Preoperative weight loss in super-obese patients: study of the rate of weight loss and its effects on surgical morbidity

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of obesity and particularly super obesity, has increased tremendously. At our institution, super obesity represents 30.1% of all severely obese individuals in the bariatric surgery program. In super obesity, surgical morbidity is higher and the results are worse compared with morbid obesity, independent of the surgical technique. The primary strategy for minimizing complications in these patients is to decrease the body mass index before surgery. Preoperative weight reduction can be achieved by a hypocaloric diet, drug therapy, an intragastric balloon, or hospitalization. The objective of this study was to analyze the results of a period of hospitalization for preoperative weight loss in a group of super-obese patients. METHODS: Twenty super-obese patients were submitted to a weight loss program between 2006 and 2010. The mean patient age was 46 years (range 21-59). The mean BMI was 66 kg/m2 (range 51-98) and 12 were women. The average hospital stay was 19.9 weeks and the average weight loss was 19% of the initial weight (7-37%). The average caloric intake was 5 kcal/kg/day. After the weight loss program, the patients underwent gastric bypass surgery. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed that after 14 weeks of treatment (15% loss of initial weight), the weight loss was not significant. All patients had satisfactory surgical recovery and were discharged after an average of 4.6 days. CONCLUSION: In super obesity, preoperative weight loss is an important method for reducing surgical risks. Hospitalization and a hypocaloric diet are safe and effective. After 14 weeks, the weight loss rate stabilized, signaling the time of surgical intervention in our study

Influence of gastric pouch volume and emptying rate on weight loss and food tolerance after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity

INTRODUÇÃO: Não obstante os bons resultados e reprodutibilidade da derivação gástrica em Y de Roux (DGYR), discutem-se ainda aspectos técnicos que podem influenciar tanto o resultado na perda de peso, como a qualidade de vida pós-operatória (PO). Atribui-se hoje a efeitos restritivos, como volume da bolsa gástrica e sua velocidade de esvaziamento, assim como a fatores metabólicos, o resultado da cirurgia. As influências morfofuncionais não são totalmente compreendidas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência do volume da bolsa gástrica e sua velocidade de esvaziamento sobre a perda de peso e a tolerância alimentar no PO de DGYR. MÉTODO: Pacientes em PO tardio de DGYR; foram avaliados a percentagem de perda de excesso de peso (%PEP), reganho de peso (%PEPreganho), tolerância alimentar por questionário de tolerância (ES), volume da bolsa (V) por tomografia computadorizada tridimensional (TC3D) e velocidade de esvaziamento da bolsa por cintilografia, avaliada por percentual de retenção (%Ret) em 1, 2 e 4 horas. Foram identificados pontos de corte para V e %Ret em 1 hora (%Ret1). A partir destes parâmetros a amostra foi categorizada por V e %Ret1, e os dados correlacionados com resultados em perda de peso e tolerância alimentar. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 67 pacientes. A idade mediana foi 51 anos, 91,04% sexo feminino, e IMC mediano inicial de 51,44 kg/m2. O tempo de seguimento PO mediano foi de 47 meses. A amostra apresentou 60,27%PEPnadir como mediana da maior perda de peso PO e 16,13%PEPreganho. A mediana de V foi de 28mL; a %Ret em 1, 2, 4 horas foras foram 8%, 2%, 1%, respectivamente. A pontuação mediana do ES foi 21. Os pontos de corte considerados foram V=40mL, e %Ret1 de 12% e 25%. Foram comparados subgrupos por V (V 40mL) e por %Ret1 (%Ret1 =25%). Na análise categorizada por V, houve associação entre V 40mL: %Ret1=44, %Ret2=13,5, p=0,045). Na análise categorizada por %Ret1, observou-se associação entre maior velocidade de esvaziamento em 1 hora e melhor evolução ponderal tardia, representada por menor %PEPreganho (p=0,036), e maior %PEPatual (p=0,033) no grupo com %Ret1 24) e menor %Ret1 (p=0,003). CONCLUSÕES: Houve associação do volume da bolsa gástrica com a velocidade de esvaziamento. O esvaziamento mais rápido correlacionou-se com maior %PEP tardia, menor reganho de peso e melhor tolerância alimentar. Estes dados sugeriram que a presença de bolsa gástrica pequena, com menos de 40 mL, e com rápido esvaziamento, são parâmetros importantes para adequado resultado tardio na DGYR. O uso da TC3D e da cintilografia para avaliação morfofuncional da DGYR podem contribuir para investigação do reganho de peso e intolerância alimentar POINTRODUCTION: Despite the good results and good reproducibility of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP), discussions about technical aspects still remain. Postoperative anatomy can influence the result in weight loss, as the postoperative (PO) quality-of-life. Surgical results are nowadays attributed to restriction, promoted by the small neo-stomach volume and its emptying, as well as metabolic factors. These anatomical and functional influences on surgical results are often poorly evaluated, and yet not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the gastric pouch volume and its emptying rate on weight loss, and food tolerance, in the late PO of GBP. METHOD: Patients followed-up at HC-FMUSP in late PO of GBP; percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL), weight regained (%EWLregain), food tolerance with specific questionnaire (Suter Score, SS), gastric pouch volumetry (V) by three-dimensional computed tomography (CT3D), and pouch emptying rate by scintigraphy, evaluated by retention percentage (%Ret) in 1, 2, 4 hours, were assessed. Cutoffs were identified for %Ret at 1 hour (%Ret1) and V. From these parameters the sample was categorized by V and %Ret1, looking for associations between V and %Ret and results in weight loss and food tolerance. RESULTS: Eighty patients were enrolled and 67 completed the study. The median age was 51 years, 91.04% were female, with initial median BMI of 51.44 kg/m2. The PO median follow-up time was 47 months. The sample showed median of 60.27% as EWLnadir as PO better weight loss, with 16.13% of EWLregain. The median V was 28mL; %Ret at 1, 2, 4 hours were 8%, 2%, 1%, respectively. The median score of SS was 21. The cutoff points considered were V=40mL, and %Ret1=12% and 25%. Subgroups were compared by V (V 40mL) and Ret1% (%Ret1 = 25%). The categorized analysis by V found associations between V 40mL: %Ret1=44, %Ret2=13.5, p=0.045). In the categorized analysis by %Ret1, it was found association between higher emptying speed in 1 hour and higher late PO weight loss, represented by lower %EWLregain (p=0.036), and higher late %EWL (p=0.033) in the group with %Ret1= 25%. Better food tolerance, assessed by Suter questionnaire (SS > 24), was associated with lower %Ret1 (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: There was an association between gastric pouch volume and emptying rate. Smaller gastric pouch have shown faster gastric emptying. The fastest gastric emptying was correlated with higher late %EWL, less weight regain and better PO food tolerance. These data suggest that the construction of small gastric pouch, with less than 40 mL, and with rapid emptying rate, are important parameters for good outcomes in late postoperative in GBP. The use of CT3D and scintigraphy for morphological and functional assessment of GBP can contribute in the evaluation of possible causes of late postoperative weight regain and food intoleranc

EARLY COMPLICATIONS IN BARIATRIC SURGERY:

ContextBariatric surgery has proven to be the most effective method of treating severe obesity. Nevertheless, the acceptance of bariatric surgery is still questioned. The surgical complications observed in the early postoperative period following surgeries performed to treat severe obesity are similar to those associated with other major surgeries of the gastrointestinal tract. However, given the more frequent occurrence of medical comorbidities, these patients require special attention in the early postoperative follow-up. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of these complications are directly associated with a greater probability of control.MethodThe medical records of 538 morbidly obese patients who underwent surgical treatment (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery) were reviewed. Ninety-three (17.2%) patients were male and 445 (82.8%) were female. The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 70 years (average = 46), and their body mass indices ranged from 34.6 to 77 kg/m2.ResultsEarly complications occurred in 9.6% and were distributed as follows: 2.6% presented bleeding, intestinal obstruction occurred in 1.1%, peritoneal infections occurred in 3.2%, and 2.2% developed abdominal wall infections that required hospitalization. Three (0.5%) patients experienced pulmonary thromboembolism. The mortality rate was 0,55%.ConclusionThe incidence of early complications was low. The diagnosis of these complications was mostly clinical, based on the presence of signs and symptoms. The value of the clinical signs and early treatment, specially in cases of sepsis, were essential to the favorable surgical outcome. The mortality was mainly related to thromboembolism and advanced age, over 65 years

Coledocolitíase: análise do tratamento videolaparoscópico

CONTEXT: About 9% of the Brazilian population has gallstones and the incidence increases significantly with aging. The choledocholithiasis is found around 15% of these patients, and a third to half of these cases presented as asymptomatic. Once the lithiasis in the common bile duct is characterized through intraoperative cholangiography, the laparoscopic surgical exploration can be done through the transcystic way or directly through choledochotomy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results and outcomes of the laparoscopic treatment of common bile duct lithiasis. METHODS: Seventy consecutive patients were evaluated. They prospectively underwent the treatment of the lithiasis in the common bile duct and the exploration ways were compared according to the following parameters: criteria on their indication, success in the clearance, surgical complications. It was verified that about ½ of the choledocholithiasis carriers did not show any expression of predictive factors (clinical antecedents of jaundice and/or acute pancreatitis, compatible sonographic data and the pertaining lab tests). The laparoscopic exploration through the transcystic way is favored when there are no criteria for the practice of primary choledochotomy, which are: lithiasis in the proximal bile duct, large (over 8 mm) or numerous calculi (multiple calculosis). RESULTS: The transcystic way was employed in about 50% of the casuistic and the choledochotomy in about 30%. A high success rate (around 80%) was achieved in the clearance of the common bile duct stones through laparoscopic exploration. The transcystic way, performed without fluoroscopy or choledochoscopy, attained a low rate of success (around 45%), being 10% of those by transpapilar pushing of calculi less than 3 mm. The exploration through choledochotomy, either primary or secondary, if the latter was performed after the transcystic route failure, showed high success rate (around 95%). When the indication to choledochotomy was primary, the necessity for choledochoscopy through choledochotomy to help in the removal of the calculi was 55%. However, when choledochotomy was performed secondarily, in situations where the common bile duct diameter was larger than 6 mm, the use of choledochoscopy with the same purpose involved about 20% of the cases. There was no mortality in this series. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct was related to a low rate of morbidity. Therefore, the use of laparoscopy for the treatment of the lithiasis in the common bile duct depends on the criteria for the choice of the best access, making it a safe procedure with very good results

FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF OLDER OBESE PATIENTS CANDIDATES FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY

Context Obesity in the elderly is associated with exacerbation of functional decline (dependency), that occurs with aging, because of decreased muscle mass and strength, and increased joint dysfunction. Consequently, there is progressive loss of independence, autonomy, chronic pain and impaired quality of life. The weight loss can bring benefits in all these aspects, especially when accompanied by exercises. Elderly patients with morbid obesity may be submitted to surgical treatment, taking into account that the massive weight loss, eventually caused by bariatric surgery, may exacerbate the loss of muscle mass and nutritional complications that may bring harm to the overall health and quality of life of these patients. The functional assessment of elderly patients, candidates for bariatric surgery and the extent to which surgery can bring benefits to the patients, in the field of functionality, has still to be determined. Objective To describe profile functionality in obese elderly referred to a bariatric surgery program. Methods Patients with age ≥60 and BMI ≥35 underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment that evaluates co morbidities, medication use, ability to perform basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, and the “Timedupandgo” test to evaluate mobility, whose cut-off point was ≤10 seconds. Statistical analysis was performed in order to see if there is a positive correlation of dependency with BMI and age (over or under 65 years). Results Forty subjects have completed evaluation. The mean age was 64.1 years (60-72) and 75% were women. They had an average weight of 121.1 kg (72.7-204) and a mean BMI of 47.2 kg/m2 (35.8-68.9). 16 patients (40%) have shown dependency for activities of daily living, 19 (47,5%) for instrumental activities of daily living and 20 patients (50%) had a “Timedupandgo” test over 10 seconds. Statistical analysis (t-Student, Mann-Whitney, Binary Logistic Regression) has shown positive correlation of dependency in activities of daily living for BMI >49 kg/m2, dependency in instrumental activities of daily living for BMI >46,5 kg/m2, and “Timedupandgo” test greater than 10 seconds for BMI >51 kg/m2 (P46,5 kg/m2) but not related to age (60 to 65 years or over 65 years). Functional decline should be considered a co-morbidity in the elderly obese patients and should be assessed before bariatric surgery in this population