Abstract Introduction Conversion of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is performed for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), recurrent weight gain, and suboptimal clinical response. We compared early safety, weight loss, and healthcare utilization across indications. Methods We retrospectively analyzed adults undergoing SG-to-RYGB conversion in the 2023 MBSAQIP Participant Use File linked to the Long-Term Follow-Up file. Patients were grouped by indication as GERD, recurrent weight gain, suboptimal clinical response, or other. Baseline, operative, 30-day, and 6-month outcomes were compared using unadjusted analyses. Results Among 12,350 patients, indications were GERD in 59.2%, recurrent weight gain in 24.7%, suboptimal clinical response in 10.5%, and other in 5.6%. Patients with weight-related indications had higher baseline BMI. Major 30-day complications were uncommon and did not differ significantly across groups. Among 8,797 patients with 6-month weight data, mean percent total weight loss (%TWL) was 14.2% for recurrent weight gain, 13.3% for suboptimal clinical response, and 12.7% for both GERD and other indications (P < 0.001). The maximum absolute difference was 1.5 percentage points. Six-month intervention rates were 6.4% for GERD and 6.8% for other indications, compared with 4.2% for recurrent weight gain and 2.8% for suboptimal clinical response (P < 0.001); mortality remained uncommon. Conclusion SG-to-RYGB conversion was associated with low short-term complication rates across indications. Six-month weight loss and healthcare utilization differed in unadjusted comparisons, but weight-loss differences were modest and may reflect baseline case-mix differences.
Ligamentum Teres Augmentation for Hiatus Hernia Repair After Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Objective: Hiatal hernia (HH) and symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease are common complications after metabolic bariatric surgery. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of ligamentum teres augmentation (LTA) for HH repair after metabolic and bariatric surgeries (MBS). Materials and Methods: CENTRAL, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus were searched for articles from their inception to September 2023 by 2 independent reviewers using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis system. Results: Five studies met the eligibility criteria, with a total of 165 patients undergoing LTA for HH repair after MBS. The distribution of patients based on surgical procedures included 63% undergoing sleeve gastrectomy, 21% Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 16% having one anastomosis gastric bypass. The pooled proportion of reflux symptoms before LTA was 77% (95% CI: 0.580-0.960; I 2 = 89%, n = 106). A pooled proportion of overall postoperative symptoms was 25.6% (95% CI: 0.190-0.321; I 2 = 0%, n = 44), consisting of reflux at 14.5% (95% CI: 0.078-0.212; I 2 = 0%, n = 15). The pooled proportion of unsuccessful LTA outcomes was 12.5% (95% CI: 0.075-0.175; I 2 = 0%, n = 21). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that LTA appears to be a safe and efficacious procedure in the management of HH after MBS.
Early Bowel Obstruction after Bariatric Surgery: An Analysis of the 2020-2021 MBSAQIP Database
Background: The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program evaluates 30-day outcomes of bariatric cases performed in the United States. The Participant Use File in 2020 introduced bowel obstruction (BO). We compared the rates of BO, risk factors, and postoperative outcomes after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and duodenal switch (DS). Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent laparoscopic RYGB, SG, or DS obtained from the 2020-2021 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. Patients who underwent either as a primary procedure with a body mass index >35 kg/m2 were selected. Baseline characteristics, operative details, and postoperative complications were collected. The outcome of interest was BO occurring within 30 days. Results: A total of 205,533 cases of which 148,944 were SG (72.4%), 54,606 were RYGB (26.5%), and 1983 were DS (1%). BO occurred in 0.74%, 0.4%, and 0.03% of patients who underwent an RYGB, DS, or SG, respectively. Patients with a BO in the RYGB group were more likely to be on immunosuppressive therapy (5.4% vs. 1.9%, P<0.001) with longer operative time (136.2 min±58.0 min vs. 117.4 min±53.6 min, P<0.001). SG patients with a BO were older (47.5±13.6 vs. 41.9±11.6, P=0.011) with longer operating times (98.6±63.8 vs. 68.9±33.4, P=0.002). Patients in the RYGB group with a BO had the highest rates of readmissions (71.9%) and reoperations (58.4%). Conclusions: Early bowel obstruction is rare after bariatric surgery. It is more common after RYGB and least common after SG. Readmission and reoperation rates were highest in patients with BO in the RYGB group.
Evaluation of Long-Term Nutrition Outcomes After Duodenal Switch: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) is the most effective and durable metabolic and bariatric surgery to achieve a target weight loss. However, many surgeons are hesitant to adopt BPD-DS due to a lack of training, technical complexity, and long-term nutrition deficiencies. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate long-term nutrition outcomes after primary BPD-DS in the management of obesity. Methods Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for articles from their inception to February 2023 by 2 independent reviewers using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) system. The review was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42023391316). Results From 834 studies screened, 8 studies met the eligibility criteria, with a total of 3443 patients with obesity undergoing primary BPD-DS. At long-term follow-up (≥5 years), 25.4% of patients had vitamin A deficiency (95% CI: -.012, .520, I 2 = 94%), and 57.3% had vitamin D deficiency (95% CI: .059, 1.086, I 2 = 86%). Calcium deficiency was observed in 125 patients (22.2%, 95% CI: .061, .383, I 2 = 97%), and 69.7% had an abnormal parathyroid hormone level (95% CI: .548, .847, I 2 = 78%). Ferritin level was abnormal in 30 patients (29.0%, 95% CI: .099, .481, I 2 = 79%). Conclusions Despite displaying comparable nutrition-related outcomes to mid-term follow-up, our study demonstrated that BPD-DS could result in a high level of long-term nutrition deficiency after BPD-DS for selected patients. However, further randomized controlled studies with standardized supplementation regimens and improvement in compliance are necessary to evaluate and prevent long-term nutritional deficiencies after BPD-DS.
Author response to: Comment on: Risk of non-hormonal cancer after bariatric surgery: meta-analysis of retrospective observational studies
Abstract Background Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of at least 13 types of cancer. Although bariatric surgery has been associated with a reduced risk of hormonal cancers, data for non-hormonal cancers are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery on the incidence of non-hormonal cancers. Methods Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for articles between 1984 and 2018, following the PRISMA system. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effect model with subgroup analysis by procedure and cancer type. Results From 2526 studies screened, 15 were included. There were a total of 18 583 477 patients, 947 787 in the bariatric group and 17 635 690 in the control group. In comparison to the non-surgical group, the bariatric group had a lower incidence of cancer (OR .65 (95 per cent c.i. 0.53 to 0.80); P < 0.002). In the subgroup analysis, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy were associated with decreased risk of developing cancer, while no difference was observed with adjustable gastric banding. When evaluated by cancer type, liver (OR 0.417 (95 per cent c.i. 0.323 to 0.538)), colorectal (OR 0.64 (95 per cent c.i. 0.49 to 0.84)), kidney and urinary tract cancer (OR 0.77 (95 per cent c.i. 0.72 to 0.83)), oesophageal (OR 0.60 (95 per cent c.i. 0.43 to 0.85)), and lung cancer (OR 0.796 (95 per cent c.i. 0.45 to 0.80)) also presented a lower cancer incidence in the bariatric group. Conclusion Bariatric surgery is related to an almost 50 per cent reduction in the risk of non-hormonal cancers.
Single Versus Double Anastomosis Duodenal Switch in the Management of Obesity: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review
Background: Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) is an effective yet technically challenging bariatric surgery with many complications. Alternatively, single anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) was recently introduced as a simplified bariatric procedure. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of SADI-S compared with BPD-DS in the management of patients with obesity. Methods: Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for articles from their inception to May 2022 by 2 independent reviewers using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis system. The review was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42022333521). Results: From 123 studies screened, 6 studies met the eligibility criteria, with a total of 1847 patients with obesity undergoing either SADI-S (n=818) or BPD-DS (n=1029). Preoperative body mass index was similar between the 2 groups, and the BPD-DS group had a greater % excess body mass index loss (EBMIL) (MD=−10.16%, 95% confidence interval: −11.80, −8.51, I2=0%) at 2 years compared with the SADI-S group. There was no difference observed in preoperative comorbidities and remission, including diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia between SADI-S and BPD-DS cohorts. Compared with BPD-DS, SADI-S had shorter hospital stays (MD=−1.36 d, 95% CI: −2.39, −0.33, I2=86%), and fewer long-term (>30 d) complications (OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.74, I2=20%). Conversely, among nutritional deficiency outcomes, the SADI-S group had few patients with abnormal vitamin D (OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.72, I2=0%) values than the BPD-DS group. Conclusions: SADI-S has shown to be a possible alternative treatment option to BPD-DS in managing patients with obesity. Despite the promising results, further randomized controlled studies with more extended follow-up periods are necessary to ascertain the safety and efficacy of the treatment.
Five-Year Analysis of the MBSAQIP Database: Are We Getting Better?
BACKGROUND: The MBSAQIP has been used to evaluate risk and create risk models. Previous studies have determined what complications matter most. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a registry-based analysis of patients who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, at centers participating in MBSAQIP. Cases were identified using Current Procedural Terminology. Patients less than 18 years old were excluded. A chi-square test was used to assess differences in the prevalence of complications and effects across years. Using a multivariable Poisson regression model with a link log and robust estimation, prevalence ratio estimates and 95% CI were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 690,770 observations met the inclusion criteria. Mean (SD) age was 44.5 (±12.0) years, and mean (SD) BMI was 45.2 kg/m2 (±7.9). SG cases accounted for 73.45% of all observations. There was a significant relative reduction in readmissions, end-organ dysfunction, and all-cause mortality from 2015 to 2019 in the SG subgroup. There were also noticeable reductions in 30-day readmission, ICU admission, and end-organ dysfunction in the RYGB subgroup. For complications, bleeding, postoperative pneumonia, and stroke were significantly decreased in the RYGB subgroup, but only bleeding was significantly decreased in the SG subgroup during the 5-year study period. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a continuous improvement in several (but not all) outcomes through the years that the MBSAQIP has been collecting data. Different outcomes were reduced between the SG and RYGB subgroups, and the decrease in all-cause mortality was only noted in the SG subgroup.
Aspirin Use as a Risk Factor for Marginal Ulceration in Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Patients: A Meta-Analysis of 24,770 Patients
Background Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a recognized, safe bariatric procedure with minimal complications. Marginal ulceration, however, remains a challenging problem with an incidence of 8-12%. While chronic NSAID use is an established risk factor for ulcer formation, aspirin use itself as a cause for marginal ulceration is still unclear. We aim to compare the rates of marginal ulceration in RYGB with and without aspirin use. Methods PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for articles between 2008 and 2021 by two independent reviewers using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). The risk of bias was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis was conducted using a fixed-effect model. Results From 5324 studies screened, we included 3 studies. Two studies had a low risk of bias, and the other one presented a high risk of bias on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We included 24,770 patients, 1911 with aspirin use and 22,859 without aspirin use. After the meta-analysis, patients who used aspirin had a significantly higher marginal ulceration rate than those who did not (OR = 1.33 [95% CI 1.08 to 1.63], P < .002; I 2 = 39%). Conclusions Aspirin use is associated with increased rates of marginal ulceration after RYGB.