Impact of negative pressure wound therapy on enteroatmospheric fistulation in the septic open abdomen.

AIM: The effect of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the pathogenesis and outcome of enteroatmospheric fistulation (EAF) in the septic open abdomen (OA) is unclear. This study compares the development and outcome of EAF following NPWT with that occurring in the absence of NPWT. METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted with EAF following abdominal sepsis at a National Reference Centre for intestinal failure between 01 January 2005 and 31 December 2015 were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups based on those that had been treated with NPWT and those that had not (non-NPWT) and characteristics of their fistulas compared. Clinical outcomes concerning nutritional autonomy at 4 years and time to fistula development, size of abdominal wall defect and complete fistula closure were compared between groups. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients were admitted with EAF following a septic abdomen (31-NPWT and 129-non-NPWT). Median (range) time taken to fistulation after OA was longer with NPWT (18 [5-113] vs. 8 [2-60] days, p = 0.004); these patients developed a greater number of fistulas (3 [2-21] vs. 2 [1-10], p = 0.01), involving a greater length of small bowel (42.5 [15-100] cm vs. 30 [3.5-170] cm, p = 0.04) than those who did not receive NPWT. Following reconstructive surgery, nutritional autonomy was similar in both groups (77% vs. 72%) and a comparable number of patients were also fistula-free (100% vs. 97%). CONCLUSIONS: Negative pressure wound therapy appears to be associated with more complex and delayed intestinal fistulation, involving a greater length of small intestine in the septic OA. This did not, however, appear to adversely affect the overall outcome of intestinal and abdominal wall reconstruction in this study.

Minimally invasive techniques in the management of pilonidal disease.

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal sinus disease (PD) is a chronic condition involved in natal cleft. Excision surgery carries equally morbid course of recovery to that of disease itself. Minimally invasive treatments therefore have been developed to minimise morbidity and improve healing rates. This review looks at the literature on effectiveness of endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT) and compares that of the other minimally invasive techniques in practice. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and CINAHL databases were searched to look at the peer-reviewed articles on minimally invasive treatments on PD. Primary endpoint was to determine complication rates. Data were pooled using random effect model. Heterogeneity among studies was estimated with χ2 tests. Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager Version 5.1.2. RESULTS: Out of 371 papers, ten were retrieved for full appraisal. One randomised clinical trial (RCT) and four case series presented retrospective data on EPSiT. Five RCTs were on alternative minimally invasive treatments. Complication rate, return to work, wound healing rate and pain scores were superior in minimally invasive treatments compared to excision surgery. There was no statistically significant difference in complication rate or return to work in EPSiT compared to that of alternate minimally invasive techniques. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive treatments of pilonidal disease were found to be safe and effective compared to conventional techniques. It is also demonstrated that EPSiT is a safe alternative with a low short-term complication rate. Further randomised controlled trials are required to more accurately define its effectiveness and closely evaluate the side effect profile.

The chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction subtype has prognostic significance in patients with severe gastrointestinal dysmotility related intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Severe gastrointestinal dysmotility (GID) is a significant cause of chronic intestinal failure (CIF) with unclear benefits of sub-classifying into Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) and non-CIPO sub-types. We compared outcomes between CIPO and non-CIPO sub-types in a tertiary cohort of patients with CIF resulting from severe GID. METHODS: Adults with primary GID, commenced on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) over a 16-year period at a national referral centre, were included. All patients satisfied GID clinical criteria which mandated evidence of small bowel involvement either objectively (abnormal antroduodenal manometry) or pragmatically (failure to progress on small bowel feeding). Clinical outcomes including HPN dependency and survival were compared between CIPO and non-CIPO sub-types. RESULTS: Patients with primary GID requiring HPN (n = 45, age 38 ± 2, 33 females, 23/45 (51%) CIPO, 22/45 (49%) non-CIPO) were included. Patients with CIPO had more surgical interventions (P = 0.03), higher incidence of bacterial overgrowth (P = 0.006), greater parenteral energy (P = 0.02) and volume requirements (P = 0.05). Overall, during a mean 6 years' follow-up, 36/45 (80%) patients remained HPN dependent. Multivariate analyses confirmed that the non-CIPO sub-type (P = 0.04) and catheter related blood stream infections/1000 days (P = 0.01) were predictive factors for time to discontinuing HPN. Overall 5-year survival on HPN was 85%, with no difference between sub-types (P = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: The CIPO sub-type is associated with higher HPN dependency and should be recognized as a separate entity in severe GID. In multidisciplinary settings with continuous close monitoring of risks and benefits, our data confirm HPN is a safe, life-preserving therapy in severe GID related CIF.

Laparoscopic median gastrectomy for stenosis following sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become an established primary bariatric procedure. Gastric stenosis after LSG has been reported in a few studies and often occurs at the level of incisura or midbody because of a technical operative error and could be associated with a leak. This can be managed by endoscopic dilations or revision surgery. The objective of this study is to describe a novel technique to deal with sleeve stenosis and its outcome. METHODS: Two patients presented with sleeve stenosis after LSG and underwent a novel technique. The patients were followed up for 18 months. RESULTS: We describe a novel technique of laparoscopic median gastrectomy in 2 patients that involved resection of the stenotic segment followed by a hand-sewn, gastrogastric, end-to-end anastomosis. Both patients had successfully recovered from stenosis related symptoms, although one required an endoscopic dilation of the anastomosis. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic median gastrectomy is a feasible and effective option in patients who have failed conservative management of stenosis after LSG and in whom there is a desire to avoid seromyotomy or conversion to gastric bypass.

Late perforation at the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis after laparoscopic gastric bypass for morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: Although marginal ulceration and perforation at the gastrojejunal anastomosis is an established, albeit rare, risk after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) for morbid obesity, little is known about the risk of late perforation at the jejuno-jejunal (J-J) anastomosis. The objective of this study was to identify the incidence of J-J perforation and describe management options and sequelae. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the database of all patients who underwent LRYGB. The results are presented as mean (range) where appropriate. RESULTS: Between April 2002 and April 2012, 1652 patients underwent LRYGB (1577 primary and 75 revision procedures). The operative mortality was .18%. Three patients developed late perforation of the J-J anastomosis (.18%) at 7, 9, and 18 weeks, respectively. Two patients were managed with resection and reanastomosis of the perforation by laparotomy, and a third patient was managed laparoscopically with peritoneal lavage and transcutaneous tube jejunostomy of the perforation. All patients recovered well postoperatively. However, the third patient represented 42 days later with sepsis and died secondary to recurrent J-J ulcer perforation. CONCLUSION: Perforation of the J-J anastomosis is a rare and life-threatening delayed complication after LRYGB and usually presents within 2-8 months postoperatively. It poses difficulties with diagnosis and management and should be dealt with judiciously.

Incidence of perforated gastrojejunal anastomotic ulcers after laparoscopic gastric bypass for morbid obesity and role of laparoscopy in their management.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a well-established procedure to treat morbid obesity. Gastrojejunal anastomotic (GJA) ulcers can develop after surgery with subsequent perforation. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence, presentation and outcome of management of perforated GJA ulcer disease after laparoscopic RYGB. METHODS: The database of all patients at the senior author's bariatric institutions was retrospectively reviewed. The results are presented as mean (range). RESULTS: From April 2002 to April 2010, 1213 patients underwent laparoscopic RYGB, which included 1184 primary and 29 revision procedures. The operative mortality was .15%. Ten patients developed perforated GJA ulcers (.82%) at a mean of 13.5 (6-19) months. The patients who presented to bariatric surgeons (n = 5) were treated with laparoscopic closure and an omental patch, and those who presented to nonbariatric surgeons (n = 5) were treated with laparotomy. The morbidity and mortality rate was 30% and 10%, respectively, and the mean postoperative hospital stay for the survivors was 14 (5-44) days. CONCLUSION: Perforated GJA ulcers can develop in 1 of 120 patients after laparoscopic RYGB and can be effectively managed by laparoscopic repair with an omental patch, if expertise is available.