Kendrick, Michael L.

SummaryMetabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) is effective in improving metabolic outcomes and reducing weight in patients with obesity and diabetes, with less explored benefits in type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of MBS on weight loss and insulin requirements in T1D patients compared to insulin‐treated type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients over a 5‐year period. This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent primary sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) with a confirmed preoperative diagnosis of either T1D or insulin‐treated T2D. Primary endpoints focusing on weight loss and secondary outcomes assessing changes in insulin dosage and glycemic control. After 5 years, weight loss was similar across groups, with total weight loss at 14.2% for T1D and 17.6% for insulin‐treated T2D in SG, and 22.6% for T1D vs. 26.8% for insulin‐treated T2D in RYGB. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in median daily insulin doses from 140.5 units at baseline to 77.5 units at 1 year postoperatively, sustained at 90 units at 5 years. The differential impact of MBS procedure was also highlighted, where RYGB patients showed a more pronounced and enduring decrease in insulin requirements compared to SG.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine perioperative outcomes and the patency of interposition conduits for visceral arterial reconstruction in this setting. Background: Visceral arterial encasement in locally advanced pancreatic cancer was historically a contraindication for surgery. With modern, effective neoadjuvant strategies, our recent experience has made advanced vascular resection and reconstruction feasible in selected patients. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing pancreatic tumor resection with en bloc arterial resection and interposition revascularization between June 2002 and October 2022. Endpoints included graft patency, vascular-related complications, reinterventions, morbidity, and mortality. Results: Visceral arterial reconstruction with interposition grafting was performed in 111 patients undergoing en bloc arterial resections for pancreatic cancer. Graft types included autologous arterial conduits (n=66, 58 superficial femoral arteries (SFA) and 8 splenic arteries), cryopreserved arterial allografts (n=24), autologous saphenous veins (n=12), synthetic conduits (n=8), and composite autologous artery and synthetic (n=1). Perioperative 90-day mortality decreased significantly over time to 5% in the last 6 years. Vascular complications related to arterial reconstruction occurred in 11% (n=12) and included pseudoaneurysm (n=6), graft thrombus (n=2), stenosis requiring reintervention (n=2), hepatic failure (n=1), and hepatic and intestinal ischemia (n=1). Nine (8%) patients underwent vascular-related reinterventions. After a median follow-up of 17 months, primary patency was 81% for the entire cohort and was highest in the SFA group (95%). The donor limb/harvest site complication rate was 8% with 100% primary patency. Conclusion: Visceral arterial resection with interposition reconstruction for locally advanced pancreatic cancer can be performed with acceptable vascular morbidity and durable patency. Autologous SFA was the most suitable conduit for reconstructions in our experience, with the highest primary patency.

Background: Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is characterized by a constellation of symptoms related to the compression of the celiac artery trunk. Laparoscopic release of the ligament has demonstrated its effectiveness in alleviating these symptoms while showing lower postoperative complication rates, reduced hospital stays, and improved clinical outcomes. This study describes a single institution’s experience with this procedure and reports on the preoperative assessment, surgical technique, and clinical outcomes of patients with MALS. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent a primary laparoscopic MAL release (MALR) at a single high-volume academic institution from June 2021 to July 2023. Patient demographics, preoperative assessment, postoperative complications, and resolution of preoperative symptoms data were collected. Results: A total of 30 patients underwent laparoscopic MALR, with 76.7% being female and a mean age of 33.4±16.3 years. The most common presenting symptom was postprandial epigastric pain (100%), followed by abdominal pain and nausea (83.3%), among others. The preoperative evaluation for all patients included a duplex mesenteric doppler and CT angiogram during inspiration and expiration and 3D reconstruction. Successful laparoscopic decompression of the celiac artery was achieved in 96.6% of cases, with only one conversion to an open procedure. There was only one reported early (<30 d postoperatively) complication with no subsequent late complications or mortality. None of the patients required reintervention or reoperation. Only 1 patient required postoperative celiac plexus/splanchnic block injection to alleviate pain. Conclusions: MALS can be effectively and safely managed using a laparoscopic approach when performed by an experienced minimally invasive surgeon. Further studies with longer follow-ups are needed to confirm the long-term effectiveness of this technique.

Objective and Background: Clinically significant posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF B+C) remains the main cause of mortality after major hepatic resection. This study aimed to establish an aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio combined with an albumin-bilirubin grade (APRI+ALBI), based multivariable model (MVM) to predict PHLF and compare its performance to indocyanine green clearance (ICG-R15 or ICG-PDR) and albumin-ICG evaluation (ALICE). Methods: A total of 12,056 patients from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database were used to generate a MVM to predict PHLF B+C. The model was determined using stepwise backwards elimination. The performance of the model was tested using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and validated in an international cohort of 2525 patients. In 620 patients, the APRI+ALBI MVM, trained in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program cohort, was compared with the MVM’s based on other liver function tests (ICG clearance, ALICE) by comparing the areas under the curve (AUC). Results: A MVM including APRI+ALBI, age, sex, tumor type, and extent of resection was found to predict PHLF B+C with an AUC of 0.77, with comparable performance in the validation cohort (AUC: 0.74). In direct comparison with other MVM’s based on more expensive and time-consuming liver function tests (ICG clearance, ALICE), the APRI+ALBI MVM demonstrated equal predictive potential for PHLF B+C. A smartphone application for the calculation of the APRI+ALBI MVM was designed. Conclusion: Risk assessment through the APRI+ALBI MVM for PHLF B+C increases preoperative predictive accuracy and represents a universally available and cost-effective risk assessment before hepatectomy, facilitated by a freely available smartphone app.

Background: The current design of biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) and single anastomosis duodenal–ileal bypass with sleeve (SADI-S) emphasizes the importance of the pylorus’ preservation to reduce the incidence of marginal ulcer (MU) and dumping. However, no institutional studies have yet reported data on their prevalence. We aimed to assess the incidence of MU and dumping after duodenal switch (DS) and identify the associative factors. Methods: A multi-center review of patients who underwent BPD/DS or SADI-S between 2008 and 2022. Baseline demographics, symptoms, and management of both complications were collected. Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical variables and the independent t-test for continuous variables. Results: A total of 919 patients were included (74.6% female; age 42.5 years; BMI 54.6 kg/m2) with mean follow-up of 31.5 months. Eight patients (0.9%) developed MU and seven (0.8%) had dumping. Patients who developed MU were more likely to be using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) (p = 0.006) and have a longer operation time (p = 0.047). Primary versus revisional surgery, and BDP/DS versus SADI-S were not associated with MU or dumping. Conclusions: The incidences of MU and dumping after DS were low. NSAID use and a longer operation time were associated with an increased risk of MU, whereas dumping was attributed to poor dietary habits.

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesWe assessed the accuracy of preoperative gallium‐68 DOTA‐Tyr3‐octreotate (DOTATATE) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in estimating multifocality and nodal metastases of small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (sbNETs).MethodsA multicenter analysis was performed on patients with sbNETs who underwent preoperative DOTATATE PET imaging and surgical resection, with manual palpation of the entire length of the small bowel, between January 2016 and August 2022. Preoperative imaging reports and blinded secondary imaging reviews were compared to the final postoperative pathology reports. Descriptive statistics were applied.ResultsOne‐hundred and four patients met inclusion criteria. Pathology showed 53 (51%) patients had multifocal sbNETs and 96 (92%) had nodal metastases. The original preoperative DOTATATE PET imaging identified multifocal sbNET in 28 (27%) patients and lymph node (LN) metastases in 80 (77%) patients. Based on original radiology reports, sensitivity for multifocal sbNET identification was 45%, specificity was 92%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 86%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 62%. For the identification of LN metastases, sensitivity was 82%, specificity was 88%, PPV was 99%, and NPV was 29%.ConclusionsAlthough DOTATATE PET imaging is specific and relatively accurate, sensitivity and NPV are insufficient to guide surgical planning. Preoperative use should not replace open palpation to identify additional synchronous lesions or to omit regional lymphadenectomy.

Objective: To describe long-term quality of life (QOL) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer in the modern era. Background: As advances in pancreatic cancer management improve outcomes, it is essential to assess long-term patient-reported outcomes after surgery. Methods: Patients who underwent curative intent pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer between January 2011 and June 2019 from a single center were identified. Patients alive ≥3 years after surgery were considered long-term survivors (LTS). LTS who were alive in June 2022 received a 55-question survey to assess their QOL (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and GI symptoms (EORTC-PAN26 and Problem Areas in Diabetes Questionnaire). Responses were compared against population norms. Clinicodemographic characteristics in LTS versus non-LTS and survey completion were compared. Results: Six hundred seventy-two patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer; 340 were LTS. One hundred thirty-seven patients of the 238 eligible to complete the survey responded (response rate: 58%). Compared to the US general population, LTS reported significantly higher QOL (75 vs 64; P<0.001), less nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, and constipation, but more diarrhea (all P<0.001). Most patients (n=136/137, 99%) reported experiencing postoperative GI symptoms related to pancreatic insufficiency (n=71/135, 53%), reflux (n=61/135, 45%), and delayed gastric emptying (n=31/136, 23%). Most patients (n=113/136, 83%) reported that digestive symptoms overall had little to no impact on QOL, and 91% (n=124/136) would undergo surgery again. Conclusions: Despite known long-term complications following pancreatoduodenectomy, cancer survivors appear to have excellent QOL. Specific long-term gastrointestinal symptoms data should be utilized for preoperative education and follow-up planning.

BACKGROUND: Portal or superior mesenteric vein (PV-SMV) resection and reconstruction is sometimes required during pancreatic tumor resection. In patients requiring segmental venous resection with interposition grafting, the left renal vein (LRV) is an accessible autologous solution. However, long-term patency outcomes of the LRV as an interposition conduit in this setting have not been analyzed. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing pancreatic resection with PV-SMV reconstruction using LRV between 2002 and 2022. The primary outcome was PV-SMV patency at last follow-up, assessed with postoperative CT scans and analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival methods that account for variation in follow-up duration. Development of any postoperative acute kidney injury within 7 days of surgery and morbidity were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The study cohort includes 65 patients who underwent LRV harvest; 60 (92%) ultimately underwent successful reconstruction with harvested LRV graft. Kaplan-Meier 2-year estimated patency rate of the LRV graft was 88%, with no cases of complete occlusion. Six (10%) patients experienced graft stenosis. Nine of 61 (15%) patients experienced grade II or III acute kidney injury, 6 of 9 returning to normal renal function before discharge. No difference in median serum creatinine was observed at baseline, 6 and 12 months from surgery. LRV remnant thrombosis was seen in 7 of 65 (11%) patients. Only 3 of 61 (5%) patients had persistent acute kidney injury caused by complications unrelated to LRV harvesting. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous LRV graft was a reliable conduit for segmental PV-SMV reconstruction, resulting in a high patency rate and marginal impact on renal function. LRV harvest is a safe and potentially ideal surgical option for PV-SMV reconstruction in pancreatic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Accurate staging prior to resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is imperative to avoid unnecessary operative morbidity and oncologic futility in patients with occult intra-abdominal distant metastases. We aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of staging laparoscopy (SL) and to identify factors associated with increased risk of positive laparoscopy (PL) in the modern era. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with radiographically localized PDAC who underwent SL from 2017 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The yield of SL was defined as the proportion of patients with PL, including gross metastases and/or positive peritoneal cytology. Factors associated with PL were assessed using univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 1,004 patients who underwent SL, 180 (18%) had PL due to gross metastases (n = 140) and/or positive cytology (n = 96). Patients who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to laparoscopy had lower rates of PL (14% vs 22%, p = 0.002). When the analysis was restricted to chemo-naive patients who had concurrent peritoneal lavage performed, 95 of 419 patients (23%) had PL. In multivariable analysis, PL was associated with younger (<60) age, indeterminate extrapancreatic lesions on preoperative imaging, body/tail tumor location, larger tumor size, and elevated serum CA 19-9 (all p < 0.05). Among patients with no indeterminate extrapancreatic lesions on preoperative imaging, the rate of PL ranged from 1.6% in patients with no risk factors to 42% in young patients with large body/tail tumors and elevated serum CA 19-9. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of PL in patients with PDAC remains high in the modern era. SL with peritoneal lavage should be considered for the majority of patients prior to resection, specifically those with high-risk features, and ideally prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Gastrojejunal (GJ) anastomotic stenosis is a well-described complication after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB); however, its impact on weight loss outcomes is not well elucidated. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent RYGB at our institution between 2008 and 2020. Propensity score matching was used to match 30 patients who developed GJ stenosis within the first 30 days post-RYGB with 120 control patients who did not develop this outcome. Short and long-term complications and mean percentage of total body weight loss (TWL) were recorded at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 to 5 years, and 5 to 10 years postoperatively. Hierarchical linear regression modeling was used to analyze the association between early GJ stenosis and the mean percentage of TWL. Results: Patients who developed early GJ stenosis had a 13.6% increase in the mean percentage of TWL when compared with controls in the hierarchical linear model [P < 0.001 (95% CI: 5.7; 21.5)]. These patients were also more likely to present to an intravenous infusion center (70% vs 4%; P < 0.01), require readmission within 30 days (16.7% vs 2.5%; P < 0.01), and/or develop an internal hernia (23.3% vs 5.0%) postoperatively. Conclusions: Patients who develop early GJ stenosis after RYGB have a greater degree of long-term weight loss compared with patients who do not develop this complication. Although our findings support the key contribution that restrictive mechanisms play in maintaining weight loss after RYGB, GJ stenosis remains a complication associated with significant morbidity.