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Background: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding has been a popular bariatric surgery in the United States since the early 2000s. Over the years, various long-term complications have prompted removal of these devices. To avoid subsequent weight gain, explanation of the gastric band is often followed by concomitant or staged conversion to another bariatric procedure., Objective: It is our goal to evaluate the relative leak rate in 1- versus 2-stage adjustable gastric band conversion surgery., Setting: Private teaching hospital, United States., Methods: A search was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases to evaluate literature regarding adjustable gastric band conversion procedures. After identification of publications that directly compared 1- and 2-stage laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding conversions, the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to determine if they would be used in our meta-analysis. The risk ratio for leak in 1- versus 2-stage conversions was then calculated., Results: Our search yielded 483 publications. Twenty-five publications qualified for inclusion. The overall calculated risk ratio for leak in 1- versus 2-stage conversions was .90 (confidence interval [CI] .51-1.61, P = .73). Eight publications were found that discussed conversion from laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The risk ratio for 1- versus 2-stage conversions for this subgroup was .82 (CI .35-1.93, P = .65). Eight publications were found that evaluated conversion to sleeve gastrectomy. The risk ratio of leak for 1- versus 2-stage conversions for these patients was 1.61 (CI .55-4.72, P = .39)., Conclusions: Based on the results of this meta-analysis, there does not appear to be a significant difference in the overall leak rate between 1- and 2-stage adjustable gastric band conversions. The findings of our subgroup analysis suggest that there may be a safety advantage for 1-stage procedures when converting to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and 2-stage procedures when converting to sleeve gastrectomy., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The prevalence of morbid obesity in the United States has been steadily increasing, and there is an established relationship between obesity and the risk of developing certain cancers. Patients who have undergone prior gastric bypass (GB) and present with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer represent a new and challenging cohort for surgical resection of their disease. We present our case series of consecutive patients with previous GB who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE)., Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive patients with a history of GB who underwent a MIE for esophageal cancer between July 2010 and August 2012., Results: Five patients were identified with a mean age of 57 years. Mean follow-up was 9.1 months. Four patients had undergone laparoscopic GB, and 1 patient had an open GB. Two patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced disease. Minimally invasive procedures were thoracoscopic/laparoscopic esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis in 4 patients and colonic interposition in 1 patient. Mean operative time was 6 hours and 52 minutes. Median length of stay was 7 days. There was no mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients and included pneumonia/respiratory failure, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and pyloric stenosis. All patients are alive and disease free at last follow-up., Conclusions: Minimally invasive esophagectomy after prior GB is well tolerated, is technically feasible, and has acceptable oncologic and perioperative outcomes. We conclude that precise endoscopic evaluation before bariatric surgery in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease is essential, as is the necessity for continuing postsurgical surveillance in patients with known Barrett's esophagitis and for early evaluation in patients who develop new symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease after bariatric surgery., (Copyright © 2014 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Joint pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint of morbidly obese patients that can result in gait abnormalities, perceived mobility limitations, and declining quality of life (QOL). It is not yet known whether weight loss 3 months after bariatric surgery can induce favorable changes in joint pain, gait, perceived mobility, and QOL. Our objectives were to examine whether participants who had undergone bariatric surgery (n = 25; laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding) demonstrate improvements in joint pain, gait (speed, stride/step length, width of base of support, toe angles, single/double support, swing and stance time, functional ambulatory profile), mobility, and QOL by 3 months compared with nonsurgical controls (n = 20). The setting was an orthopedics laboratory at a university hospital in the United States., Methods: The present study was a prospective, comparative study. Numeric pain scales (indicating the presence and severity of pain), mobility-related surveys, and the Medical Outcomes Study short-form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36) were completed, and gait and walking speed were assessed at baseline and at month 3., Results: The bariatric group lost an average of 21.6 ± 7.7 kg. Significant differences existed between the 2 groups at month 3 in step length, heel to heel base of support, and the percentage of time spent in single and double support during the gait cycle (all P <.05). The severity of low back pain and knee pain decreased by 54% and 34%, respectively, with no changes in the control group (P = .05). The walking speed increased by 15% in the bariatric group (108-123 cm/s; P <.05) but not in the control group. Compared with the control group, fewer bariatric patients perceived limitations with walking and stair climbing by month 3. The bariatric group had a 4.8-cm increase in step length, 2.6% increase in single support time during the gait cycle, and 2.5-cm reduction in the base of support (all P <.05). The SF-36 physical component scores increased 11.8 points in the bariatric group compared with the control group, which showed no improvement by month 3 (P <.0001)., Conclusions: Improvements in some, but not all, gait parameters, walking speed, and QOL and of perceived functional limitations occur by 3 months after a bariatric procedure., (Copyright © 2012 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is highly prevalent in morbidly obese patients and a high body mass index is a risk factor for the development of this co-morbidity. The effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on GERD is poorly known., Methods: We studied the effect of LSG on GERD in patients with morbid obesity. A retrospective review of 28 consecutive patients undergoing LSG for morbid obesity from September 2008 to September 2010 was performed., Results: A total of 28 patients, 18 women and 10 men, were identified, with a mean age of 42 years (range 18-60). The mean weight and body mass index was 166 kg and 55.5 kg/m2, respectively. The mean percentage of excess weight loss was 40% (range 17-83), with a mean follow-up time of 32 weeks (range 8-92). All patients had a pre- and postoperative upper gastrointestinal radiographic swallow study as a part of their routine care. Of these patients, 18% were noted to have new-onset GERD on their postoperative upper gastrointestinal swallow test after their LSG procedure. Using the GERD score questionnaire, all patients were interviewed to evaluate their reflux symptoms. We had a 64% response rate, with 22% of patients indicating new-onset GERD symptoms despite receiving daily antireflux therapy. All respondents were extremely happy with their surgery and weight loss to date., Conclusion: LSG might increase the prevalence of GERD despite satisfactory weight loss. Additional studies evaluating esophageal manometry and ambulatory 24-hours pH-metry are needed to better evaluate the effect of LSG on gastroesophageal reflux symptoms., (Copyright © 2011 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Teaching of laparoscopic skills is a challenge in surgical training programs. Because of the highly technical nature and the steep learning curve, students and residents must learn laparoscopic skills before performing them in the operating room. To improve efficiency of learning and patient safety, research in simulation is essential. Two types of simulators currently in use include virtual reality and box trainers. Our study examined which simulator technique was most effective in teaching novice trainees laparoscopic techniques., Design: This is a prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled trial that enrolled fourth-year medical students and surgical interns to participate in a supervised 6-month laparoscopic training program with either computer simulators or box trainers. Subjects were randomized and trained on appropriate laparoscopic camera skills, instrument handling, object positioning, dissection, ligation, suturing, and knot tying. Students within one group were not allowed to practice, learn or train on the opposing trainers. At time points 0, 2, and 6 months all subjects completed a series of laparoscopic exercises in a live porcine model, which were captured on DVD and scored by blinded expert investigators., Results: Scores improved overall from the pretest to subsequent tests after training with no difference between the virtual reality and box simulator groups. In the medical students specifically, there was overall improvement, and improvement in the needle-transfer and knot-tying skills specifically, with no difference between the box simulator and virtual reality groups. For the interns, both groups showed significant overall improvement with no difference between the virtual reality and box simulator groups or on individual skills., Conclusions: We conclude that laparoscopic simulator training improves surgical skills in novice trainees. We found both the box trainers and the virtual reality simulators are equally effective means of teaching laparoscopic skills to novice learners., (Copyright © 2011 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Attempts to improve the third year surgery clerkship led to the implementation of faculty-led small group teaching instead of large group lecture-style dissemination of the general surgical curriculum. The intent was to facilitate better faculty-to-student relationships, provide more favorable balance between classroom and clinical surgery, and enhance overall surgical education., Methods: Didactic student sessions were reduced from 33 lectures to 8 small group sessions and surgical specialty lectures. A case-based surgical curriculum was utilized and students were organized into small groups led by assigned faculty members. A uniform schedule of topics was prearranged to ensure continuity and avoid duplication of material. The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) surgery subject examination raw score and percentile rank assignments were analyzed for 1 medical graduating class taught using the traditional method and compared with the subsequent class taught in small groups. A survey was administered to assess student and faculty regarding the new format., Results: Average NBME percentile rank score for students educated in small groups versus lecture-only groups improved significantly (61.2 vs 55.9, p = 0.04, Student t test). The students reported increased time spent preparing for small group over lecture and more satisfaction with the small group teaching environment. Faculty members reported an increase in time needed to deliver the session but otherwise gave strong positive feedback., Conclusions: Concerns that student performance on standardized testing would suffer from the proposed change were not substantiated as performance on NBME subject examinations actually improved. Additional preparation time, method preference, favorable balance of classroom to clinical exposure, and direct interactions with faculty may be responsible for the observed increase in NBME examination percentile scores. Faculty members were overwhelmingly in favor of the new model and the additional direct contact with students may prove beneficial in junior faculty promotion and career development., (Copyright © 2011 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Thoracic esophageal perforation after blunt trauma is a rare injury with high mortality. Prompt recognition and aggressive treatment are paramount to survival. We report a case of delayed presentation that emphasizes the diagnostic difficulties in this traumatic injury. A review of the prevalence, diagnosis, and management is also discussed.