Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome Managed with Laparoscopic Duodenojejunostomy

BACKGROUND: Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare disorder that may be managed surgically if conservative management fails. Different surgical techniques have been described, division of the ligament of Treitz, gastrojejunostomy, and duodenojejunostomy. The aim of this case series is to show that laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy is a safe and technically feasible management for superior mesenteric artery syndrome. METHODS: In this case series, we retrospectively identified all patients who underwent laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy for SMA syndrome in our tertiary university center between December 2016 and July 2019. Data collected included demographics, presenting symptoms, comorbidities, pre and postoperative body mass index (BMI), operative approach, operative blood loss, operative duration, clinical and radiological results, in hospital/30-day complications, mortality, and postoperative follow-up outcomes. RESULTS: We identified eleven patients, 10 females and 1 male, with a median age 23 years (range 17–43 years). All patients had refractory symptoms after a minimum of two months of conservative management and subsequently underwent laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy. There were no intraoperative complications and no in-hospital or 30-day postoperative mortality or complications were identified. Follow-up data showed complete resolution in 73% of patients (n = 8) and only one patient with no improvement postoperatively. Results also showed a median BMI increase of 2 kg/m(2) (range 1–9 kg/m(2)) at a median follow-up of 16 months (range 4–48 months). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy is a safe treatment option for SMA syndrome and should be considered when patients do not respond to conservative management

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)