Silastic ring gastric bypass: a comparison of two ring sizes: a preliminary report

Closed loop small bowel obstruction due to herniation through silastic ring after bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity and obesity-related complications. Weight regain after surgery plagues all methods of bariatric procedures including the minigastric bypass. The use of a 'silastic ring' around the gastric pouch has been shown to reduce weight regain. We present here a very rare complication of silastic ring use, in which a loop of small bowel had herniated through the ring and produced a closed loop small bowel obstruction. The patient was successfully treated with an emergency laparotomy to resect the silastic ring and release the herniated bowel. This case highlights the hernia risk that silastic rings pose and cautions careful consideration before their use.

A Comparative, Prospective and Randomized Evaluation of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass With and Without the Silastic Ring: A 2-Year Follow Up Preliminary Report on Weight Loss and Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

Currently, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the most widely used bariatric surgeries. Banding the pouch forms a banded gastric bypass operation, an accepted and frequently used variant. Placing a silastic ring around the pouch to band the gastric bypass operation increases the restriction mechanism. However, the ubiquitous use of the banded gastric bypass remains controversial. One of the controversies is the effect of the silastic ring on patients' perception of their well being after surgery because of the frequency of vomiting. A prospective, blindly randomized, comparative trial was undertaken to resolve this controversy.

METHOD

Four hundred subjects scheduled for gastric bypass surgery were randomized into two arms of the trial, 200 with a silastic ring (WR) and 200 without (NR). After 2-year follow-up, the variables associated with the scores of Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

The initial median weight (125 kg), BMI (47), and age (36 years) were the same in both the NR and WR groups. The median excess weight loss, weight regain, and incidence of vomiting were 71, 10.5, and 7.75%, respectively, in the NR group vs. 75.4 and 1.1, and 24.4% in the WR group. The mean QOL score was 79% in the NR group vs. 80% in the WR group.

CONCLUSION

After 2-year follow-up, silastic ring placement in the RYGB resulted in greater weight loss and weight stability and a threefold greater incidence of vomiting. There was no difference in the scores in the quality of life analysis.

Comparison Between Banded and Nonbanded Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass with 2-Year Follow-Up: a Preliminary Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the most widely used bariatric surgeries for treatment of moderate and severe obesity. Placing a band around the pouch to band the gastric bypass operation has been reported to increase the restriction resulting in better weight loss and weight loss maintenance. A retrospective comparative study of banded versus nonbanded gastric bypass was done to see if banding the pouch made a difference in the weight loss and quality of life outcome in the patients.

METHODS

Data from all patients who had a gastric bypass in the year 2012 at our centre were reviewed. They were divided into two groups the banded and the nonbanded groups. Patients with complete 2-year follow-up were analysed in terms of weight loss, weight regain and quality of life changes.

RESULTS

Two hundred ten patients had gastric bypass in 2012; 165 had complete 2-year follow-up; 64 were banded and 101 nonbanded. The preoperative patient profile in terms of weight, gender and comorbid conditions was similar in both groups except the body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in the banded group. The perioperative and postoperative complication rates were similar. The weight, BMI and percentage excess weight loss (PEWL) at 2 years were 80.93 kg, 29.45 kg/m2 and 60.76 % in the nonbanded group and 77.06 kg, 27.66 kg/m2 and 71.45 % in the banded group, respectively. Resolution of comorbid conditions was the same in both groups. The overall Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index went from 88.98 preoperatively to 109.33 postoperatively in the nonbanded group and 92.5 to 112.81 in the banded group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients with banded gastric bypass had significantly better results in terms of weight loss, weight stability and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index scores at 2 years.

Comparison of weight loss, food consumption and frequency of vomiting among Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients with or without constriction ring

BACKGROUND

After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to avoid rapid gastric emptying, dumping syndrome and regained weight due to possible dilation of the gastric pouch, was proposed to place a ring around the gastric pouch.

AIM

To compare weight loss, consumption of macronutrients and the frequency of vomiting among patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with and without the placement of a constriction ring around the pouch.

METHOD

A retrospective study, in which an analysis of medical records was carried out, collecting data of two groups of patients: those who underwent the operation with the placement of a constriction ring (Ring Group) and those who underwent without the placement of a ring (No-Ring Group). The food intake data were analyzed using three 24-hour recalls collected randomly in postoperative nutritional accompaniment. Data on the percentage of excess weight loss and the occurrence of vomiting were collected using the weight corresponding to the most recent report at the time of data collection.

RESULTS

Medical records of 60 patients were analyzed: 30 from the Ring Group (women: 80%) and 30 from the No-Ring Group (women: 87%). The average time since the Ring Group underwent the operation was 88 ± 17.50 months, and for the No-Ring Group 51 ± 15.3 months. The percentage of excess weight loss did not differ between the groups. The consumption of protein (g), protein/kg of weight, %protein and fiber (g) were higher in the No-Ring Group. The consumption of lipids (g) was statistically higher in the Ring Group. The percentage of patients who never reported any occurrence was statistically higher in the No-Ring Group (80%vs.46%). The percentage who frequently reported the occurrence was statistically higher in the Ring Group (25%vs.0%).

CONCLUSION

The placement of a ring seems to have no advantages in weight loss, favoring a lower intake of protein and fiber and a higher incidence of vomiting, factors that have definite influence in the health of the bariatric patient.

Laparoscopic silastic ring mini-gastric bypass: a single centre experience

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (MGBP) represents a simpler alternative to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The placement of a silastic ring (SR) may enhance excess weight loss and minimize weight regain. This study reports on the results of a consecutive cohort of patients undergoing SR-MGBP in a single centre.

METHODS

Short- and medium-term outcomes of 156 consecutive patients undergoing surgery between August 2005 and January 2008 were analysed. Weight loss, comorbidity resolution and morbidity/mortality were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 156 patients (78% female, 22% male) with a mean (range) age of 44 years (18-63), pre-operative weight of 129 kg (83-197) and body mass index of 46 kg/m(2) (35-64) underwent surgery. Eighty-seven percent had pre-operative comorbidities, and median (range) follow-up was 35 months (6-72). Mean (SD) % excess weight loss (EWL) at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60 months was 74.6 (19.5), 93.4 (21.1), 98.8 (27.6), 93.5 (20.1) and 89 (16.1) respectively. Thirty-seven percent had complete resolution of comorbidities and 67.3% required vitamin/mineral supplementation. Overall, 10.3% patients suffered early complications, of which 7.7% were minor and 2.6% were major. A total of 45.5% patients suffered late complications, of which 34.6% were minor and 10.9% were major. Food intolerance/vomiting, bile reflux and stomal ulcer were seen in 18.6, 10.3 and 7.7% of patients, respectively. Surgical re-intervention was required in 12.8% of patients. There were no deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst SR-MGBP achieves excellent EWL with low mortality, there is a high incidence of food intolerance/vomiting likely related to the silastic ring. The majority of complications were managed with pharmacological and endoscopic intervention, although 13% required reoperation within 5 years.

Food intolerance after banded gastric bypass without stenosis: aggressive endoscopic dilation avoids reoperation

BACKGROUND

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) controls obesity and comorbidities. However, there is no consensus on ring placement due to its complications. Surgical ring removal has been the standard approach, despite its inherent morbidity risks. Endoscopic dilation with achalasia balloon is a novel and minimally invasive option. We aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of aggressive dilation as an outpatient procedure to treat food intolerance after banded RYGBP without stenosis; we also analyzed long-term weight regain.

METHODS

This prospective study included 63 patients presenting with more than four vomiting episodes per week. Therapeutic endoscopy with a 30-mm balloon (Rigiflex®) was performed with radioscopic guidance in the first 16 patients (25.4 %). Four dilation sessions were performed in 12 patients (19 %), three in 14 (22.2 %), two in 24 (38 %), and one in 13 (20.6 %).

RESULTS

Complete symptom improvement was achieved in 59 patients (93.6 %), partial improvement in 2 (3.2 %), and failure in 2, leading to ring removal by laparotomy. Complications rate was 9.5 %, including three cases of bleeding, two intragastric ring erosions, and one pneumoperitoneum; all treated clinically with no need for reintervention. Mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 42.4 kg/m(2) and postoperative (before endoscopic treatment) BMI was 25.3 kg/m(2). At a mean follow-up of 46.1 months after endoscopic intervention, mean BMI was 27.8 kg/m(2).

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressive endoscopic dilation for food intolerance is a safe and minimally invasive method that promotes symptom improvement. It avoided reoperation in 96.8 % of patients and led to a low rate of weight regain.

Pericardial patch ring Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a preliminary report

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is an effective treatment for morbid obesity. Failure of weight loss has been reported in 10 to 30% of RYGB patients. Silastic ring RYGB was introduced to minimize failure rate, however, with higher complication rate. The aim of our study is to evaluate the safety of utilizing pericardial patch as a ring on RYGB patients.

METHODS

Between March 2010 and June 2011, a total of 189 patients underwent pericardial patch ring RYGB at the Bariatric and Laparoscopy Center. A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was performed for all pericardial patch ring RYGB patients, noting the outcomes and complications of the procedure.

RESULTS

Pericardial patch ring RYGB patients demonstrated a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 57.4% at a mean follow-up of 11 months. Out of 164 patients with follow-up, five (3.0%) patients required endoscopic balloon dilation due to dysphagia, abdominal pain, and/or gastric outlet obstruction. All patients did well after the procedure. Three (1.8%) patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for abdominal pain. Of these patients, one (0.6%) had dilated and enlarged blind limb, and two (1.2%) patients had partial small bowel obstruction. No patient was readmitted or reoperated due to pericardial patch ring.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer follow-up is needed to prove the true efficacy of this procedure in reducing weight gain. Pericardial patch ring RYGB seems to be a safe alternative for banded RYGB of other materials.

Ring influence on ponderal evolution after four years of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

BACKGROUND

Use of ring in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is still a matter of controversy among bariatric surgeons. There is no consensus on its impact in relation to weight loss and weight maintenance in the long term.

AIM

To evaluate the influence of the ring on the evolution of body weight over four years after bariatric surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective analyzis of 143 women who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass paired on the use or not use of Silastic® ring. Follow-up time was 48 months. Inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, primary bariatric operation and regular attendance at the clinic during the period of interest for research. The technique kept small gastric reservoir estimated in a volume of 30 ml. The food limb had in average 150 cm and the bile one 40 cm from the duodenojejunal angle. The group "ring" used Silastic® device with length of 6.5 cm, placed 2 cm from gastrojejunal anastomosis. The ring was closed for five polypropylene surgical thread sutures. In the morning after surgery the patients received isotonic fluids; on the second day salty liquid diet and were discharged on the third day. Semisolid diet started from the 20th day and solid on the 30th, with daily tablet of polivitamins.

RESULTS

The weight loss was larger on the ring than without ring groups in all periods, respectively 10% and only 5% in the third postoperative year. The proportion of not having reached the 50% excess weight loss expectative was significantly higher in the group without ring than in the group with the ring (31% and 8% respectively in the fourth year). There was no difference between groups in delayed recovery of weight lost with the operation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results were favorable to use the ring exclusively when it is analyzed only the weight loss.

Banded sleeve gastrectomy using the GaBP ring--surgical technique

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been described as the first step of a two-step laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) in extremely obese patients. It has also been used as an independent bariatric procedure. Recently a banded sleeve gastrectomy using human dermis was published. Gastric sleeve dilatation is one of the unfavorable postoperative courses that may limit weight loss. Our technique of a banded sleeve gastrectomy using the GaBP Ring Autolock(TM) System to calibrate the sleeve and prevent distal sleeve dilatation is described in this article.

Laparoscopic adjustable banded roux-en-y gastric bypass as a primary procedure for the super-super-obese (body mass index > 60 kg/m²)

BACKGROUND

Currently, there is no consensus opinion regarding the optimal procedure of choice in super-super-morbid obesity (Body mass index, BMI > 60 kg/m²). Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is associated with failure to achieve or maintain 50% excess weight loss (EWL) or BMI < 35 in approximately 15% of patients. Also, percent EWL is significantly less after 1-year in the super-super-obese group as compared with the less obese group and many patients are still technically considered to be obese (lowest post-surgical BMI > 35) following RYGB surgery in this group. The addition of adjustable gastric band (AGB) to RYGB has been reported as a revisional procedure but this combined bariatric procedure has not been explored as a primary operation.

METHODS

In a primary laparoscopic RYGB, an AGB is drawn around the gastric pouch through a small opening between the blood vessels on the lesser curve and the gastric pouch. The band is then fixed by suturing the gastric remnant to the gastric pouch both above and below the band to prevent slippage.

RESULTS

Between November 2009 and March 2010, 6 consecutive super-super-obese patients underwent a primary laparoscopic adjustable banded Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure at our institution. One male patient (21 years, BMI 70 kg/m²) developed a pneumonia postoperatively. No other postoperative complications were observed.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first series of patients that underwent a laparoscopic adjustable banded RYGB as a primary operation for the super-super obese in the indexed literature. With the combined procedure, a sequential action mechanism for weight loss is to be expected. The restrictive, malabsorptive and hormonal working mechanism of the RYGB will induce weight loss from the start reaching a stabilised plateau of weight after 12 - 18 months. At that time, filling of the band can be started resulting in further gastric pouch restriction and increased weight loss. Moreover, besides improving the results of total weight loss, a gradual filling of the band can as well prevent the RYGB patient from weight regain if restriction would fade away with time.

Estudo do padrão alimentar tardio em obesos submetidos à derivação gástrica com bandagem em Y- de- Roux: comparação entre homens e mulheres

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o padrão alimentar caracterizando preferências e intolerâncias alimentares em pacientes submetidos à derivação gástrica com bandagem em Y-de-Roux frente às modificações decorrentes da capacidade gástrica reduzida e também se há diferenças entre homens e mulheres em relação à alimentação após cirurgia. MÉTODOS: De julho de 2006 a julho de 2007 foi realizado um estudo transversal descritivo, de amostra por conveniência com 116 pacientes, após 12 meses de cirurgia de derivação gástrica com bandagem em Y-de-Roux, no ambulatório de Cirurgia Digestiva do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Foi aplicado um questionário abordando características demográficas, informações referentes ao hábito e padrão alimentar, presença de vômitos e sintomas de "dumping". As variáveis foram analisadas aplicando o teste exato de Fischer ou Qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Dos 116 pacientes 91(78,4%) eram mulheres e 25(21,5%) homens. Não houve diferença significativa entre homens e mulheres quanto ao tempo das refeições, número de refeições, líquidos nas refeições e ingestão hídrica diária. Quanto ao consumo de alimentos, relato de vômitos e sintomas de "dumping" houve pequena diferença entre homens e mulheres, no entanto sem diferença significativa a não ser quanto à ingestão de frutas e sonolência significativamente mais freqüente em mulheres. CONCLUSÃO: Com o questionário proposto foi possível avaliar o padrão tardio de aceitação alimentar dos pacientes e constatar que existe diferença entre homens e mulheres nas variáveis analisadas, apenas para o consumo de frutas.

A importância do anel de silicone na derivação gástrica em Y-de-ROUX para o tratamento da obesidade

OBJETIVO: Analisaram prospectivamente pacientes obesos submetidos à derivação gástrica em y-de-roux com anel de silicone de diferentes tamanhos. MÉTODO: Os pacientes foram acompanhados durante cinco anos e através de exame endoscópico foram classificados em dois Grupos: anel com diâmetro interno até 10 mm (184 pacientes) e anel com diâmetro interno maior que 10 mm (107pacientes). Foi mensurada a porcentagem de perda do excesso de peso com um, dois e cinco anos de pós-operatório, e comparados os grupos entre si em cada ano da coleta dos dados. RESULTADOS: Houve maior emagrecimento no grupo com anel de diâmetro interno até 10 mm. A análise estatística mostrou que houve significância comparando-se os dois grupos entre si, um, dois e cinco anos após a cirurgia, sendo o emagrecimento sempre maior no grupo com anel de menor diâmetro. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante ao se comparar outros dados da amostra como idade, sexo e IMC. CONCLUSÃO: A restrição determinada pelo anel aumenta a porcentagem de perda do excesso de peso.