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Obesity is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases. The BioEnterics®Intragastric Balloon (BIB®) is used worldwide as a short-term (6 months) treatment in morbid obese patients. However, removal of BIB®past 6 months is a common occurrence in clinical practice often as a result of patient factors. The aim of the present Italian multicentre cohort study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the BIB®left in situ for more than 6 months. A total of eight Italian centres participated in the study. Participating centres received a standardised questionnaire designed to capture safety and efficacy data. Weight loss data, as well as date, and reason for removal of the BIB®after 6 months were recorded. Adverse events, including mortality and complications, operators’ subjective technical notes and findings, and difficulties during removal procedure were also collected. Six hundred and eleven patients were included. In the majority of cases, patient extended BIB®treatment due to satisfactory weight loss (44 %). At 6 months, all patients achieved a BMI statistically lower than the initial BMI (p< 0.001). There was a non-significant trend towards greater BMIL % in patients who underwent removal up to 15 months versus the results achieved up to 6 months. No major complications were recorded. Extending the duration of BIB®use up to 14 months safely maintains weight loss and satiety with greater results than that up to 6 months, without complications.

Confocal laser enables in vivo real-time histopathology of the mucosa layer of gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and the role of probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy in extemporary examination of staple rings of patients with colorectal cancer. This was a prospective, single-center pilot study. Patients who underwent end-to-end stapled surgical resection for colorectal cancer were included. Confocal imaging was analyzed with great attention to image quality evaluation of cellular morphology and cellular structures of the serosal, muscular, and mucosal layers of the doughnuts than comparing results with definitive histopathology. Twenty-six doughnuts were analyzed. Real-time video sequences were obtained in all patients, with a total of 204 mosaic images. For each doughnut, most of the images were adequate for evaluation of cellular morphology and cellular structure of the serosal, muscular, and mucosal layers. Perioperative assessment of doughnut tissues in patients with colorectal cancer by confocal laser endomicroscopy is feasible and safe. Prospective studies are warranted for further evaluation of the clinical impact of this technology during surgery.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has proven to be a safe and effective surgical treatment for morbid obesity. It can be a simple, fast, reversible, anatomy-preserving procedure. Despite these advantages, its long-term efficacy came into question by the occurrence of complications such as intragastric band migration. Consistent information regarding this complication is still lacking. Treatment for migration is still being debated as well. Most of the inconsistencies of these data stem from the very low number of patients reported in single-center experiences or case reports. Lack of multicenter experience is evident. The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of data on intragastric migration in a large multicenter cohort of patients who underwent LAGB.A retrospective multicenter study on LAGB patients was performed. Data had been entered into a prospective database of the Italian Group for LapBand®(GILB) since January 1997. Pars flaccida and perigastric positioning were considered along with different kinds of gastric bands by the same manufacturer. Time of diagnosis, mean body mass index (BMI), presentation symptoms, and conservative and surgical therapy of intragastric migration were considered.From January 1997 to December 2009, a total of 6,839 patients underwent LAGB and their data were recorded [5,660 females, 1,179 males; mean age 38.5 ± 18.2 years (range 21–62 years); mean BMI = 46.7 ± 7.7 kg/m2(range 37.3–68.3); excess weight (EW) 61.8 ± 25.4 kg (range 36–130); %EW 91.1 ± 32.4 % (range 21–112 %)]. A total of 177 of 6,839 (2.5 %) intragastric erosions were observed. According to the postoperative time of follow-up, the diagnosis of intragastric migration was made in 74 (41.8 %), 14 (7.9 %), 38 (21.4 %), 40 (22.6 %), 6 (3.4 %), and 4 (2.2 %) banded patients at 6–12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months after banding, respectively. Most of intragastric band migration during the first 2 years occurred in bands with no or a few milliliters of filling. In patients with late erosion, the bands were adjusted several times; no band was overfilled but one was filled to the maximum or submaximum with a maximum of two adjustments. Erosions diagnosed during the first 24 months were related to the experience of the surgical staff, while late erosions were not.Intragastric band migration or band erosion is a rare, disturbing, and usually not life-threatening complication of gastric banding. Its pathogenesis is probably linked to different mechanisms in early (technical failure in retrogastric passage) or late (band management) presentation. It is usually asymptomatic and there is no pathognomonic presentation. A wide range of therapeutic options are available, from simple endoscopic or laparoscopic removal to early or late band replacement or other bariatric procedure. More experience and more studies are needed to lower its presentation rate and definitively clarify its pathogenesis to address the right therapeutic option.

Abstract: Aim: Retrospective multicenter analysis of the results of two different approaches for band positioning: perigastric and pars flaccida.Methods: Data were collected from the database of the Italian Group for LapBand® (GILB). Patients operated from January 2001 to December 2004 were selected according to criteria of case–control studies to compare two different band positioning techniques: perigastric (PG group) and pars flaccida (PF group). Demographics, laparotomic conversion, postoperative complications, and weight loss parameters were considered. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Results: 2,549 patients underwent the LapBand System® procedure [age: 40 ± 11.7 years; sex: 2,130 female, 419 male; body mass index (BMI): 46.4 ± 6.9 kg/m2; excess weight (EW): 60.1 ± 23.6 kg; %EW: 90.1 ± 32.4]. During this period 1,343/2,549 (52.7%) were operated via the pars flaccida (PF group) and 1,206/2,549 (47.3%) via the perigastric approach (PG group). Demographics for both groups were similar. Thirty-day mortality was absent in both groups. Operative time was significantly longer in the PG group (80 ± 20 min versus 60 ± 40 min; p < 0.05). Hospital stay was similar in the two groups (2 ± 2 days). Laparotomic conversion was significantly higher in the PG group (6 versus 2 patients; p < 0.001). Overall postoperative complication rate was 172/2,549 (6.7%) and was linked to gastric pouch dilation/slippage (67/172), intragastric migration/erosion (17/172), and tube/port failure (88/172). Gastric pouch dilation and intragastric migration were significantly more frequent in the PG group: 47 versus 20 (p < 0.001) and 12 versus 5 (p < 0.001), respectively. Patients eligible for minimum 3-year follow-up were 1,118/1,206 (PG group) and 1,079/1,343 (PF group). Mean BMI was 33.8 ± 12.1 kg/m2 (PG group) and 32.4 ± 11.7 kg/m2 (PF group) (p = ns), and mean percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) was 47.2 ± 25.4 and 48.9 ± 13.2 in PG and PF groups, respectively (p = ns). Conclusions: Significant improvement in LapBand System® results with regard to laparotomic conversion and postoperative complication rate, with similar weight loss results, was observed in the pars flaccida group.

Abstract

Background: The Lap Band system procedure is currently the most common bariatric surgical procedure worldwide. This is an interim report of the experience of the 27 Italian centers participating in the national collaborative study group for Lap Band® (GILB). Methods: An electronic database was specifically created. It was mailed and e-mailed to all of the surgeons now performing the laparoscopic gastric banding operation in Italy. Results: Beginning in January 1996, 1893 patients were recruited for the study. There were 1534 women and 359 men with a mean body mass index (BMI) of (range 30.4-83.6) and a mean age of 37.8 10.9 years (range; 17-74). The mortality rate has been 0.53% (n = 10), mainly due to cardiovascular complications (myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism). The laparotomic conversion rate has been 3.1% (59/1893) and was higher in superobese patients (BMI>50) than in to morbidly obese patients (BMI <50) (p <0.05). Postoperative complications occurred in 193 patients (10.2%), including tube port failure (n = 79; 40.9%), gastric pouch dilation (GPD) (n = 93; 48.9%), and gastric erosion (n = 21, 10.8%). Most GPD (65.5%) occurred during the first 50 patients treated at each center. The incidence of GPD decreased as the surgeons acquired more experience. Surgery for complications was often performed by laparoscopic access, rarely via laparotomy. No death was recorded as a consequence of surgery to treat complications. Weight loss has been evaluated at the following intervals: 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months, with BMI 37.9, 33.7, 34.8, 34.1, 32.7, 34.8, and 32. Conclusions: The Lap Band system procedure has a very low mortality rate and a low morbidity rate and it yields satisfactory weight loss. Surgery for complications can be performed safely via laparoscopic access.