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.

Surgical Management of Failed Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) Reversal: A Case Study.

With the growing obesity epidemic, surgeons are performing more bariatric surgeries, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) reversals. Although studies have identified indications for RYGB reversals, little information is available about the long-term effects of the procedure. We wish to highlight a case with long-term complications of RYGB reversal and subsequent management. We present a patient with multiple abdominal surgeries including an RYGB reversal that was complicated by a stenosed gastrogastric anastomosis that caused several gastrojejunostomy ulcerations and malnutrition secondary to intractable nausea and vomiting. A 51-year-old female with a complex surgical history including a simple RYGB reversal in 2019 presented to the ER with complaints of abdominal pain, uncontrolled diarrhea, and an inability to tolerate food for six months. Workup revealed multiple marginal ulcers at the remnant jejunum attached to the gastric pouch, and a stenosed gastrogastrostomy placed high along the cardia of the remnant stomach and pouch. This stenosis resulted in a nonfunctional, nondependent reversal that only drained when filled. Ultimately, a large gastrotomy was performed, and an endoscope was utilized to identify a small pinhole connection between the patient's pouch and the remnant stomach along the superomedial portion of the remnant stomach's fundus. The anvil of a 60 mm GIA black load stapler was guided through and fired twice to come across the stricture. After the stricture was completely crossed, the endoscope was passed through, confirming that it was widely patent. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on postoperative day 15 before being discontinued at her follow-up visit. She reported that she had been gaining weight and eating well. Long-term complications following RYGB reversal are not well-discussed in the literature. This case offers insight into such complications, discusses the surgical technique utilized to fix them, and calls for further research on the topic to better inform surgeons and patients alike.