heller Myotomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery remains the mainstay of treating foregut pathologies. Several studies have shown improved outcomes with the robotic approach. A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic hiatal hernia repairs (HHR) and Heller myotomy (HM) repairs is needed. STUDY DESIGN: PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases were searched for studies published between January 2010 and November 2022. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROBINS-I tool. Assessed outcomes included intra- and post-operative outcomes. We pooled the dichotomous data using the Mantel-Haenszel random effects model to report odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) and continuous data to report mean difference (MD) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Twenty-two comparative studies enrolling 196,339 patients were included. Thirteen (13,426 robotic, 168,335 laparoscopic patients) studies assessed HHR outcomes, while nine (2,384 robotic, 12,225 laparoscopic patients) assessed HM outcomes. Robotic HHR had a non-significantly shorter length of hospital stay (LOS) [MD -0.41 (95% CI -0.87, -0.05)], fewer conversions to open [OR 0.22 (95% CI 0.03, 1.49)], and lower morbidity rates [OR 0.76 (95% CI 0.47, 1.23)]. Robotic HM led to significantly fewer esophageal perforations [OR 0.36 (95% CI 0.15, 0.83)], reinterventions [OR 0.18 (95% CI 0.07, 0.47)] a non-significantly shorter LOS [MD -0.31 (95% CI -0.62, 0.00)]. Both robotic HM and HHR had significantly longer operative times. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic and robotic HHR and HM repairs have similar safety profiles and perioperative outcomes. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to compare the two methods, given the low to moderate quality of included studies.

Impact of a Categorical AI System for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis on Breast Cancer Interpretation by Both General Radiologists and Breast Imaging Specialists.

Purpose To evaluate performance improvements of general radiologists and breast imaging specialists when interpreting a set of diverse digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) examinations with the aid of a custom-built categorical artificial intelligence (AI) system. Materials and Methods A fully balanced multireader, multicase reader study was conducted to compare the performance of 18 radiologists (nine general radiologists and nine breast imaging specialists) reading 240 retrospectively collected screening DBT mammograms (mean patient age, 59.8 years ± 11.3 [SD]; 100% women), acquired between August 2016 and March 2019, with and without the aid of a custom-built categorical AI system. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity across general radiologists and breast imaging specialists reading with versus without AI were assessed. Reader performance was also analyzed as a function of breast cancer characteristics and patient subgroups. Results Every radiologist demonstrated improved interpretation performance when reading with versus without AI, with an average AUC of 0.93 versus 0.87, demonstrating a difference in AUC of 0.06 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.08; P < .001). Improvement in AUC was observed for both general radiologists (difference of 0.08; P < .001) and breast imaging specialists (difference of 0.04; P < .001) and across all cancer characteristics (lesion type, lesion size, and pathology) and patient subgroups (race and ethnicity, age, and breast density) examined. Conclusion A categorical AI system helped improve overall radiologist interpretation performance of DBT screening mammograms for both general radiologists and breast imaging specialists and across various patient subgroups and breast cancer characteristics. Keywords: Computer-aided Diagnosis, Screening Mammography, Digital Breast Tomosynthesis, Breast Cancer, Screening, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Artificial Intelligence Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.

How Does Oversewing/Suturing (OS/S) Compare to Other Staple Line Reinforcement Methods? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Various staple line reinforcement (SLR) techniques in sleeve gastrectomy, including oversewing/suturing (OS/S), gluing, and buttressing, have emerged to mitigate postoperative complications such as bleeding and leaks. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials has demonstrated OS/S as an efficacious strategy for preventing postoperative complications, encompassing leaks, bleeding, and reoperations. Given that OS/S is the sole SLR technique not incurring additional costs during surgery, our study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes associated with OS/S versus alternative SLR methods. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we reviewed the literature and conducted fifteen pairwise meta-analyses of comparative studies, each evaluating an outcome between OS/S and another SLR technique. Thirteen of these analyses showed no statistically significant differences, whereas two revealed notable distinctions.

Hernia repair in the bariatric patient: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Repair options for ventral hernias in bariatric patients include performing a staged approach in which bariatric surgery is performed before definitive hernia repair (BS-first), a staged approach in which hernia repair is performed before bariatric surgery (HR-first), or a concomitant approach. OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aims to determine which surgical approach is best for bariatric patients with hernias. SETTING: PubMed, CENTRAL, and Embase databases. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to screen for all studies that focused on outcomes of patients who underwent both hernia repair and bariatric surgery, either simultaneously or separately. Exclusion criteria included hiatal and inguinal hernia studies, case reports, and case series. RESULTS: 27 studies fit our inclusion criteria after identifying 1584 studies initially. Seven comparative studies were included, enrolling 8548 staged patients (6458 BS-first) and 3528 concomitant patients. A total of 7 single-arm staged studies and 13 single-arm concomitant studies were also included. Data on hernia recurrence, mesh infection, reoperation, surgical site infections, seroma, bowel complications, and mortality were abstracted. The concomitant approach was associated with decreased odds of experiencing surgical site infections, reoperation, and seromas. The staged approach (BS-first) was associated with decreased odds of mesh infection. The single-arm studies suggest a lower incidence of hernia recurrence in a staged BS-first approach than in a concomitant approach. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest a concomitant approach is appropriate for hernias that the surgeon feels do not require mesh, while the staged (BS-first) approach is more appropriate if the hernia requires mesh placement.

Antral Preservation in Sleeve Gastrectomy Appears to Protect Against Prolonged Vomiting and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The optimal distance between the starting point of gastric transection and the pylorus during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), which can be referred to as the distance from pylorus (DFP), is controversial. No consensus exist for what DFP is considered antral preservation, and what DFP is considered antral resection. Some surgeons prefer shorter DFP to maximize excess weight loss percentage (EWL%), while others prefer longer DFP because they believe that it shortens length of stay (LOS) and protects against leaks, prolonged vomiting, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We sought to compare 6-cm DFP and 2-cm DFP in postoperative outcomes. In addition, we sought to evaluate the magnitude of any observed benefit through number needed to treat (NNT) analysis.

Mental health status as a predictor of emergency department visits and hospital readmissions post bariatric surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective cohort study aims to investigate emergency department (ED) visits and readmission after bariatric surgery among patients with a history of anxiety and/or depression. We predict that patients with a reported history of anxiety and/or depression will have more ED visits in the year following surgery than patients without a history of mental illness. METHODS: Data were collected from the charts of all consecutive patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery between March 2012 and December 2019. Data on baseline body mass index, mental health diagnosis and treatment and emergency department visits and hospital readmissions were retrospectively reviewed over the first year following surgery. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred ninety-seven patients were originally included in this study and 1113 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients with a history of depression (OR 1.23; 95% CI 0.87-1.73), anxiety (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.81-1.60), or both (OR 1.17; 95% CI 0.83-1.65) did not have a statistically significant increase in ED visits compared to patients without these disorders. Patients with a history of depression (OR 1.49; 95% CI 0.86-2.61), anxiety (OR 1.45; 95% CI 0.80-2.65) or both (OR 1.47; 95% CI 0.94-2.29) did not have a statistically significant increase in hospital readmissions in the first year after surgery compared to patients without these disorders. Patients treated with a sleeve gastrectomy were readmitted due to postoperative complications less frequently than those treated with other surgeries (OR 0.20; 95% CI 0.05-0.83). CONCLUSION: Patients with a history of anxiety, depression or both did not have an increased rate of emergency department visits and hospital readmissions within the first year following bariatric surgery. This contradicts current literature and may be due to the multidisciplinary program patients undergo at this study's home institution.

Omentopexy/Gastropexy (OP/GP) Following Sleeve Gastrectomy Might be an Effective 2-in-1 Method (Reinforcement and Fixation): A Meta-Analysis of 14 Studies and a Call for Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy can lead to dangerous complications as leaks and hemorrhage. In addition, it can lead to gastric twist/torsion, prolonged postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and de novo gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We aimed to study the efficacy of omentopexy/gastropexy (OP/GP) in the prevention of these postoperative complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and Google Scholar were queried in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data was analyzed using the Review Manager (RevMen) 5.4.1 software. Mantel-Haenszel statistical method and random effects analysis model were used in all meta-analyses. The odds ratio was used for dichotomous data. Subgroup analysis was done according to bougie size. Subgroup analysis according to the distance between the starting point of gastric transection and pylorus was not possible (limitation). Odds ratio and control event rate across studies were used to calculate the number needed to treat (NNT) with OP/GP for an additional beneficial outcome (prevention of adverse outcome) to occur. RESULTS: The initial search identified 442 records; 371 were found irrelevant after screening and were excluded. The remaining 71 reports were retrieved and assessed for eligibility. An additional 57 reports were excluded following an in-depth assessment. The remaining 14 studies were included in this meta-analysis; 8 were nonrandomized studies (NRSs) while 6 were randomized controlled trials. Most studies originated from a single country (limitation). A statistically significant decrease in favor of OP/GP was observed for all outcomes (bleeding, leaks, gastric twist/torsion, prolonged PONV 1 month postoperatively, and postoperative de novo GERD). Data was consistent across studies (low I2 ), and subgroup analysis according to bougie size revealed no subgroup differences. However, this study had 3 limitations that does not allow for strong conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Although the current literature lacks strong scientific evidence, this study suggests that omentopexy/gastropexy (OP/GP) may offer protection against bleeding and leaks as a staple line reinforcement method, as well as against gastric twist/torsion, prolonged postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and de novo gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as a staple line fixation method. Therefore, it is worthwhile to proceed with large-scale, multicenter, randomized controlled trials to reevaluate our findings. Furthermore, conducting a comparison between OP/GP and other staple line reinforcement techniques would be beneficial.

Efficacy of bariatric intervention as a bridge to cardiac transplant.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with heart failure (HF) are denied cardiac transplants due to inability to meet transplantation body mass index (BMI) criteria. Bariatric intervention, including surgery, medication, and weight loss guidance, may help patients lose weight and become eligible for transplantation. OBJECTIVE: We aim to contribute to the literature on the safety and efficacy of bariatric intervention on patients with obesity and HF who are awaiting cardiac transplantation. SETTING: University hospital, United States. METHODS: This was a mixed retrospective/prospective study. Eighteen patients with HF and BMI >35 kg/m2 were reviewed. Patients were divided based on whether they underwent bariatric surgery or nonsurgical intervention and whether they had left ventricular assist devices or other advanced heart failure therapy including inotropic support, guideline-directed medical therapy, and/or temporary mechanical circulatory support. Weight, BMI, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were collected before bariatric intervention and 6 months after bariatric intervention. RESULTS: No patients were lost to follow-up. Bariatric surgery led to statistically significant decreases in weight and BMI when compared with nonsurgical patients. At 6 months after intervention, surgical patients lost an average of 18.6 kg and decreased their BMI by 6.4 kg/m2 while nonsurgical patients lost 1.9 kg and decreased their BMI by .7 kg/m2. After bariatric intervention, surgical patients had an average LVEF increase of 5.9% and nonsurgical patients had an average decrease of 5.9%, although these findings lacked statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that bariatric intervention among patients with HF and obesity is a safe and effective method of weight and BMI reduction.

Oversewing/Suturing of the Staple Line During Sleeve Gastrectomy Is an Effective and Affordable Staple Line Reinforcement Method: a Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Bleeding and leaks are the most ominous postoperative complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Various staple line reinforcement (SLR) techniques have been innovated such as oversewing/suturing (OS/S), omentopexy/gastropexy, buttressing, and gluing. Currently, no high-quality evidence supports the use of one method over the others or even supports the use of SLR over no SLR. This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes between LSG with OS/S versus LSG without any SLR.

Spanish-language bariatric surgery patient education materials fail to meet healthcare literacy standards of readability.

BACKGROUND: The Hispanic population is the fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, contributing to nearly half of the population growth over the last decade. Unfortunately, this population suffers from lower-than-average health literacy rates, leading to poorer health outcomes. Per the American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health, patient education materials (PEMs) should be written at no higher than a 6th grade reading level. Given that US Hispanic adults have the second-highest obesity prevalence, this study aims to analyze the readability of Spanish-language PEMs regarding bariatric surgery available in US-based academic and medical centers. METHODS: A total of 50 PEMs were found via the query ""cirugía de pérdida de peso" site: (edu OR.org)" on the Google search engine. Thirty-nine sources met the inclusion criteria of belonging to a US-based academic or medical center and containing information regarding the indications for bariatric surgery, descriptions of the types of bariatric surgery, what to expect before and after surgery, or the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery. The excerpts were analyzed according to three readability formulas designed specifically for the Spanish language and evaluated for their reading grade level. RESULTS: All 39 sources were at the college reading level per the Fry graph corrected for Spanish. Per the Spaulding formula, 37 sources were "Grade 12 + " and two sources were "Grade 8-10." Per the Fernandez-Huerta formula, 16 sources were at the 8th/9th grade reading level, 22 sources were at the 7th grade reading level, and one was at the 6th grade reading level. CONCLUSION: The Spanish-language bariatric surgery PEMs available online from US-based academic and medical centers are generally above the recommended 6th grade reading level. Failure to meet the recommended sixth-grade reading level decreases health care literacy for Spanish-speaking patients within the United States seeking bariatric surgery.

Seamguard Buttressing of the Staple Line During Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Appears to Decrease the Incidence of Postoperative Bleeding, Leaks, and Reoperations. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Non-Randomized Comparative Studies.

Leaks and bleeding are major acute postoperative complications following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Various staple line reinforcement (SLR) methods have been invented such as oversewing/suturing (OS/S), omentopexy/gastropexy (OP/GP), gluing, and buttressing. However, many surgeons do not use any type of reinforcement. On the other hand, surgeons who use a reinforcement method are often confused of what kind of reinforcement they should use. No robust and high-quality data supports the use of one reinforcement over the other or even supports the use of reinforcement over no-reinforcement. Therefore, SLR is a controversial topic that is worth our focus. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of LSG with versus without Seamguard buttressing of the staple line during LSG.

Evaluating the Spanish readability of American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Centers of Excellence (COE) websites.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare disparities continue to be an ongoing struggle in Bariatrics. Limited availability of Spanish online material may be a correctible barrier for accessibility to Hispanic patients. We sought to evaluate accredited Bariatric Centers of Excellence (COE) for Spanish readability via their websites to determine accessibility for Spanish speakers. METHODS: This was an internet research study. 103 COE accredited by American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) were evaluated and assigned one of five Spanish Visibility Categories. The United States was divided into 4 regions. Regional Spanish visibility was calculated by dividing each category count by the number of institutions in each region. County Spanish-speaking populations were obtained from the US Census Bureau's 2009-2013 American Community Survey. Differences in their distributions across the Spanish Visibility Categories were investigated using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: 25% of websites were translatable to Spanish, and a regional discrepancy was found with 61% translatable in the West, 19% in Northeast, 19% in Midwest, and 15% in South. Median Spanish-speaking population was higher in counties where websites were translatable to Spanish than where websites were not translatable. CONCLUSION: Healthcare disparities in Bariatrics continue to be an ongoing struggle. We suggest that Spanish readability for ASMBS ACS COE websites should be improved regardless of geographic differences in Spanish-speaking populations. We believe it would be valuable for these websites to have standards for readability of Spanish and other languages.

Prediction models in hernia repair: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Hernias can present with unique challenges when it comes to management and repair. Prediction models can be a useful tool for clinicians to better anticipate and understand the severity of a hernia, the type of surgical technique, or presurgical planning that may be required to treat the patient, and the risk of complications. Our goal is to evaluate and consolidate prediction models in hernia repair present in the literature for which physicians can reference to best improve patient outcomes and postoperative management. METHODS: We performed a literature search in PubMed using keywords, "rectus width to defect width ratio," "predicting myofascial release," "computed tomography hernia repair prediction," "component separation radiology prediction hernia," "fat volume and hernia repair," "body morphometrics and Query hernia repair," "body morphometrics and reherniation," "computed tomography findings and risk of emergency hernia repair," "loss of domain and hernia radiology," and "volumetry and hernia repair." We searched for publications that used radiographic parameters to predict hernia severity, interventions, and outcomes. RESULTS: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), we found twenty-three studies related to prediction models in hernia repair published between 2000 and 2021. We summarized studies pertaining to predicting acute care, predicting operative planning with loss of domain and component separation, predicting complications, paraesophageal hernia predictions, and predicting postoperative respiratory complications. CONCLUSION: Radiographic prediction models can be an objective and efficient way for surgeons to analyze hernias and better understand a patient's situation so that they can inform patients about the best treatment options and the risk of complications.

Foregut Malignancy After Metabolic Surgery: a Literature Review.

Obesity is known to be epidemiologically associated with malignancy. Although there is an increasing global number of bariatric surgeries, the relationship between bariatric surgery and esophagogastric cancers is not well understood. Diagnosis of esophagogastric cancers following bariatric surgery is challenging because the presentation tends to be nonspecific and may be perceived as usual postoperative symptoms in bariatric patients. Therefore, the early diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. In addition, endoscopic investigation of the excluded stomach after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or a one-anastomosis gastric bypass is technically challenging, which further complicates the diagnosis. The aim of this study is to review the current evidence in the literature on esophagogastric cancers following bariatric surgery.