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Background: Perforated peptic ulcer disease (PPUD) has a prevalence of 0.004–0.014% with mortality of 23.5% (Tarasconi et al. in World J Emerg Surg 15(PG-3):3, 2020). In this single center study, we examined the impact associated with patient transfer from outside facilities to our center for definitive surgical intervention (exploratory laparotomy). Methods: Using EPIC report workbench, we identified 27 patients between 2018 and 2021 undergoing exploratory laparotomy with a concurrent diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease, nine of which were transferred to our institution for care. We queried this population for markers of disease severity including mortality, length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and readmission rates. Manual chart reviews were performed to examine these outcomes in more detail and identify patients who had been transferred to our facility for surgery from an outside hospital. Results: A total of 27 patients were identified undergoing exploratory laparotomy for definitive treatment of PPUD. The majority of patients queried underwent level A operations, the most urgent level of activation. In our institution, a Level A operation needs to go to the operating room within one hour of arrival to the hospital. Average mortality for this patient population was 14.8%. The readmission rate was 40.1%, and average length of ICU stay post-operatively was 16 days, with 83% of non-transfer patients requiring ICU admission and 100% of transfer patients requiring ICU admission, although this was not found to be statistically significant. Average length of hospital stay was 27 days overall. For non-transfer patients and transfer patients, LOS was 20 days and 41 days, respectively, which was statistically significant by one-sided t-test (p = 0.05). Conclusion: Patients transferred for definitive care of PPUD in a population otherwise notable for high mortality and high readmission rates: their average length of stay compared to non-transfer patients was over twice the length, which was statistically significant. Transferred patients also had higher rates of ICU care requirement although this was not statistically significant. Further inquiry to identify modifiable variables to facilitate the care of transferred patients is warranted, especially in the context of improving quality metrics known to enhance patient outcomes, satisfaction, and value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori prior to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has been advocated as a measure to reduce the complications of anastomotic ulceration. However, evidence to support a causal relationship between preoperative H. pylori status and postoperative anastomotic ulceration is weak.Methods: Intraoperative gastric biopsies were obtained on consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic RYGB at our institution from December 2007 to June 2010. These samples were analyzed by Warthin-Starry stain for H. Pylori organisms. Retrospective chart review was conducted to determine the preoperative presence of acid dyspepsia and acid suppression therapy and to determine postoperative ulcer symptoms, smoking, NSAID or steroid use, and compliance with ulcer prophylaxis. The incidence of ulcer visualization, perforation, and stricture were obtained from a prospectively collected database. Fisher's exact test was used for analyzing associations between discrete groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess associations between anastomotic ulcer complications and potential predictors.Results: Histologic evaluation for H. pylori was available in 708 of the 728 patients who underwent RYGB. Fourteen patients were lost to follow up leaving 694 patients available for review. H. pylori was positive in 66 (9.5 %) patients who did not go on to receive definitive treatment for eradication. Marginal ulcers or related late complications were seen in a total of 113 (16.3 %) patients. In the H. pylori positive group, five patients (7.6 %) developed ulcer complications compared to 108 (17.1 %) in the H. pylori negative group (p = 0.05). Groups were not different in terms of preoperative demographics, postoperative ulcer prophylaxis compliance, steroid, NSAIDs, and cigarette use.Conclusion: The presence of H. pylori infection at the time of RYGB was found to be associated with a significantly lower incidence of anastomotic ulcer complications postoperatively. This study brings into question efforts and expense allocated to identify and eradicate H. pylori prior to RYGB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obese individuals may have normal insulin-glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, or diabetes mellitus. Whereas gastric bypass cures insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, its effects on normal physiology have not been described. We studied insulin resistance and beta-cell function for patients undergoing gastric bypass.Methods: One hundred thirty-eight patients undergoing gastric bypass had fasting insulin and glucose levels drawn on days 0, 12, 40, 180, and 365. Thirty-one (22%) patients with diabetes mellitus were excluded from this analysis. Homeostatic model of assessment was used to estimate insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity, and beta-cell function. Based on this model, patients were categorized as high insulin resistance if their insulin resistance was >2.3.Results: Body mass index did not correlate with insulin resistance. Forty-seven (34%) patients were categorized as high insulin resistance. Correction of insulin resistance for this group occurred by 12 days postoperatively. Sixty (43%) patients were categorized as low insulin resistance. They demonstrated an increase of beta-cell function by 12 days postoperatively, which returned to baseline by 6 months. At 1 year postoperatively, the low insulin resistance group had significantly higher beta-cell function per degree of insulin sensitivity.Conclusions: Adipose mass alone cannot explain insulin resistance. Severely obese individuals can be categorized by degree of insulin resistance, and the effect of gastric bypass depends upon this preoperative physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) evolved in the early 2000s into the standalone weight loss procedure we see today. While numerous studies highlight VSG's durability for weight loss, and improvements co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been counseled against VSG due to the concern for worsening reflux symptoms. When considering anti-reflux procedures, VSG patients are unable to undergo traditional fundoplication due to lack of gastric cardia redundancy. Magnetic sphincter augmentation lacks long-term safety data and endoscopic approaches have undetermined longitudinal benefits. Until recently, the only option for patients with a history of VSG with medically refractory GERD has been conversion to roux en Y gastric bypass (RNYGB), however, this poses other risks including marginal ulcers, internal hernias, hypoglycemia, dumping syndrome, and nutritional deficiencies. Given the risks associated with conversion to RNYGB, we have adopted the ligamentum teres cardiopexy as an option for patients with intractable GERD following VSG. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who had prior laparoscopic or robotic VSG and subsequently GERD symptoms refectory to pharmacological management who underwent ligamentum teres cardiopexy between 2017 and 2022. Pre-operative GERD disease burden, intraoperative cardiopexy characteristics, post-operative GERD symptomatology and changes in H2 blocker or PPI requirements were reviewed. Results: Of the study's 60 patients the median age was 50 years old, and 86% were female. All patients had a diagnosis of GERD through pre-operative assessments and were taking antisecretory medication. Of the 36 patients who have completed their one year follow up, 81% of patients had either a decrease in dosage or cessation of the antisecretory medication at one year following ligamentum teres cardiopexy. Conclusion: Ligamentum teres cardiopexy is a viable alternative to RNYGB in patients with a prior vertical sleeve gastrectomy with medical refractory GERD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraconduit hiatal hernia (PCHH) is a known complication of esophagectomy with significant morbidity. PCHH may be more common with the transition to a minimally invasive approach and improved survival. We studied the PCHH occurrence following minimally invasive esophagectomy to determine the incidence, treatment, and associated risk factors. We retrospectively reviewed records of patients who underwent esophagectomy at an academic tertiary care center between 2013-2020. We divided the cohort into those who did and did not develop PCHH, identifying differences in demographics, perioperative characteristics and outcomes. We present video of our laparoscopic repair with mesh. Of 49 patients who underwent esophagectomy, seven (14%) developed PCHH at a median of 186 d (60-350 d) postoperatively. They were younger (57 versus 64 y, P < 0.01), and in cases of resection for cancer, more likely to develop tumor recurrence (71% versus 23%, P = 0.02). There was a significant difference in 2-y cancer free survival of patients with a PCHH (PCHH 19% versus no hernia 73%, P < 0.01), but no significant difference in 5-y overall survival (PCHH 36% versus no hernia 68%, P = 0.18). Five of seven PCHH were symptomatic and addressed surgically. Four PCHH repairs recurred at a median of 409 d. PCHH is associated with younger age and tumor recurrence, but not mortality. Safe repair of PCHH can be performed laparoscopically with or without mesh. Further studies, including systematic video review, are needed to address modifiable risk factors and identify optimal techniques for durable repair of post-esophagectomy PCHH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity promotes insulin resistance associated with liver inflammation, elevated glucose production, and type 2 diabetes. Although insulin resistance is attenuated in genetic mouse models that suppress systemic inflammation, it is not clear whether local resident macrophages in liver, denoted Kupffer cells (KCs), directly contribute to this syndrome. We addressed this question by selectively silencing the expression of the master regulator of inflammation, NF-κB, in KCs in obese mice. We used glucan-encapsulated small interfering RNA particles (GeRPs) that selectively silence gene expression in macrophages in vivo. Following intravenous injections, GeRPs containing siRNA against p65 of the NF-κB complex caused loss of NF-κB p65 expression in KCs without disrupting NF-κB in hepatocytes or macrophages in other tissues. Silencing of NF-κB expression in KCs in obese mice decreased cytokine secretion and improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance without affecting hepatic lipid accumulation. Importantly, GeRPs had no detectable toxic effect. Thus, KCs are key contributors to hepatic insulin resistance in obesity and a potential therapeutic target for metabolic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional therapy for perforated sigmoid diverticulitis with peritonitis is emergency colectomy usually with colostomy. We report laparoscopic exploration with peritoneal lavage as an alternative in seven patients who required emergency surgery for diverticulitis. Six patients presented with diffuse peritonitis and one with a failure of percutaneous therapy. All patients were explored laparoscopically and the peritoneal cavity was lavaged with saline in addition to receiving intravenous antibiotics. Patient demographics, clinical response, length of stay, and complications were recorded. Six patients had resolution of peritonitis resolved and patients were discharged from the hospital. One of these patients who developed a pelvic abscess required a percutaneous drainage postoperatively. This patient ultimately returned 3 months later with recurrent symptoms and underwent colectomy with primary anastomosis. One patient failed to improve initially and underwent colectomy with primary anastomosis on the same admission. Five patients subsequently had elective sigmoid resections, four laparoscopic and one open. Mean length of stay was 7.7 days. There was no mortality. We conclude that laparoscopic exploration and peritoneal lavage can be performed safely in patients with diffuse, purulent peritonitis. Using this approach, most patients with purulent peritonitis can avoid emergent laparotomy with the risk of colostomy, and the need for a second surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storage of energy as triglyceride in large adipose-specific lipid droplets is a fundamental need in all mammals. Efficient sequestration of fat in adipocytes also prevents fatty acid overload in skeletal muscle and liver, which can impair insulin signaling. Here we report that the Cide domain-containing protein Cidea, previously thought to be a mitochondrial protein, colocalizes around lipid droplets with perilipin, a regulator of lipolysis. Cidea-GFP greatly enhances lipid droplet size when ectopically expressed in preadipocytes or COS cells. These results explain previous findings showing that depletion of Cidea with RNAi markedly elevates lipolysis in human adipocytes. Like perilipin, Cidea and the related lipid droplet protein Cidec/FSP27 are controlled by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Treatment of lean or obese mice with the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone markedly up-regulates Cidea expression in white adipose tissue (WAT), increasing lipid deposition. Strikingly, in both omental and s.c. WAT from BMI-matched obese humans, expression of Cidea, Cidec/FSP27, and perilipin correlates positively with insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR index). Thus. Cidea and other lipid droplet proteins define a novel, highly regulated pathway of triglyceride deposition in human WAT. The data support a model whereby failure of this pathway results in ectopic lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, and its associated comorbidities in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]