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Technical aspects of single-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SILSG) vary depending on surgeon’s experience and availability of surgical equipment. We have performed more than 3000 SILSGs using standardized technique with left hypochondrium or transumbilical access. The aim of this study is to describe the SILSG technique in a stepwise manner providing technical tips and pitfalls for a left hypochondrium or transumbilical approach and report results of SILSG experience in a tertiary referral bariatric center. A detailed description of left hypochondrium and transumbilical SILSG is provided. Data from all consecutive patients who underwent SILSG between August 2010 and August 2017 were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed and reported. One thousand eight hundred patients underwent SILSG, from which 384 (21.3%) using a transumbilical approach. Mean age was 42.3 years, median BMI 45.3 kg/m2, and median operative time 88 min. An additional port was required in 89 patients (4.9%). Postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 0.05% and 7.5%, respectively. Relaparoscopy and/or endoscopic treatment were required for intra-abdominal bleeding in 27 patients (1.5%) and staple-line leakage in 35 patients (1.9%). Mean excess weight losses were 71.1%, 73.7%, and 70.4% at 1, 2, and 4 years after SILSG, respectively. Two years after SILSG, sustained statistical significant remission of major obesity-related comorbidities was noted. Incisional hernia occurred in 39 patients (2.1%). The use of specific instruments allows standardization of left hypochondrium SILSG, which can be routinely performed for the treatment of severe obesity. Transumbilical approach for SILSG should be reserved for well-selected patients and experienced bariatric surgeons.

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has become the most frequent bariatric procedure and staple-line leak represents its most feared complication. Visceral obesity, a core component of the metabolic syndrome, has been associated with worst postoperative outcomes after various abdominal surgical procedures, and can be estimated by computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of radiologically determined visceral obesity in the risk of staple-line leak after SG. A retrospective analysis of a prospective database was performed in consecutive patients undergoing SG. Several anthropometric variables were measured on a preoperative CT scan. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine preoperative risk factors for staple-line leak. During the study period, 377 patients were included in the analysis. The median BMI was 39.7 kg/m2 (36.5–43.5) and 8 patients (2.1%) presented a gastric leak. After multivariate analysis, visceral obesity defined by visceral fat area (VFA)/body surface area (BSA) ≥ 85 cm2/m2 was the only independent predictive factor for gastric leak (OR = 5312). CT scan–assessed visceral obesity defined by a VFA/BSA ratio ≥ 85 cm2/m2 is associated with an increased risk of gastric leak after SG. Preoperatively radiological examination in patients suspected of visceral obesity would be useful to optimize preoperative management.

Despite advances in treating gastric staple line leaks after bariatric surgical procedures, chronic leaks have been reported. Failure of their treatment frequently leads to radical surgery. We aimed to describe a strategy for preventing occurrence of chronic gastric leaks after complicated sleeve gastrectomy in patients necessitating relaparoscopy and external drainage as a first step of gastric leak management. METHODS: Data from 14 consecutive patients admitted for gastric leak after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Patients included underwent relaparoscopy and external drainage as first step of management. RESULTS: Median time to gastric leak detection was 4 days. Emergency relaparoscopy allowed peritoneal lavage and external drainage placement next to the leak. Median time between surgery and endoscopic internal drainage (EID) was 4 days. Progressive external drainage mobilization started after 2 days. Control endoscopy was performed every 4 weeks until healing. A median interval of 112 days was necessary before healing in 13 patients. Thirteen patients (92.8%) had no gastric leak recurrence at 1 year. In one patient, EID was considerably delayed and external drainage mobilization prolonged, leading to chronic gastric leak and total gastrectomy after 18 months. CONCLUSION: This study reports for the first time a well-standardized protocol of early EID after relaparoscopy coupled to rapid external drainage removal for effectively treating complicated cases of sleeve gastrectomy. Bariatric surgeons should be aware of such therapeutic strategies and include them in their arsenal against postoperative gastric staple line leaks in severely obese patients.

This report aims to review current data on single-incision (single-port) laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for bariatric surgery. A comprehensive research of Pubmed database and Cochrane library on SILS bariatric surgery was conducted. Twenty-eight articles met inclusion criteria (3611 patients). Intraoperative and clinical outcomes for SILS sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and adjustable gastric banding (AGB) seem comparable to conventional laparoscopy. SILS for SG was safe and feasible with good outcomes. The same stands for RYGB but more studies are necessary for safe conclusions, while additional trocars are necessary to perform the procedure. AGB is feasible and safe by SILS but the declining number of annual procedures will probably limit the use of SILS. Major studies are unavailable for SILS and other bariatric procedures.

Background: Submucosal tumors (SMTs) of the gastrointestinal tract are a rare pathological entity comprising a wide variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. Even if most SMTs are benign tumors (e.g., leiomyomas), a smaller portion may have a malignant potential (e.g., gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)). Preoperative diagnosis of SMT in bariatric patients may arise challenging clinical dilemmas. Long-term surveillance may be difficult after bariatric surgery. Moreover, according to SMT location, its presence may interfere with planned surgery. Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) has emerged as an effective approach for minimally invasive en bloc excision of SMTs. This is the first case series of STER for SMTs before bariatric surgery. Methods: Seven female patients underwent STER for removal of SMTs before bariatric surgery. All lesions were incidentally diagnosed at preoperative endoscopy. STER procedural steps comprised mucosal incision, submucosal tunneling, lesion enucleation, and closure of mucosal defect. Results: En bloc removal of SMT was achieved in all cases. Mean procedural time was of 45 min (SD 18.6). No adverse event occurred. Mean size of the lesions was 20.6 mm (SD 5.8). Histological diagnoses were 5 leyomiomas, 1 lipoma, and 1 low grade GIST. Bariatric procedure was performed after a mean period of 4.1 months (SD 1.6) from endoscopic resection. Conclusion: STER is a safe and effective treatment for the management of SMT even in bariatric patients awaiting surgery. Preoperative endoscopic resection of SMTs has the advantages of reducing the need for surveillance and removing lesions that could interfere with planned surgery. STER did not altered accomplishment of bariatric procedures.

As laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is becoming the most popular bariatric procedure worldwide, treatment options for managing complications, in particular gastric leaks, are also emerging. Staple line leak is a major short-term complication of the procedure. Patients with persistent gastric leaks after failure of endoscopic and radiologic management are candidates for salvage surgery. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y fistulo-jejunostomy (RYFJ) represents a surgical option to treat persistent gastric leak post-LSG. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman undergoing laparoscopic double RYFJ for persistent gastric leaks after complicated bariatric surgery. The patient developed two chronic gastric leaks (gastro-esophageal and cardial localizations) following conversion to sleeve gastrectomy for failed vertical banded gastroplasty. With the two leaks being refractory to endoscopic treatment 6 months later after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, salvage surgery was proposed. Surgery was performed laparoscopically, the gastric leak orifices were identified after careful dissection, and a double RYFJ was successfully completed. Postoperative course was uneventful. The patient remains in good health 6 months after surgery. Double LRYFJ for chronic leaks after complicated bariatric procedures seems safe with good postoperative outcomes. However, it remains a challenging procedure and should be reserved for selected patients in specialized bariatric centers.

During the last decade, laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP) has been used as a bariatric procedure for the treatment of obesity, regarded as less invasive and less expensive than other surgical bariatric procedures. We aimed to systematically review the literature and highlight recent clinical data regarding outcomes of LGCP in the treatment of obesity. A comprehensive research of Pubmed database on LGCP was performed. The search was conducted on the first of May 2020 and was not limited to any date range. Outcomes of interest were surgical technique, postoperative complications, weight loss outcomes, comorbidities improvement or resolution, and revisional surgeries after technical failure or weight regain. Fifty-three articles were eligible for inclusion, with 3103 patients undergoing LGCP (mean age: 13.8–55 years). Mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) ranged from 31.2 to 47.8 kg/m2. Mean operative time ranged from 48 to 193 min. Length of hospital stay ranged from 0.75 to 7.2 days. Most studies provided postoperative follow-up up to 12 months. Mean percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) ranged from 30.2 to 71.1% and 35 to 77.1% at 6 and 12 months post-LGCP, respectively. Only one study followed patients for more than 10 years and mean %EWL at 1, 5, and 10 years was 67%, 55%, and 42%, respectively. LGCP seems to be an acceptable surgical procedure for the treatment of obesity, especially in centers having a low medical budget. However, most existing comparative studies report superiority of LSG regarding weight loss.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a widely accepted stand-alone bariatric operation. Data on adolescent patients undergoing LSG are limited. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that LSG is safe and effective for patients strictly under 18 years old with severe obesity. Prospectively collected data from consecutive patients undergoing LSG were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with more than 1-year follow-up were included in the analysis for weight loss and comorbidity evaluation. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated using the Short-Form 36 questionnaire. Eighty-four patients under 18 years old (range: 15–17 years) underwent LSG. Median weight was 128 kg and median body mass index (BMI) 43.7 kg/m2. Median duration of surgery was 68.5 min. One major complication was recorded: a patient developed severe pneumonia that necessitated ventilatory support in intensive care unit and intravenous antibiotic treatment. Mortality was null. Median length of hospital stay was 4 days. Six, 12, and 24 months after LSG, median BMI decreased significantly to 34.3, 29.8, and 28.8 kg/m2, respectively (p

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are cornerstone in multimodal analgesia protocols. This point is of great value in morbidly obese patients due to the high prevalence of restrictive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that NSAIDs do not increase acute bariatric surgery complications while optimizing postoperative analgesia. Databases of two medical centers were retrospectively reviewed to find all patients who underwent bariatric surgery between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. Inclusion criteria were BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 and age of 16–75 years old. Patients who suffered from severe organ failure or coagulation disorders were excluded. Patient’s demographics, obesity-related diseases (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia), postoperative pain scores, and morphine consumption in PACU, as well as early and late surgical complications, were collected. Patients included from the first institution (where NSAIDs analgesia was prohibited: control group) were compared to patients from the second institution (where NSAIDs analgesia was mandatory: case group). The study population included 270 patients, 134 in the control group, and 136 in the case group. NSAIDs usage produced better analgesia with significant reduction in morphine consumption and PACU length of stay. Also, incidence of surgical complications was the same in the two groups. NSAIDs administration do not increase postoperative complication rate after bariatric surgery. Although NSAID administration provided better analgesia and shorter PACU stay, future prospective studies are needed to confirm these encouraging results and to evaluate their impact on postoperative rehabilitation.

Introduction: Postoperative collections are an important cause of morbidity following obesity surgery. Surgical revision is most often required if general sepsis is present. Conservative treatment consists of broad spectrum antibiotics and percutaneous drainage of any collection. EUS drainage is a new technique that is gaining momentum allowing an easy access to collections close to the GI tract. Materials and methods: We present the case report of a 39-year-old woman who underwent to robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity. She developed a jejuno-jejunal dehiscence treated with revision surgery. Afterward, a pelvic collection/hematoma was highlighted; however, neither percutaneous approach nor surgery succeeded in draining it. Results: EUS-guided deployment of a fully covered lumen-apposing metal stent was performed. Subsequently, two necrosectomies were required to remove necrotic tissue and clots from the perirectal cavity. Finally, three double pigtail stents were deployed to promote healing. The patient spontaneously expelled the stents with the stool, and she is asymptomatic after a follow-up of 3 months. Conclusion: EUS transmural rectal drainage may represent a sound option for the treatment of pelvic postoperative collections. FCLAMS deployment guarantees a rapid drainage allowing to perform an endoscopic necrosectomy.

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has become the primary procedure for many bariatric teams and staple-line leak represents its most feared complication. Sarcopenic obesity combines the risks of obesity and depleted lean mass leading possibly to an inferior surgical outcome after abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the existence of a potential link between radiologically determined sarcopenic obesity and staple-line leak risk after SG. A retrospective analysis of a prospective database was performed in consecutive patients undergoing SG as primary procedure. Total psoas muscles (TPA) and total visible muscles (TMA) areas were measured on a preoperative computed tomography (CT). Sarcopenia was defined as lowest tertile of skeletal muscular mass indexes (muscular areas over square of height) in each gender (using TPA or TMA). Multivariate analysis was performed to determine preoperative risk factors for staple-line leak. During the study period, 205 patients were included in the analysis. Median BMI was 40.8 kg/m2 (34.2–49.6), and 9 patients (4.4%) presented a gastric leak. The sex-specific cut-offs for skeletal muscular mass index according to TPA were 8.2 cm2/m2 for men and 6.08 cm2/m2 for women. After multivariate analysis, preoperative weight (OR = 1043) and sarcopenia (TPA) (OR = 5204) were independent predictive factors for gastric leak. The present series suggests that CT scan-determined sarcopenic obesity is associated with increased risk of gastric leak after SG. This preoperatively radiological examination would be a useful clinical tool to tailor patient management according to gastric leak risk.

Delayed intra splenic abscess after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a very rare complication with poor manifestations. We present three cases of delayed intrasplenic abscess which were managed in our departmentof minimal invasive surgery. Splenic abscess may occur in the early post-operative period following LSG; it is usually an extra splenic event after the gastric leak or an infected hematoma. In our cases, two patients had an asymptomatic ischemic demarcation in the upper part of the spleen. This underlines the possible role of ischemia as a factor in abscess formation of late intrasplenic abscesses that enhanced by a state of transient immune suppression. Intrasplenic abscess complicating laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is different from early extra splenic abscesses. The exact causes are still unclear; the role of partial splenic ischemia has to be rolled out.

Leaks are considered one of the major complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) with a reported rate up to 7 %. Drainage of the collection coupled with SEMS deployment is the most frequent treatment. Its success is variable and burdened by high morbidity and not irrelevant mortality. The aim of this paper is to suggest and establish a new approach by endoscopic internal drainage (EID) for the management of leaks. Since March 2013, 67 patients presenting leak following LSG were treated with deployment of double pigtail plastic stents across orifice leak, positioning one end inside the collection and the other end in remnant stomach. The aim of EID is to internally drain the collection and at the same time promote leak healing. Double pigtails stent were successfully delivered in 66 out of 67 patients (98.5 %). Fifty patients were cured by EID after a mean time of 57.5 days and an average of 3.14 endoscopic sessions. Two died for event not related to EID. Nine are still under treatment; five failure had been registered. Six patients developed late stenosis treated endoscopically. EID proved to be a valid, curative, and safe mini-invasive approach for treatment of leaks following SG. EID achieves complete drainage of perigastric collections and stimulates mucosal growth over the stent. EID is well tolerated, allows early re-alimentation, and it is burdened by fewer complications than others technique. Long-term follow-up confirms good outcomes with no motility or feeding alterations.

Severe obesity and metabolic syndrome have been implicated in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We evaluated the diagnostic value of liver stiffness measurement (LSM), by transient elastography (FibroScan®) in bariatric surgery candidates with suspected NAFLD. A total of 100 prospectively included consecutive severely obese subjects underwent bariatric surgery with liver needle biopsy. LSM was performed in the 15 days preceding liver biopsy. According to Kleiner’s classification, 28 patients had no fibrosis, 50 had stage F1 fibrosis, 13 had stage F2 fibrosis, and nine had stage F3 fibrosis. LSMs were higher in patients with fibrosis stage F ≥2, than in patients with a fibrosis stage below F2 (p