Anal incontinence incidence is high in patients with obesity prior to bariatric surgery: Prevalence, risks-factors

INTRODUCTION

Anal incontinence (AI) prevalence in general population is estimate to range from 1.4 to 19.5% (Wexner ≥ 1). Obesity could be an AI risk factor. However, AI prevalence in patients with obesity is not clearly established. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of AI in patients with extreme obesity prior to bariatric surgery and to identify specific AI risk factors in this subset of patients.

MATERIAL

A cross-sectional study, in a tertiary referral center in obesity was performed during one year. Patients who presented criteria for bariatric surgery (BMI>40 or BMI > 35 with co-morbidities) were asked to fill in preoperative self-questionnaires. A Wexner score ≥ 3 was used to define AI to identified patients who had a clinic impact of AI, by frequency of symptoms or alteration of quality of life.

RESULTS

Two hundred and fifty patients were included. Corresponded to, 196 women (78.4%) and 54 men (21.6%). Median BMI was 44.53kg/m². AI was diagnosed in 41 patients (prevalence 16.4%, 95CI 0.59). Constipation, urinary incontinence and the history of pregnancy (P = 0.03, OR 2.79; P = 0.01, OR 3.53 and P=0.02, OR 4.71, respectively) were significantly associated with AI.

CONCLUSION

AI is frequently observed in patients with extreme obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery and should be routinely evaluated. Modifiable risk factors as constipation should be manage before surgery as well as the specific management of AI, to prevent AI exacerbation after surgery. The choice of bariatric surgical procedure should be discussed and evaluated for the treatment of patients with obesity and AI.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Moderate.

Complicated Meckel's diverticulum: Presentation modes in adults

Complicated Meckel's diverticulum represents a common etiology of acute abdomen in children. However, this condition is less frequent in adults. We reviewed the records of adult patients who underwent the surgical removal of complicated Meckel's diverticulum between 2001 and 2017 at 2 tertiary French medical centers. We then analyzed the clinical characteristics, mode of presentation, and management for all patients.The Meckel's diverticulum was resected in 37 patients (24 males and 13 females). The mean patient age was 46.1 ± 21.4 years. The most common clinical presentations of complicated Meckel's diverticulum were diverticulitis (35.1%, n = 13), small-bowel obstruction (35.1%, n = 13), and gastrointestinal bleeding (29.8%, n = 11) (anemia, n = 1; hematochezia, n = 10). Age distribution was significantly different (P = .02) according to the 3 Meckel's diverticulum complications: patients with diverticulitis (P = .02) were statistically more frequently over 40 (P = .05), significantly older than patients with gastrointestinal bleeding who were more frequently <40 (P = .05). There was a preoperative diagnosis available for 15 of the 37 patients (40%). An exploratory laparoscopy was necessary to determine the cause of disease for the other 22 patients (60%). An intestinal resection was performed in 33 patients (89%) and diverticulectomy was performed in 4 patients (11%). There was heterotopic tissue found in only 6 patients (16%). Postoperative complications were as follows: 1 death by cardiac failure in a 92-year-old patient and 2 patients with postoperative wound infections. The follow-up time was 3 to 12 months.The correct diagnosis of complicated Meckel's diverticulum in adults is difficult due to the lack of specific clinical presentation. As a result, exploratory laparoscopy appears to play a central role in cases of acute abdomen with uncertain diagnosis.

Lessons from McCune-Albright syndrome-associated intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: : GNAS-activating mutations in pancreatic carcinogenesis

GNAS-activating mutations are reported in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and in McCune-Albright syndrome, characterized by fibrous dysplasia, precocious puberty, and café au lait spots. Recently, IPMNs have been described as a McCune-Albright syndrome-associated tumor, present in about 15% of patients. The aim of the present work was to assess the prevalence of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and McCune-Albright syndrome among patients operated on for presumptive sporadic IPMNs. All patients operated on for IPMNs between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2012, with available imaging were retrospectively screened for polyostotic fibrous dysplasia based on their preoperative abdominal or thoracoabdominal spiral computed tomography images. Systematic screening of 272 patients operated on for IPMNs revealed 1 patient with axial and peripheral polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and café au lait spots on clinical examination suggestive of McCune-Albright syndrome. This patient had been operated on for an unusually large invasive colloid adenocarcinoma (pT3N0M0 R0) derived from an intestinal subtype GNAS-mutated IPMN. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine for 6 months and was alive without recurrence 6 years later. Besides providing additional evidence of a syndromic IPMN as a feature of McCune-Albright syndrome, this observation is further evidence of the functional oncogenic consequences of GNAS mutations in the pancreas.

Liver angulometry: a simple method to estimate liver volume and ratios

OBJECTIVES

Volumetry is standard method for evaluating the volumes of the right liver (RL), left liver (LL), left lateral segments (LLS), total liver (TL) and future liver remnant (FLR). The aim of this study was to report a simple technique based on measurements of liver angles (angulometry) that can be used to predict liver ratios.

METHODS

Fifty computed tomography (CT) scans obtained in subjects with normal liver were studied. Four CT scan levels were preselected: level 1 passed by the upper part of the hepatic veins; level 2 passed by the left portal vein branch division; level 3 passed by the right portal vein branch division, and level 4 passed by the gallbladder bed. Left and right tangent lines passing the liver edges were drawn and joined to the centre of the vertebra defining the TL angle. Two lines through, respectively, the plane of the middle hepatic vein and the left portal branches determined the angles of the RL, LL and LLS. Volumetric and angulometric data obtained on levels 2 and 3 in 50 different subjects were compared.

RESULTS

Level 2 CT scans represented the most accurate way of obtaining angulometric measurements. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) angles of the TL and LL were 134 ± 12 ° and 55 ± 12 °, respectively. The mean ± SD percentages of the TL represented by the LL in angulometry and volumetry were 38 ± 7% and 36 ± 6%, respectively (non-significant difference). The mean ± SD percentages of the TL represented by the LLS in angulometry and volumetry were 25 ± 4% and 20 ± 3%, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean ± SD overestimation of the percentage of the TL represented by the LLS in angulometry was 2.7 ± 7.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Angulometry is a simple and accurate technique that can be used to estimate the ratio of the FLR to TL volume on one or two CT (or magnetic resonance imaging) slices. It can be helpful for clinicians, especially before right or extended right hepatectomy and after right portal vein occlusion techniques.