Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on global Bariatric surgery PRActiceS - The COBRAS study.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of data in scientific literature on the impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Bariatric Surgery globally. METHODS: We conducted a global online survey of bariatric surgeons between 16/04/20 - 15/05/20. The survey was endorsed by five national bariatric surgery societies and circulated amongst their memberships. Authors also shared the link through their personal networks, email groups, and social media. RESULTS: 703 respondents from 77 countries completed the survey. Respondents reported a drop in elective bariatric activity from a median (IQR) of 130 (60-250) procedures in 2019 to a median of 0 (0-2) between16/03/2020 and 15/04/2020 during the pandemic. The corresponding figures for emergency activity were 5 (2-10) and 0 (0-1) respectively. 441 (63%) respondents did not perform any bariatric procedures during this time period. Surgeons reported outcomes of 61 elective bariatric surgical procedures during the pandemic with 13 (21%) needing ventilation and 2 (3.3%) deaths. Of the 13 emergency bariatric procedures reported, 5 (38%) needed ventilation and 4 (31%) died. 90 (13%) surgeons reported having had to perform a bariatric surgical or endoscopic procedure without adequate Personal Protective Equipment. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 pandemic led to a remarkable decline in global elective and emergency bariatric surgery activity at its beginning. Both elective and emergency procedures performed at this stage of the pandemic had considerable morbidity and mortality.

Does weight gain, throughout 15 years follow-up after Nissen laparoscopic fundoplication, compromise reflux symptoms control?

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is defined by the abnormal presence of gastric content in the esophagus, with 10% incidence in the Western population, being fundoplication one treatment option. AIM: To evaluate the early (six months) and late (15 years) effectiveness of laparoscopic fundoplication, the long term postoperative weight changes, as well as the impact of weight gain in symptoms control. METHODS: Prospective study of 40 subjects who underwent laparoscopic Nissen's fundoplication. Preoperatively and early postoperatively, clinical, endoscopic, radiologic, manometric and pHmetric evaluations were carried out. After 15 years, clinical and endoscopic assessments were carried out and the results compared with the early ones. The presence or absence of obesity was stratified in both early and late phases, and its influence in the long-term results of fundoplication was studied, measuring quality of life according to the Visick criteria. RESULTS: The mean preoperative ages, weight, and body mass index were respectively, 51 years, 69.67 kg and 25.68 kg/m2. The intraoperative and postoperative complications rates were 12.5% and 15%, without mortality. In the early postoperative period the symptoms were well controlled, hernias and esophagitis disappeared, the lower esophageal sphincter had functional improvement, and pHmetry parameters normalized. In the late follow-up 29 subjects were assessed. During this period there was adequate clinical control of reflux regardless of weight gain. In both time periods Visick criteria improved. CONCLUSION: Fundoplication was safe and effective in early and late periods. There was late weight gain, which did not influence effective symptoms control.

Does weight gain, throughout 15 years follow-up after Nissen laparoscopic fundoplication, compromise reflux symptoms control? / O ganho do peso no seguimento de 15 anos após Nissen laparoscópico compromete o controle dos sintomas de refluxo?

ABSTRACT Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is defined by the abnormal presence of gastric content in the esophagus, with 10% incidence in the Western population, being fundoplication one treatment option. Aim: To evaluate the early (six months) and late (15 years) effectiveness of laparoscopic fundoplication, the long term postoperative weight changes, as well as the impact of weight gain in symptoms control. Methods: Prospective study of 40 subjects who underwent laparoscopic Nissen's fundoplication. Preoperatively and early postoperatively, clinical, endoscopic, radiologic, manometric and pHmetric evaluations were carried out. After 15 years, clinical and endoscopic assessments were carried out and the results compared with the early ones. The presence or absence of obesity was stratified in both early and late phases, and its influence in the long-term results of fundoplication was studied, measuring quality of life according to the Visick criteria. Results: The mean preoperative ages, weight, and body mass index were respectively, 51 years, 69.67 kg and 25.68 kg/m2. The intraoperative and postoperative complications rates were 12.5% and 15%, without mortality. In the early postoperative period the symptoms were well controlled, hernias and esophagitis disappeared, the lower esophageal sphincter had functional improvement, and pHmetry parameters normalized. In the late follow-up 29 subjects were assessed. During this period there was adequate clinical control of reflux regardless of weight gain. In both time periods Visick criteria improved. Conclusion: Fundoplication was safe and effective in early and late periods. There was late weight gain, which did not influence effective symptoms control.

RESUMO Racional: A doença do refluxo gastroesofágico é definida pela presença anormal do conteúdo gástrico no esôfago com incidência de 10% na população ocidental, sendo a fundoplicatura uma das opções de tratamento. Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade precoce (seis meses) e tardia (15 anos) da fundoplicatura laparoscópica, bem como a evolução ponderal pós-operatória em longo prazo, e o impacto do ganho de peso no controle tardio dos sintomas. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo com 40 indivíduos submetidos à fundoplicatura laparoscópica pela técnica de Nissen. No pré e pós-operatório precoce, foram realizadas avaliações clínica, endoscópica, radiológica, manométrica e pHmétrica. Após 15 anos, realizaram-se avaliações clínica e endoscópica, comparando-se os resultados com os da fase precoce. Estratificou-se a presença ou ausência de obesidade nestas fases e estudou-se sua influência nos resultados em longo prazo, mensurando-se a qualidade de vida pelos critérios de Visick. Resultados: As médias de idade, peso e do índice de massa corporal pré-operatórias foram 51 anos, 69.67 kg e 25,68 kg/m2. O índice de complicações intra e pós-operatórias foram 12,5% e 15%, sem mortalidade. No pós-operatório precoce houve controle dos sintomas, remissão das hérnias e esofagites, melhora funcional do esfíncter esofágico inferior e normalização dos parâmetros pHmétricos. No seguimento tardio, 29 indivíduos foram acompanhados. Nesta fase, houve adequado controle clínico do refluxo, independente do ganho de peso. Em ambas as fases houve melhora nos critérios de Visick. Conclusão: A fundoplicatura foi segura e efetiva, precoce e tardiamente. Houve ganho de peso tardio, o que não influenciou no controle efetivo dos sintomas.

Standard examination system for laparoscopy in penetrating abdominal trauma.

BACKGROUND: The high missed occult small bowel injuries (SBI) associated with laparoscopy in trauma (LIT) is a major reason why some surgeons still preclude LIT today. No standardized laparoscopic examination for evaluation of the peritoneal cavity is described for trauma. The objective of this article is to verify if a systematic standardized laparoscopic approach could correctly identify SBI in the peritoneal cavity for penetrating abdominal trauma (PAT). METHODS: Victims with PAT were evaluated in a prospective, nonrandomized study. A total of 75 hemodynamically stable patients with suspected abdominal injuries were operated by LIT and converted to laparotomy if criteria were met: SBI and lesions to blind spot zones--retroperitoneal hematoma, injuries to segments VI or VII of the liver, or injuries to the posterior area of the spleen. Inclusion criteria were equivocal evidence of abdominal injuries or peritoneal penetration; systolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg and <3 L of IV fluids in the first hour of admission; Glasgow Coma Scale score >12; and age >12 years. Exclusion criteria were back injuries; pregnancy; previous laparotomy; and chronic cardiorespiratory disease. RESULTS: Sixty patients were males and there were 38 stab wounds and 37 gunshot wounds. No SBI was missed, but a pancreatic lesion was undiagnosed due to a retroperitoneal hematoma. Twenty patients (26.6%) were converted. Unnecessary laparotomies were avoided in 73.33%. Therapeutic LIT was possible in 22.7%. Accuracy was 98.66% with 97.61% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Standard systematic laparoscopic exploration was 100% effective to detect SBI in the peritoneal cavity. Conversion from LIT to laparotomy should be done if injuries to blind spot zones are found which are poorly evaluated by LIT. Therapeutic LIT is feasible in PAT.

Hybrid transvaginal nephrectomy.

This case study reports one case of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) in a 23-yr-old woman with right flank pain and recurrent urinary tract infection due to a nonfunctional right kidney. She underwent nephrectomy by transvaginal NOTES using the endoscope by vaginal access and two additional 5-mm trocars in the abdomen. Total procedure time was 170 min and estimated blood loss was 350 cc. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged 12h after the procedure.

Thoracoscopic surgery in Brazil an overview

The video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) was introduced in Brazil in 1992 by LOSSO, GHEFTER and IMAEDA. Since its advent up to November 1994, 488 patients have been submitted to 497 VATS procedures in four Medical Centers of Säo Paulo city. The indications for the procedures were: lung diseases in 244 patients (50,0 percent), pleural diseases in 155 patients (31,7 percent), thoracic traumas in 42 patients (8,6 percent), mediastinal diseases in 35 patients (7,1 percent), cardiovascular diseases in 7 patients (1,4 percent), chest wall diseases in 3 patients (0,6 percent and esophageal diseases in patients (0,4 percent). Int her group of lung disease the most commonly used procedures were the lung biopsy in order to diagnose diffuse pulmonary disease and the indeterminate solitary nodule resection. Among the occurrences of pleural diseases, the most commonly used procedures were the pleurodesis with tale (tale poudrage) for the treatment of recurrent pleural effusion, the driven pleura biopsy and debridment or decortication of trapped lung in cases of pleural empyema. Concerning the mediastinal diseases, the pathology which was most frequently treated by VATS was the recurrent pericardic effusion through pericardiectomy. Among the patients presenting chest traumatic diseases, the WATS was used to explore thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries, to control bleeding, to remove elotted hemothorax, to suture diaphragm lesions and to remove intrapleural foreign bodies. Out of 497 procedures, there were 28 convertions to thoracotomy (5,7 por cento) and two deaths occurred all over the cases. The complications, limitations and growth related to this method as well as as overview of the VATS in Brazil will be presented

O tratamento inicial de pacientes hipovolêmicos: emprego da soluçäo hipertônica de NaCl a 7,5% / Initial treatment of hypovolemic patients with 7,5% solution of NaCl

Trinta e três pacientes admitidos ao Serviço de Emergência em choque hipovolémico (pressäo arterial média PAM < 60mmHg) foram distribuídos ao caso em grupo I (18 pacientes) que recebeu soluçäo hipertônica de NaCl a 7,5% por veia periférica, ou em Grupo II (15 pacientes) que recebeu soluçäo isotômica de NaCl, ambas infundidas na velocidade de 10 ml/min durante 15 minutos. Os pacientes näo recebiam outras soluçöes após a infusäo, a menos que a PAM diminuisse a níveis < 80 mmHg, ou quando o paciente era encaminhado para o centro cirúrgico. Os pacientes eram excluídos do estudo täo logo eles recebiam outros volumes. A PAM era medida de 2 em 2 minutos. A osmolalidade, o sódio, o hematócrito e as protéinas plasmáticas foram determinados antes e após a infusäo. A PAM apresentou uma elevaçäo significativa durante a infusäo (p < 0,001) em 15/18 pacientes do Grupo I, enquanto que a PAM no Grupo II näo atingiu o nível de 80 mmHg em nenhum paciente durante este período. Concluimos que a infusäo de soluçäo hipertônica de NaCl a 7,5% é eficiente no tratamento inicial de pacientes hipovolêmicos. O local da infusäo na veia periférica näo mostrou sinais inflamatórios durante evoluçäo dos pacientes