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The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess whether treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery reduces gallstone formation. A systematic literature search was performed using electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PROSPERO, Google Scholar and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry platform). RCTs without restrictions on study language, year, status of publication and patient's age were used. Pooled risk ratios were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses for drug dose, duration and procedure types were performed. Sensitivity analyses and a summary of findings table were generated to assess the robustness and the level of evidence provided, respectively. Fourteen trials were included (3619 patients, 2292 in UDCA vs 1327 in control group). Procedures included SG, RYGB, OAGB, AGB and Gastroplasty. UDCA dose ranged from 300 to 1200 mg per day. Gallstone formation occurred in 19.3% (8.3% in UDCA vs 38.1% in the control group). UDCA significantly reduced the risk of gallstone formation (14 trials, 3619 patients; RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.18–0.41; P < 0.001). UDCA significantly reduced the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease (6 trials, 2458 patients; RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.21–0.43; P < 0.001). No subgroup difference was found for different doses, duration and type of procedure performed. Oral UDCA treatment significantly reduces the risks of developing gallstones in postoperative bariatric patients from 38 to 8%. The use of 500 to 600 mg UDCA for 6 months is effective and should be implemented in all patients post-bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a reply to a letter from Dr. Chen and his colleagues regarding a recently published article on the role of Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) in preventing gallstones in bariatric patients. The authors express gratitude for the interest and positive comments on their article. They mention that the incidence of cholesterol gallstones after bariatric surgery is high and that the burden of gallstone disease on healthcare is likely to increase with the rising rates of obesity and bariatric surgeries. The authors conducted a sensitivity analysis to assess the reliability of their pooled estimates and found that UDCA is beneficial in reducing the risk of gallstone disease in post-operative bariatric patients. They suggest that future research should focus on determining the optimal dose and duration of UDCA in these patients. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Ten percent of cirrhotic patients are known to have a high risk of postoperative complications. Ninety percent of bariatric patients suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and 50% of them may develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which can progress to cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess whether the presence of cirrhosis at the time of bariatric surgery is associated with an increased rate and severity of short- and long-term cirrhotic complications. Methods: A cohort of 110 bariatric patients, between May 2003 and February 2018, who had undergone liver biopsy at the time of bariatric surgery were reassessed for histological outcome and divided into two groups based on the presence (C, n = 26) or absence (NC, n = 84) of cirrhosis. The NC group consisted of NASH (n = 49), NAFLD (n = 24) and non-NAFLD (n = 11) liver histology. Medical notes were retrospectively assessed for patient characteristics, development of 30-day postoperative complications, severity of complications (Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification) and length of stay. The C group was further assessed for long-term cirrhosis-related outcomes. Results: The C group was older (52 years vs 43 years) and had lower BMI (46 kg/m2 vs 52 kg/m2) and weight (126 kg vs 145 kg) compared to the NC group (p < 0.05). The C group had significantly higher overall complication rate (10/26 vs 14/84, p < 0.05) and severity of complications (CD class ≥ III, 12% vs 7%, p < 0.05) when compared to the NC group. The length of stay was similar between the two groups (5 days vs 4 days). The C group had significant improvement in model end-stage liver disease scores (7 vs 6, p < 0.01) with median follow-up of 4.5 years (range 2–11 years). There were no long-term cirrhosis-related complications or mortality in our studied cohort (0/26). Conclusion: Bariatric surgery in cirrhotic patients has a higher risk of immediate postoperative complications. Long-term cirrhosis-related complications or mortality was not increased in this small cohort. Preoperative identification of liver cirrhosis may be useful for risk stratification, optimisation and informed consent. Bariatric surgery in well-compensated cirrhotic patients may be used as an aid to improve long-term outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staple line bleeding (SLB) is a common intraoperative complication following resection in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Opinion is divided on the best measure to deal with SLB which includes expensive reinforcement strategies, suturing the staple line or diathermy. Tranexemic acid is a relatively inexpensive drug known to reduce bleeding in trauma and surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether intraoperative tranexemic acid reduces staple line bleeding. Methods: In this prospective matched comparative study of SG, one cohort of patients was administered tranexemic acid (1 g) after induction and compared to a control group. The primary outcome compared the number of staple line bleeding points requiring intervention intra-operatively. Secondary outcomes included estimated blood loss and operating time. The anaesthetic and thromboprophylaxis protocols were uniform. Operative technique and stapling equipment were identical in all patients. Results: Twenty-five patients were allocated to both the control and treatment arms. Patient characteristics in both groups were similar in age (median 34 vs 43 years), body mass index (median 54.7 vs 52 kg/m), gender distribution (female:male = 20:5) and co-morbidities. The treatment group receiving tranexemic acid, required significantly less number of haemostatic stitches for staple line bleeding (19 vs 46, p < 0.05), incurred less intraoperative blood loss ( p < 0.01) and had quicker operating times (median 66 vs 80 min, p < 0.05). There was no difference in morbidity or mortality in both groups. Conclusion: Intraoperative prophylactic tranexemic acid use is a simple and economical option for effectively reducing staple line bleeds leading to significant decrease in operating times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bile acids (BA) modulate lipid and glucose metabolism in a feedback loop through production of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 in the terminal ileum. Changes in BA after bariatric surgery may lead to improvements in the metabolic syndrome, including fatty liver disease. This study investigated the relationship between BA and metabolic and inflammatory profiles after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods: Patients undergoing LSG had fasting blood samples taken pre-operatively and 6 months post-surgery. Liver injury was measured using cytokeratin (CK) 18 fragments. BA were measured using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. FGF-19 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The study included 18 patients (12 females), with mean age 46.3 years (SEM ± 2.9) and BMI 60.1 kg/m (±2.6). After 6 months, patients lost 39.8 kg (±3.1; p < 0.001). Fourteen patients (78 %) had steatosis. FGF-19 increased from median 128.1 (IQR 89.4-210.1) to 177.1 (121.8-288.9, p = 0.045) at 6 months. Although total BA did not change, primary glycine- and taurine-conjugated BA, cholic acid decreased, and secondary BA, glycine-conjugated urodeoxycholic acid increased over the study period. These changes are associated with reduction in insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory cytokines and CK-18 levels. Conclusions: The profile of individual BA is altered after LSG. These changes occur in the presence of reductions in inflammatory cytokines and markers of liver injury. This study supports evidence from recent animal models that LSG may have an effect on fatty liver through changes in BA metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The combination of pneumoperitoneum and intraoperative retraction of the left lobe of the liver leads to hepatocellular injury during laparoscopic gastric surgery. Fatty livers are more susceptible to ischaemic insults. This trial investigated whether the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced liver injury during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods: Patients undergoing LSG were randomised (single blinded) to receive intraoperative NAC infusion or standard anaesthetic treatment. Blood samples were taken before and after surgery (days 0 to 4). Primary endpoints included serum aminotransferases. Secondary measures were C-reactive protein, weight cell count (WCC), cytokines (interleukin 6 and 10) and cytokeratin-18 as markers of apoptosis. Intraoperative liver biopsy samples were assessed using a locally developed injury score. Results: Twenty patients (14 females, mean age 44.5 (SEM ± 2.9) years, mean BMI 60.8 (SEM ± 2.4) kg/m) were recruited (NAC n = 10, control n = 10). The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis. Baseline liver function was similar. The peak rise in liver enzymes was on day 1, but levels were not significantly different between the groups. Rates of complications and length of stay were not significantly different. Secondary outcome measures, including white cell count (WCC), cytokines and cytokeratin (CK)-18 fragments, were not different between groups. Liver injury scores did not differ significantly. Conclusions: NAC did not reduce intraoperative liver injury in this small number of patients. The heterogenous nature of the study population, with differences in co-morbidities, body mass index and intraabdominal anatomy, leads to a varied post-operative inflammatory response. Significant hepatocyte injury occurs through both necrosis and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity-related dyslipidaemia comprises hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, low HDL-cholesterol and normal to raised LDL-cholesterol levels. 40 % of morbidly obese surgical patients have dyslipidaemia. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery has many beneficial metabolic effects, but the full impact on plasma lipids has not been clearly defined. Methods: A systematic review of electronic databases (Ovid; Medline; PubMed; Embase) between 1960 and March 2012 was performed using search terms including the following: obesity surgery, bariatric surgery, gastric bypass, cholesterol, lipids, triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids. A total of 2442 manuscripts were screened. Papers with paired plasma lipid levels around RYGB surgery were included. Exclusions included the following: editorials, dual publications, n < 10, resulting in 75 papers of relevance. A meta-analysis was performed of the effect of RYGB surgery upon plasma lipids at different time points up to 4 years following surgery, using a random effects model. Results: Paired data were available for 7815 subjects around RYGB surgery for morbid obesity with a baseline BMI 48 kg/m ( n = 2331). There was a reduction in plasma total cholesterol and LDL-C from 1 month up to 4 years post-RYGB ( p < 0.00001, p < 0.00001). Following RYGB, HDL-C increased from 1 year onwards ( p < 0.00001), and triglyceride levels were reduced postoperatively from 3 months up to 4 years ( p < 0.00001). NEFA levels were increased at 1 month postoperatively ( p = 0.003), but from 3 months onwards did not differ from preoperative levels ( p = 0.07). Conclusions: RYGB surgery reverses the dyslipidaemia of obesity. These findings support the use of RYGB in the management of high cardiovascular risk lipid profiles in morbid obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bariatric surgical procedures are classified by their presumed mechanisms of action: restrictive, malabsorptive or a combination of both. However, this dogma is questionable and remains unproven. We investigated post-operative changes in nutrient absorption and transit time following bariatric surgery. Methods: Participants were recruited into four groups: obese controls (body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m, n = 7), adjustable gastric banding ( n = 6), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB, n = 7) and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (DS, n = 5). Participants underwent sulphasalazine/sulphapyridine tests (oro-caecal transit time); fasting plasma citrulline (functional enterocyte mass); 3 days faecal collection for faecal elastase 1 (FE-1); calprotectin (FCp); faecal fatty acids (pancreatic exocrine function, gut inflammation and fat excretion, respectively); and 5 h d-xylose, l-rhamnose and lactulose test (intestinal absorption and permeability). Results: Age and gender were not different but BMI differed between groups ( p = 0.001). No difference in oro-caecal transit time ( p = 0.935) or functional enterocyte mass ( p = 0.819) was detected. FCp was elevated post-RYGB vs obese ( p = 0.016) and FE-1 was reduced post-RYGB vs obese ( p = 0.002). Faecal fat concentrations were increased post-DS vs obese ( p = 0.038) and RYGB ( p = 0.024) and were also higher post-RYGB vs obese ( p = 0.033). Urinary excretion of d-xylose and l-rhamnose was not different between the groups; however, lactulose/rhamnose ratio was elevated post-DS vs other groups (all p < 0.02), suggesting increased intestinal permeability. Conclusions: Following RYGB, there are surprisingly few abnormalities or indications of severe malabsorption of fats or sugars. Small bowel adaptation after bariatric surgery may be key to understanding the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial metabolic effects of these operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity increases the risk of progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) towards kidney failure and may preclude access to kidney transplantation. Weight loss surgery remains relatively novel in obese patients with CKD, with several studies reporting results using Roux-en-Y bypass and adjustable gastric banding. However, in obese patients with CKD, kidney failure after bypass surgery and gastric band erosion after kidney transplantation have been reported. We present the first report of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) performed for the treatment of obesity in patients with CKD. Weight loss, blood pressure and lipids, estimated kidney function, surgical complications and adverse events were studied. Nine obese patients with CKD (five of whom were undergoing haemodialysis treatment) underwent LSG, with median body mass index decrease of 8.4 kg/m and excess weight loss of 43.0% after 6 months. Four of the five patients on haemodialysis were added to the kidney transplantation waiting list as a result of weight loss achieved with LSG. Adverse events occurred in three patients: myocardial infarction (one patient), acute kidney injury secondary to dehydration (one patient) and compromised dialysis access (one patient). There was one complication-a gastric leak, detected 7 months after LSG, requiring further surgical intervention and nasojejunal feeding, and no mortality. Our preliminary evidence suggests that LSG is an effective treatment for obesity in patients with CKD. However, there may be additional risk associated with the procedure in patients with CKD, requiring further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]