Accuracy of hiatal hernia diagnosis in bariatric patients : preoperative endoscopy versus intraoperative reference

Background and Aim: Obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent in Asia. Bariatric surgery in the region is growing in popularity to reflect increasing demand. Hiatal hernia (HH) is common among the obese population. There is a lack of evidence comparing preoperative endoscopy against intraoperative findings as a standard of reference for HH diagnosis. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a bariatric procedure database from a single tertiary teaching hospital and high-volume endoscopy center. Electronic medical records were reviewed. Endoscopy results were compared to intraoperative findings, and subgroup analysis of >2 cm hernias was performed. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and global diagnostic test accuracy were calculated. Results: A total of 434 patients were eligible for this study, of which HH was detected in 37 patients (prevalence rate 8.55%). Mean age was 41.51 ± 11.07 years, and body mass index was 39.37 ± 5.67 kg/m2 . Endoscopy sensitivity was 75.68% (95% confidence interval, 58.80–88.23%) and specificity 91.44% (88.24–94.00%). Positive likelihood ratio was 8.53 (6.11–12.79) and negative likelihood ratio 0.27 (0.15–0.47). Positive predictive value was 45.16% (36.27–54.38%) and negative predictive value 97.58% (95.80–98.62%). Accuracy of endoscopy for preoperative HH diagnosis was 90.09% (86.89–92.74%). Conclusion: Endoscopy can have a high diagnostic accuracy of preoperative HH diagnosis in obese Asian patients using intraoperative diagnosis as the reference standard

The aortic wrap procedure: a surgical method of treating agerelated aortic dilatation and stiffening.

Introduction: There is progressive stiffening and dilatation of the aorta and large elastic arteries with aging as a result of the repetitive cyclic stress they are exposed to throughout life. Aortic stiffening has a number of detrimental effects including an increase in aortic pulse wave velocity and early wave reflection, isolated systolic hypertension, ventricular-vascular mismatch, impaired coronary blood flow reserve, and is thefundamental cause of heart failure in the elderly. The aim of this thesis is to provide proof of concept forthe aortic wrap procedure; a surgical treatment of stiffening and dilatation of the ascending aorta withaging. The surgical procedure involves wrapping an elastic material around the ascending aorta of elderlypatients, to reduce the stiffness and diameter of the ascending aorta towards that seen in youth.Methods: Proof of concept is investigated in the following studies. 1. The effect of the elastic wrap on thein-vivo stiffness of the normal aorta. 2. The effect of the elastic wrap on the in-vivo stiffness of the dilatedand stiffened aorta. 3. The effect of the elastic wrap on the in-vitro stiffness of the aged human ascendingaorta and on aortic pressure. 4. The effect of wrapping the aged human ascending aorta on pulsepressure (mathematical model). 5. The effect of chronic implantation on the structure of the normal aorta.6. The mechanical properties of the ovine thoracic aorta and the elastic wrap material.Results: 1. Elastic wrap application increased the in-vivo stiffness of the normal aorta. 2. Elastic wrapapplication decreased the stiffness of the stiffened and dilated aorta. 3. Elastic wrap application decreasedthe in-vitro stiffness of the elderly human ascending aorta and pulse pressure. 4. A reduction in ascendingaortic stiffness was sufficient to reduce ascending aortic pulse pressure.Conclusion: Application of the elastic wrap to the aged human ascending aorta is expected to reduceaortic stiffness, as well as systolic and pulse pressure, and to increase diastolic pressure with a reductionin cardiac load. The aortic wrap procedure may be an effective surgical procedure for the treatment ofheart failure and isolated systolic hypertension

The role of delayed aortic surgery in type A aortic dissection and mesenteric ischemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Approximately one third of patients with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (ATAAD) present with pre-operative malperfusion syndromes (MPS). Of these, mesenteric malperfusion represents the greatest risk to patients with respect to increased short-term mortality. In select patients, it may be feasible to offer a staged approach by treating the mesenteric malperfusion first, optimizing the patient in the intensive care setting and then, following with a central aortic repair. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize cohort studies assessing the role of pre-operative interventions for mesenteric malperfusion. Methods An electronic literature search of five databases was performed to identify all relevant studies providing studies examining short-term mortality on patients who underwent either endovascular or open revascularisation of mesenteric ischemia prior to central aortic repair. The primary outcome was all-cause, short-term mortality. Secondary outcomes were comparative mortality between a delayed repair vs. aortic repair first strategy, rates of postoperative laparotomy, bowel resection, and mortality following delayed aortic repair. Results The search strategy identified 8 studies qualifying for inclusion, with a total of 180 patients who underwent delayed aortic surgery in the setting of mesenteric MPS. The weighted short-term mortality following a mesenteric revascularisation first, delayed aortic surgery strategy was 22.5%. This strategy was also associated with a significantly lower mortality than a central repair first strategy (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.02–0.27), and a significantly lower rate of postoperative laparotomy/bowel resection (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.02–0.14). If patients survive to receive central repair, the weighted short-term mortality postoperatively is low (2.1%). Conclusion A summary of this evidence reveals a lower short-term mortality in hemodynamically stable patients with mesenteric malperfusion, along with a reduction in postoperative laparotomy/bowel resections. Of those patients who survive to receive central repair, short-term mortality remains very low in the select group of hemodynamically stable patients. Further high-quality studies with randomized or propensity matched data are required to verify these results

Splenic vein turndown for vascular reconstruction following pancreatic cancer resection in patients with high risk profile

Introduction: Vascular reconstruction is utilized following resections for pancreatic cancers with borderline resectability. This is defined by venous or partial superior mesenteric artery (SMA) involvement, where vessels are resected en bloc to achieve an R0 resection. There are many vascular reconstruction techniques post en bloc R0 resection, each with its own complication profile. The splenic turndown technique separates the vascular anastomosis from the pancreatic anastomosis, reducing the risk of vascular disruption should a pancreatic leak occur. Case Report: This is the first report in literature of the splenic vein turndown technique being utilized for vascular reconstruction post- pancreatic resection for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. To date, splenic vein turndown repair has only been described in a trauma setting. In this case, splenic vein turndown was preferred as the patient was on long-term corticosteroids with a high risk of anastomotic leak. Conclusion: This case report showing that splenic vein turndown technique is a feasible option for vascular reconstruction post-pancreatic resection. The main disadvantage of this technique is high risk of segmental portal hypertension if the spleen is not removed concomitantly. For this reason, its utility should be restricted to patients at high risk of pancreatic leak

Repair of a late endoleak following complete proximal endograft fixation strut separation

Introduced as an alternative endograft for those with unfavorable anatomy, bare metal suprarenal fixation barbs have been widely used for endovascular abdominal aortic repair. Type I endoleaks result in continued perfusion of the aneurysm sac and warrant prompt reintervention. We describe an unusual presentation and endovascular management of a late type IA endoleak secondary to complete separation of the suprarenal fixation struts in a Cook endograft after an uncomplicated, emergent infrarenal endovascular abdominal aortic repair 5 years earlier

Accuracy of high-resolution manometry in hiatal hernia diagnosis in primary and revision bariatric surgery

Purpose: There is a complex association between obesity, hiatal hernia (HH), and reflux. There is a deficiency of literature on the accuracy of preoperative high-resolution manometry (HRM) in detecting HH before both primary and revision bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective database of all HRM performed before bariatric surgery from 2014 to 2019. An electronic medical records review was conducted. Sensitivity, specificity, and global diagnostic test accuracy were calculated. Results: Sixty-seven patients with HRM (mean age of 44.0 ± 11.3 years, body mass index 40.8 ± 6.9 kg/m2) were eligible. Intraoperative diagnosis of HH was made in 37 patients (55.2% prevalence). The HRM sensitivity was 48.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 31.9–65.6%), specificity 90.0% (95% CI 73.5–97.9%), and accuracy was 67.2% (95% CI 54.6–78.2%). Comparing primary (28) and revision (39) surgery, the sensitivity (37.5% vs 57.1%), specificity (75.0% vs 100%), and diagnostic accuracy (54.3% vs 76.3%) were comparable, with overlapping 95% CI. Endoscopy performed in 30 patients had a sensitivity of 25.5% (95% CI 6.8–49.9%), specificity of 100% (95% CI 75.3–100%), and accuracy of 57.8% (95% CI 38.5–75.5%) and was comparable to HRM. Conclusion: High-resolution manometry for the detection of HH before bariatric surgery has a high specificity and maintains a high accuracy in both primary and revision bariatric surgery

Placental growth factor reduces blood pressure in a uteroplacental ischemia model of preeclampsia in nonhuman primates

An imbalance in the angiogenesis axis during pregnancy manifests as clinical preeclampsia because of endothelial dysfunction. Circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1) increases and placental growth factor (PlGF) reduces before and during disease. We investigated the clinical and biochemical effects of replenishing the reduced circulating PlGF with recombinant human PlGF (rhPlGF) and thus restoring the angiogenic balance. Hypertensive proteinuria was induced in a nonhuman primate (Papio hamadryas) by uterine artery ligation at 136 days gestation (of a 182-day pregnancy). Two weeks after uteroplacental ischemia, rhPlGF (rhPlGF, n=3) or normal saline (control, n=4) was administered by subcutaneous injection (100 μg/kg per day) for 5 days. Blood pressure was monitored by intra-arterial radiotelemetry and sFLT-1 and PlGF by ELISA. Uteroplacental ischemia resulted in experimental preeclampsia evidenced by increased blood pressure, proteinuria, and endotheliosis on renal biopsy and elevated sFLT-1. PlGF significantly reduced after uteroplacental ischemia. rhPlGF reduced systolic blood pressure in the treated group (-5.2±0.8 mm Hg; from 132.6±6.6 mm Hg to 124.1±7.6 mm Hg) compared with an increase in systolic blood pressure in controls (6.5±3 mm Hg; from 131.3±1.5 mm Hg to 138.6±1.5 mm Hg). Proteinuria reduced in the treated group (-72.7±55.7 mg/mmol) but increased in the control group. Circulating levels of total sFLT-1 were not affected by the administration of PlGF; however, a reduction in placental sFLT-1 mRNA expression was demonstrated. There was no significant difference between the weights or lengths of the neonates in the rhPlGF or control group; however, this study was not designed to assess fetal safety or outcomes. Increasing circulating PlGF by the administration of rhPlGF improves clinical parameters in a primate animal model of experimental preeclampsia

RNAi modulation of placental sFLT1 for the treatment of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a placentally induced hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality to mothers and fetuses. Clinical manifestations of preterm preeclampsia result from excess circulating soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor FLT1 (sFLT1 or sVEGFR1) of placental origin. Here we identify short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that selectively silence the three sFLT1 mRNA isoforms primarily responsible for placental overexpression of sFLT1 without reducing levels of full-length FLT1mRNA. Full chemical stabilization in the context of hydrophobic modifications enabled productive siRNA accumulation in the placenta (up to 7% of injected dose) and reduced circulating sFLT1 in pregnant mice (up to 50%). In a baboon preeclampsia model, a single dose of siRNAs suppressed sFLT1 overexpression and clinical signs of preeclampsia. Our results demonstrate RNAi-based extrahepatic modulation of gene expression with nonformulated siRNAs in nonhuman primates and establish a path toward a new treatment paradigm for patients with preterm preeclampsia