Endoscopic management in the bariatric surgical patient

Effect of oral ursodeoxycholic acid on cholelithiasis following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a definitive solution for morbid obesity and its related co-morbidities. Cholelithiasis is a postoperative complication of LSG. The use of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) after LSG is a proposed solution to reduce the incidence of cholelithiasis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of UDCA prophylaxis on cholelithiasis following LSG in morbidly obese patients.

SETTING

Two university hospitals in Egypt, Cairo, and Beni Suef Universities' hospitals.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted between July 2015 and March 2018 and included 200 patients scheduled for LSG. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. The UDCA group received a postoperative prophylaxis regimen for prevention of cholelithiasis in the form of 250 mg twice daily of UDCA for 6 months. The control group did not receive prophylactic treatment. Abdominal ultrasound was done at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months for all patients to detect cholelithiasis. The primary outcome measure was cholelithiasis.

RESULTS

Only 6% of the UDCA group developed cholelithiasis compared with 40% in the control group (P < .001). Age, sex, initial body mass index, and excess weight loss at 6 months did not significantly affect cholelithiasis.

CONCLUSION

UDCA treatment for 6 months after LSG is effective in the prevention of cholelithiasis.

Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding emergencies: evidence-based medicine and practical considerations

Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding remains one of the most common encounters in emergency medicine. The increased use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs by the general population and the increased prescription of anti-platelet agents and anti-coagulants after cardiovascular interventions and for prevention of cerebral vascular accidents may have aggravated the situation. Significant progress has been made in the past decade or so in the non-surgical management of acute upper GI bleeding emergencies. This article will review the current standard treatment of the most common upper GI bleeding emergencies in adults as supported by evidence-based medicine with practical considerations from the authors' own practice experience.

The cooperation between endoscopists and surgeons in treating complications of bariatric surgery

The results of lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy are disappointing in severe obesity which is characterised by premature death and many obesity-associated co-morbidities. Only surgery may achieve significant and durable weight losses associated with increased life expectancy and improvement of co-morbidities. Bariatric surgery involves the gastrointestinal tract and may therefore increase gastrointestinal complaints. Bariatric surgery may also result in complications which in many cases can be solved by endoscopic interventions. This requires a close cooperation between surgeons and endoscopists. This chapter will concentrate on the most commonly performed operations such as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the adjustable gastric banding and the sleeve gastrectomy, in the majority of cases performed by laparoscopy. Operations such as the vertical banded gastroplasty and the biliopancreatic diversion with or without duodenal switch will not be discussed at length as patients with these operations will not be encountered frequently and their management can be found under the headings of the other operations.

Endoscopic findings of asymptomatic patients one year after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for treatment of obesity

BACKGROUND

In the late post-operative period, the necessity of performing an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) to check for complications is controversial. Some authors suggest it should be routine for all patients, others selectively, but not all patients with endoscopic abnormalities are symptomatic and some abnormalities are potentially severe. The study was conducted to evaluate the endoscopic findings from asymptomatic obese patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and correlate them with the demographic data and the presence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp).

METHODS

A total of 715 asymptomatic patients were prospectively submitted to an upper GIE at the end of their first post-operative year. These examinations were evaluated for the presence of abnormalities, their prevalence and their potential severity.

RESULTS

Abnormalities were found in 189 patients (26.5 %). Eighty-four (11.7 %) presented esophageal abnormalities, with 72 (10.1 %) characterized as esophagitis and 12 (1.7 %) as hiatal hernia. Forty-five patients (6.3 %) presented abnormalities of the stomach and the anastomosis, with 26 (3.6 %) characterized as anastomotic ulcers, nine (1.3 %) as stenosis of the gastrojejunal anastomosis, ten (1.4 %) as band erosion and 72 (10.1 %) as jejunitis. There was a statistically significant correlation between super obesity and band erosion.

CONCLUSIONS

An upper GIE at the end of the first year of RYGB plays an important role, even for asymptomatic patients. One fourth of these asymptomatic patients had their treatment modified after the upper GIE was performed.

The role of endoscopy in bariatrics: past, present, and future

The exponential increase in the rate of obesity and its associated co-morbidities has increased the demand for bariatric surgery. Over the past few decades, surgical weight reduction by gastric restriction, malabsorption, or a combination of both has been the preferred approach to achieve sustained weight loss in the morbidly obese. Although extremely effective, surgical procedures carry significant complications and risk with mortality rates of 1%. Because of the cost, surgical risk, and complications, there is a demand for less invasive procedures. Endoscopic approaches include placement of endoluminal space-occupying devices, stapling devices to reduce gastric volume, barrier devices to reduce small bowel absorptive area, and methods to regulate gastric emptying. Current and ongoing studies have delivered promising results across many aspects of endoscopic approaches. However, many technical obstacles still exist that have to be resolved with further research before endoscopic bariatrics can be widely deployed. At present the role of endoscopy is well established in preoperative evaluation as well as in recognition and management of many postoperative complications in bariatrics. In this article, we review the current and future endoscopic methods for weight reduction that are either in practice or in testing.

Laparoscopic Transgastric Endoscopy after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Case Series and Review of the Literature

Endoscopic access to the gastric remnant and pancreatobiliary tree is technically difficult after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass even when facilitated by the use of specialized techniques such as balloon enteroscopy and the use of overtubes. Furthermore, such techniques are not universally available at all medical centers. We describe a case series of 13 patients with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity who underwent laparoscopic transgastric endoscopy through the gastric remnant to access the duodenum or biliary tree. Charts of these patients were reviewed for demographics, indications for procedure, length of stay, morbidity, and mortality. Four of the patients had failed prior attempts to access the excluded anatomy through traditional transoral endoscopy. Two patients underwent transgastric endoscopy for evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding. Of the 11 patients for whom endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was planned, all underwent successful biliary cannulation and sphincterotomy. There were no conversions to an open procedure or complications during the follow-up period. Laparoscopic transgastric endoscopy is a safe and reliable method to access the excluded stomach and biliary tree in patients with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Endoscopic solutions for weight loss

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Gastroenterologists will likely play a critical role in the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities, as novel endoluminal approaches demonstrate their safety and efficacy over the coming years. Understanding the relative advantages and shortcomings of the endoscopic tools and procedures currently under investigation will provide the gastroenterologist with valuable insight into the future of endoscopic procedures for weight loss.

RECENT FINDINGS

Endoscopic restrictive procedures, intestinal sleeves, and intragastric balloons have demonstrated short-term efficacy in inducing weight reduction and in reversing the comorbidities of obesity with an acceptable risk profile. Several endoscopic tools have also demonstrated effectiveness as revisional tools for reversing weight gain after bariatric surgery.

SUMMARY

A plethora of endoscopic tools and procedures are under investigation for primary and revisional obesity management, and these may offer new weight loss options to a variety of different patient populations.

Bariatric surgical anatomy and mechanisms of action

Because bariatric surgery is becoming increasingly common, gastroenterologists need to be familiar with the surgical and endoscopic anatomy of the operations in use today. This review focuses on the 4 most commonly performed bariatric operations in the United States: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. The anatomy and mechanism of action of each procedure is discussed and illustrated. Emphasis is placed on the endoscopic anatomy, with review of the commonly encountered complications. Emerging techniques and devices are reviewed.