BACKGROUND Whether the benefits of the robotic platform in bariatric surgery translate into superior surgical outcomes remains unclear. The aim of this retrospective study was to establish the 'best possible' outcomes for robotic bariatric surgery and compare them with the established laparoscopic benchmarks. METHODS Benchmark cut-offs were established for consecutive primary robotic bariatric surgery patients of 17 centres across four continents (13 expert centres and 4 learning phase centres) using the 75th percentile of the median outcome values until 90 days after surgery. The benchmark patients had no previous laparotomy, diabetes, sleep apnoea, cardiopathy, renal insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, immunosuppression, history of thromboembolic events, BMI greater than 50 kg/m2, or age greater than 65 years. RESULTS A total of 9097 patients were included, who were mainly female (75.5%) and who had a mean(s.d.) age of 44.7(11.5) years and a mean(s.d.) baseline BMI of 44.6(7.7) kg/m2. In expert centres, 13.74% of the 3020 patients who underwent primary robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and 5.9% of the 4078 patients who underwent primary robotic sleeve gastrectomy presented with greater than or equal to one complication within 90 postoperative days. No patient died and 1.1% of patients had adverse events related to the robotic platform. When compared with laparoscopic benchmarks, robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass had lower benchmark cut-offs for hospital stay, postoperative bleeding, and marginal ulceration, but the duration of the operation was 42 min longer. For most surgical outcomes, robotic sleeve gastrectomy outperformed laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with a comparable duration of the operation. In robotic learning phase centres, outcomes were within the established benchmarks only for low-risk robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. CONCLUSION The newly established benchmarks suggest that robotic bariatric surgery may enhance surgical safety compared with laparoscopic bariatric surgery; however, the duration of the operation for robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is longer.

Abstract Robotic-assisted surgery is widely integrated into several surgery standards. However, conventional laparoscopy still represents the gold standard in bariatric surgery and robotic-assisted surgery is relatively novel. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the SenhanceTM surgical system for robotic-assisted sleeve gastrectomy in obese patients. Twenty obese patients (BMI: 36-57) underwent elective robotic-assisted sleeve gastrectomy in the Department for bariatric and metabolic surgery at Sana Hospital Offenbach, Germany. Indication for sleeve gastrectomy followed the general German guidelines of obesity surgery. Median docking time was 7.5 min (4–13), mean console time was 33 min (15-75) and median total operating time was 85 min (47–147). Two cases were converted to conventional laparoscopy (10 %) for bleeding or limited working space, none to open surgery. One complication required reoperation (postoperative hematoma). Median hospitalization time was three days (3–5). The study results underline the feasibility and safety of the SenhanceTM surgical system for robotic-assisted sleeve gastrectomy in obese patients.

The augmentation of hiatoplasty (HP) with the ligamentum teres hepatis (LTA) is a new concept for intrathoracic migration of a gastric sleeve or pouch (ITGM). We retrospectively analyzed all cases of hiatal hernia repair in a single center between 2015 and 2019. A total of 171 patients underwent 307 hiatal hernia repairs after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (n = 79), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (n = 129), and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) (n = 99). Each hiatal hernia repair was defined as a “case” and assigned to the LTA group or the non-LTA group. The primary outcome was the recurrence of ITGM as detected by endoscopy or CT. The basic characteristics in the LTA group (78 cases) and the non-LTA group (229 cases) were comparable with the exception of the rate of revisional HP (72% vs. 21%), the rate of prior conversion to RYGB (33% vs. 17%), the initial BMI (45.9 ± 8.2 kg/m2 vs. 49.0 ± 8.8 kg/m2), and the follow-up (7 months (1–16) vs. 8 months (1–54)). The ITGM recurrence rate was 15% in the LTA group and 72% in non-LTA group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the length of ITGM and the type of surgical repair were independent risk factors. The addition of LTA to HP lowered the probability of ITGM recurrence by a factor of 0.35 (p = 0.015), but the conversion from SG or OAGB to RYGB did not reduce the risk. LTA reduces the risk of early ITGM recurrence. The long-term durability, however, needs to be further investigated.

The search for an operation that effectively prevents and treats intrathoracic gastric migration (ITGM) after bariatric surgery has revived a long-forgotten technique: ligamentum teres cardiopexy (LTC) by which a vascularized flap of the teres ligament is wrapped around the distal esophagus. The systematic search of publications in the English language revealed 4 studies (total number of patients 53) in the non-bariatric literature with an unsatisfactory resolution of GERD. There were 5 reports from the bariatric literature with small patient numbers (total 64) and a short follow-up (6–36 months). There were no objective signs of gastric remigration in 93% of investigated patients. Acknowledging the limitations of these preliminary reports, bariatric surgeons are encouraged to further investigate the potentials of LTC in their patients.

The standard of surgical correction of post-bariatric intrathoracic gastric migration (ITGM) is hiatal hernia repair, but little is known about its efficacy in patients with one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). We present our experience. This retrospective cohort study includes all patients with OAGB who had undergone hiatal hernia repair from 2014 to 2019. The primary outcome was recurrence of ITGM as diagnosed by computed tomography and gastroscopy. A total of 63 patients underwent hiatal hernia repair 2–54 months (median 13) after primary OAGB (40 patients) or concurrent with revisional OAGB after prior sleeve gastrectomy (23 patients). ITGM recurred in 48% of patients with hiatal repair after primary OAGB and in 91% of patients with concomitant hiatal repair. Recurrences were diagnosed after a median interval of 9 and 8.5 months, respectively. Thirty-six patients (57% of total number) required a revision, and a re-recurrence of ITGM was detected in 15 patients. The Cox regression analysis of all hiatal repairs showed that two variables significantly influenced the likelihood of ITGM recurrence: the length of the migrated pouch (hazard ratio 1.32; p = 0.016) and the type of repair. Combining hiatoplasty with ligamentum teres augmentation (LTA) and conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) lowered the probability of ITGM recurrence (compared with stand-alone hiatoplasty; hazard ratio 0.21, p = 0.029). The outcome of hiatal repair in patients with OAGB is unsatisfactory. Stand-alone hiatoplasty is particularly ineffective. The combination of hiatoplasty with LTA and conversion to RYGB improves the early results, but the long-term durability needs to be tested.

Whether one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a better revisional bariatric surgery (RBS) after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is still under debate. The aim is to compare short-term outcomes of RYGB and OAGB as a RBS after SG, pertaining to their effects on weight loss, resolution of comorbidities, and complications.

INTRODUCTION: The established single-anastomosis-duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) is based on a sleeve gastrectomy (SG) as the restrictive part of the procedure. Due to preserved pylorus, SG has the disadvantage of a high-pressure system with de novo or worsening of existing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).CASE PRESENTATION: A female patient presented herself due to protracted GERD and weight regain after multiple bariatric surgeries. At an initial weight of 158kg (BMI 62.5kg/m(2)) the patient underwent adjustable gastric banding in 2009. After band removal in slippage, the patient underwent SG at a weight of 135kg in 2012. Nine months after SG, SADI-S was performed as a malabsorptive second step procedure. After 32 months the patient suffered from severe GERD under proton pump inhibitor therapy. Actual weight was 107.9kg (BMI 42.7kg/m(2)). Upper endoscopy showed a hiatal hernia and esophagitis B and dorsal hiatoplasty was performed. After 6 months in still existing severe GERD and weight regain indication for laparoscopic conversion to One anastomosis gastric bypass/Mini-gastric bypass (OAGB/MGB) was given, aiming to reduce the high-pressure system of SG in a low-pressure system of OAGB/MGB. One year after revisional surgery reflux was reported to be only occasionally. Further weight loss was seen (91kg, BMI 36kg/m(2), EWL 67.7%).CONCLUSION: SG as the restrictive part of SADI-S may lead to GERD and consequently to pathologic eating of "soft" calories, that defeats the operation and results in weight regain. OAGB/MGB might be a simple method to rescue such failed SADI-S patients. (C)2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of IJS Publishing Group Ltd.

ZusammenfassungEndoskopische Verfahren haben das Potenzial, die therapeutische Lücke zwischen medikamentöser und operativer Therapie der Adipositas zu schließen.Dabei haben endoluminale Verfahren ein deutlich höheres Wirkungspotenzial als der medikamentöse Therapieansatz und dazu ein geringeres Risikoprofil als die Chirurgie. Es gibt eine Vielzahl von verschiedenen primären endoskopischen Therapien, es stehen Bridging-Therapien zur Verfügung, und auch im Rahmen des Behandlungsalgorithmus von chirurgischen Komplikationen hat die Endoskopie einen herausragenden Stellenwert.Aus diesem Grund hat sich mittlerweile ein eigenständiges Fachgebiet in der Endoskopie entwickelt: Die bariatrische Endoskopie. Die bariatrische Endoskopie setzt exakte chirurgische und anatomische Kenntnis der adipositaschirurgischen Verfahren als auch das Verständnis für die resultierenden pathophysiologischen Veränderungen voraus.

Adipositaschirurgie ist die effektivste und langfristig wirksamste Maßnahme in der Behandlung der krankhaften Adipositas und vieler ihrer Folgeerkrankungen. Die Patienten sind jedoch aufgrund ihrer Begleit- und Folgeerkrankungen sowie eingeschränkter Reserven kardiopulmonaler Funktionen Hochrisikopatienten. Das Komplikationsmanagement unterscheidet sich im Hinblick auf Klinik, Diagnostik und Zeitdruck erheblich von unerwarteten Ereignissen nach viszeralchirurgischen Eingriffen bei „Normalgewichtigen“. Jede Abweichung von einem normalen postoperativen Verlauf, insbesondere das Auftreten von Tachykardie, unklaren Schmerzen, Tachypnoe, Fieber, aber auch unerwartet hohe oder ansteigende Entzündungsparameter zwingen zum raschen Handeln. Die frühzeitige Relaparoskopie besitzt bei einer abdominellen Symptomatik einen besonderen Stellenwert und kann vielfach die bildgebende Diagnostik, die bei extrem hohen Körpermassen technisch schwierig und in der Aussagekraft limitiert ist, ersetzen. Sie ermöglicht zugleich vielfach die Therapie.

Bariatric surgery is known to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment for morbid obesity and associated comorbidities. These comorbidities together with cardiopulmonary decompensation make morbidly obese patients a high risk group for operative interventions. Early detection of postoperative complications is a challenging task in these patients and requires accurate and timely interpretation of any alarm signals. Symptoms, such as tachycardia and abdominal pain are highly suspicious. The same applies to elevated inflammatory parameters and fever. Early diagnostic laparoscopy is mandatory once cardiopulmonary complications have been excluded. Moreover, it has a higher sensitivity and specificity than other radiological modalities and is a minimally invasive procedure with a highly satisfactory outcome.

BACKGROUND:Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are the most common obesity surgeries. Their early complications may prolong hospital stay (HS).METHODS:Data for patients who underwent LRYGB and LSG in our clinic from 2009 through August 2012 were collected. Early post-operative complications prolonging HS (>5 days) were retrospectively analyzed, highlighting their relative incidence, management, and impact on length of HS.RESULTS:Sixty-six patients (4.9 %) after 1,345 LRYGB operations vs. 49 patients (7.14 %) after 686 LSG operations developed early complications. This difference is statistically significant (p = 0.039). Male gender percentage was significantly higher in complicated LSG group vs. complicated LRYGB group [23 patients (46.9 %) vs. 16 patients (24.2 %)] (p = 0.042). Mean BMI was significantly higher in the complicated LSG group (54.2 ± 8.3) vs. complicated LRYGB group (46.8 ± 5.7; p = 0.004). Median length of HS was not longer after complicated LSG compared with complicated LRYGB (11 vs. 10 days; p = 0.287). Leakage and bleeding were the most common complications after either procedure. Leakage rate was not higher after LSG (12 patients, 1.7 %) compared with LRYGB (22 patients, 1.6 %; p = 0.304). Bleeding rate was significantly higher after LSG (19 patients, 2.7 %) than after LRYGB (10 patients, 0.7 %; p = 0.004). Prolonged elevation of inflammatory markers was the most common presentation for complications after LSG (18 patients, 36.7 %) and LRYGB (31 patients, 46.9 %).CONCLUSIONS:LSG was associated with more early complications. This may be attributed to higher BMI and predominance of males in LSG group.

Aim: The growing enthusiasm to perform laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in morbidly obese patients exposes also the complications associated with this type of surgery. LSG is not only performed in super-super-obese patients, but in addition has also its standing as a procedure in patients with multiple intraabdominal adhesions based on prior surgeries or after failed gastric banding. However, over the years there are characteristic complications as demonstrated by the increasing number of surgical interventions. Beside the risk of an insufficiency at the staple line, there is just as well the risk of a stenosis. Case Reports: The case reports will present several ways of the treatment that can be regarded as alternative approaches. Conclusion: The final decision to perform a surgery or to implant a stent needs to be calculated from case to case. This demonstrates the importance of an experienced team of surgeons and endoscopists.

BACKGROUND:Ulcers at the gastrojejunostomy site are a common problem after gastric surgery. Their postoperative development seems to be associated with Helicobacter pylori-related gastritis or abuse of nicotine, alcohol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but is also dependent on the choice of surgical method (Roux-en-Y or B-II gastric bypass). PATIENTS AND METHODS:This study evaluated the follow-up of 1,908 patients over a period of 5 years (January 2006-December 2010). In 1,861 cases, we performed a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and in 47 cases a B-II gastric bypass. RESULTS:All patients (n = 407) with symptoms such as dysphagia, reflux, nausea, vomiting or epigastric pain underwent gastroscopy. In 52 cases, ulcers were found at the gastrojejunostomy site. Of these patients, 39 (75%; p < 0.0001) had consumed alcohol, nicotine or NSAIDs; in 14 patients (27%; p < 0.0001) we detected H. pylorirelated gastritis. A total of 2.4% of the patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (45/1,861) and 14.9% of the patients after B-II gastric bypass (7/47) developed ulcers at the gastroenteral junction. The difference is clearly significant (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.0002). Furthermore, there were significant differences regarding the recurrence rate: 86% of the B-II gastric bypass group and 13.3% of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass group needed to be treated several times. CONCLUSIONS:Every patient needs to be informed preoperatively that there is a markedly increased risk of ulcers at the gastroenteral junction, particularly if the patient cannot avoid potential risk factors (nicotine, alcohol, NSAIDs). Preoperative gastroscopy with H. pylori testing and subsequent eradication can also reduce the risk of ulcers. An increased incidence of peptic ulcers after B-II gastric bypass was noted. All of these patients were converted to Roux-en-Y.