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Crohn's disease affects 2.5 million people in Europe (more than 100,000 people in France) and often occurs between the ages of 15 and 30, a period marked by self-construction. However, few studies have focused on the experience of the diagnosis during this sensitive developmental stage. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the experience of Crohn's disease in young adults since their diagnosis. Fifteen young adults (18–35 years) diagnosed with Crohn's disease participated in a semi-directive interview. Narrative data were subjected to a thematic analysis, and thirty percent of the interviews were double-coded. The results revealed an evolution of four main themes since diagnosis: (1) course of care, (2) illness perceptions, (3) disease management and (4) self-perception. For most participants, the onset of the disease was difficult, marked by severe symptoms requiring hospitalization, numerous medical examinations and sometimes several consultations before diagnosis. This journey was more difficult when it was associated with negative relations with the medical staff, who were sometimes perceived as unsupportive. Thus, some people described this diagnostic period as an "ordeal", while others experienced it as a "relief" from their suffering. The announcement of the diagnosis was often a "shock", an "upheaval" or a "downfall", followed by phases of denial associated with a desire to maintain a "normal life" and not to be defined by the disease. Despite a difficult start, most participants grew from their experience with CD, with a sense of a personal development that was made possible by self-regulation processes that enabled them to draw on their own experience and resources to adjust to their illness. By highlighting positive possibilities for evolution, this study suggests the importance of supporting the psychological resources of young adults by proposing, at an early stage, psychological support or therapies focused on acceptance and engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and study aim: Zenker's diverticulum is a rare disease that affects quality of life due to dysphagia and regurgitation. This condition can be treated by various surgical or endoscopic methods. Patients and method: Patients treated for Zenker's diverticulum in three centers in the south of France between 2014 and 2019 were included. The primary objective was clinical efficacy. Secondary objectives were technical success, morbidities, recurrences, and need for a new procedure. Results: One hundred forty-four patients with a total of one hundred sixty-five procedures performed were included. A significant difference was found between the different groups in terms of clinical success (97% for open surgery versus 79% for rigid endoscopy versus 90% for flexible endoscopy, p = 0.009). Technical failure occurred more frequently in the rigid endoscopy group than in the flexible endoscopy and surgical groups (p = 0.014). Median procedure duration, median time to resumption of feeding, and hospital discharge were statistically shorter for endoscopies than for open surgery. On the other hand, more recurrences occurred in patients treated by endoscopy than those treated by surgery, and more reinterventions were required. Conclusion: Flexible endoscopy appears to be as effective and safe as open surgery in the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum. Endoscopy allows a shorter hospital stay at the expense of a higher risk of recurrence of symptoms. It could be used as an alternative to open surgery for the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum, especially in frail patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parastomal incisional hernia (PH) is a frequent complication following the creation of an ileal conduit (IC), and it can be a significant detriment to quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of PH repair following IC for urinary diversion. Method: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted of 6 academic hospitals in France. The study's population included patients who underwent surgical treatment for parastomal hernia following IC creation from 2013 to 2021. Results: Fifty-one patients were included in the study. Median follow up was 15.3 months. Eighteen patients presented with a recurrence (35%), with a median time to recurrence of 11.1 months. The vast majority of PH repair was performed through an open approach (88%). With regard to technique, Keyhole was the most reported technique (46%) followed by Sugarbaker (22%) and suture only (20%). The Keyhole technique was associated with a higher risk of recurrence compared to the Sugarbaker technique (52% vs 10%, p = 0.046). Overall, there was a 7.8% rate of major complications without a statistical difference between PH repair techniques for major complications. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of parastomal hernia following IC was associated with a high risk of recurrence. Novel surgical approaches to PH repair should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medicolegal expertise concerning bariatric surgery has greatly evolved, both quantitatively and qualitatively, but unfortunately, the jurisprudence is poor on the subject. Objectives: The aim of this article is to propose a global and practical approach to medical liability in bariatric surgery. Setting: University Hospital, France Methods: This is a retrospective study which deals with an analysis of cases of surgical malpractice litigation between 2009 and 2011. Only the malpractice claims taken to the High Court and the Regional Commission of Reconciliation and Compensation have been taken into account in this study. Results: During this period, there were 426 cases of visceral and digestive surgical malpractice litigation, 81 of which involved bariatric surgery (19%). Fistula was the most common complication leading to a malpractice claim (43.67%). The period of time between the allegations and the procedure was 2 years on average, with a range of 1 to 6 years. There were seven fistulas reported with gastric bypass GB (18.5%) and 31 with sleeve gastrectomy SG (81.5%) leading to malpractice claims. In the majority of cases, only the surgeon was implicated. Sometimes the anaesthetist or the surgical staff were implicated separately or "in solidum" with the surgeon. Every surgical technique was examined. Conclusion: Patients do not spontaneously differentiate between recovery from a complication and the result of an alleged error. Attention must be paid to the implications and discourteous remarks. Surgical complications are often unpredictable events and are not synonymous with medical mistakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Results of trials and meta-analyses comparing pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α2a and PEG-IFN-α2b for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C are conflicting. Objective: Our objective was to determine which PEG-IFN (α2a or α2b), in association with ribavirin, is the most effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C by performing an updated meta-analysis. Method: MEDLINE (1950-2012) and EMBASE (1974-2012) databases, as well as the Cochrane Central Register of controlled trials and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, were searched. Reference lists of retrieved articles were scanned, and proceedings of major international conferences were manually searched for abstracts. Randomized clinical trials and non-randomized clinical studies comparing PEG-IFN-α2a with PEG-IFN-α2b in association with ribavirin in adult patients with chronic hepatitis C were included. Studies including HIV-positive patients or liver transplant recipients were excluded. The data extraction from each study was conducted independently by two authors, with disagreements resolved by consensus or by a third reviewer. The trial quality of randomized clinical trials was assessed by taking into account generation of allocation sequence, allocation concealment, efficacy of randomization, investigator blindness, description of withdrawals and dropouts and adherence to the intention-to-treat principle. Two meta-analyses were performed, the first including randomized clinical trials only, and the second including both randomized and non-randomized clinical studies. The primary outcome measure was frequency of sustained virological response (SVR). Heterogeneity and publication bias were systematically taken into account. Results: This meta-analysis included 26 studies, 11 randomized and 15 non-randomized, with a total of 18,260 patients: 8,125 treated with PEG-IFN-α2a and 10,135 treated with PEG-IFN-α2b. In the meta-analysis that included randomized trials only, the SVR was significantly higher for patients treated with PEG-IFN-α2a than for those treated with PEG-IFN-α2b for genotypes 1 and 4 [odds ratio (OR) 1.45; 95 % CI 1.09-2.06; p = 0.013] and for all genotypes (OR 1.34; 95 % CI 1.05-1.72; p = 0.02). In the meta-analysis including both randomized and non-randomized studies, the SVR was significantly higher for PEG-IFN-α2a than for PEG-IFN-α2b for all genotypes (OR 1.24; 95 % CI 1.10-1.40; p < 0.001) and for genotypes 1 and 4 (OR 1.25; 95 % CI 1.14-1.36; p < 0.001); for genotypes 2 and 3, the SVR was greater for treatment with PEG-IFN-α2a than with PEG-IFN-α2b, with the difference tending towards significance (OR 1.15; 95 % CI 0.98-1.35; p = 0.08). A certain degree of heterogeneity was present amongst the various studies included in this meta-analysis. Publication bias was detected (particularly for analyses including only randomized controlled trials) and taken into account using appropriate statistical methods. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that PEG-IFN-α2a and ribavirin is associated with a higher SVR than PEG-IFN-α2b and ribavirin in patients mono-infected with hepatitis C, particularly for genotypes 1 and 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increased prevalence of reflux disease in obese patients, combined with widespread availability of laparoscopic antireflux surgery, has increased the likelihood that more patients will seek bariatric surgery having previously undergone fundoplication., Objectives: This study examined our series of laparoscopic bariatric surgery after previous antireflux surgery without takedown of the previous fundoplication. We discuss our results, our technique and the tips and tricks to avoid complication after this procedure., Setting: Private practice., Methods: We operated on patients suffering from obesity who had already undergone laparoscopic Nissen. The patients were eligible for bariatric surgery according to the French National Institute of Health's criteria for bariatric surgery. The pre-operative assessment involved gastroscopy with biopsies looking for Helicobacter pylori, oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy, investigation for sleep apnoea syndrome and a full laboratory assessment. The patients took part in their choice of surgery., Results: The patients' post-operative course was uncomplicated. No patients had symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux late after surgery and good gastrointestinal comfort was achieved (no pain, no reflux). All of the patients were satisfied. Length of stay was 3 to 5 days. All patients exhibited significant weight loss., Conclusion: Bariatric surgery is possible after fundoplication without taking down the fundoplication. It appears to be a viable alternative in patients seeking weight loss surgery after fundoplication, which is currently assumed contraindicated.

Background: Despite great progress in understanding the mechanisms underlying genetic hemochromatosis, data on the prevalence and the penetrance of the disorder are conflicting., Design and Methods: A registry of patients with genetic hemochromatosis was established in the South of France and a regional health network was developed to allow the inclusion of all the diagnosed patients. C282Y homozygous patients classified in stages 2 (biological iron overload), 3 and 4 (clinical manifestations of iron overload, stage 4 being the more severe) according to the classification of the French National Authority for Health were included in the registry over a 6-year period., Results: A total of 352 symptomatic C282Y homozygotes were identified, resulting in a total prevalence of 1.83 per 10,000 (95% CI: 1.63 to 2.02) in subjects over 20 years and 2.40 per 10,000 (95% CI, 2.15 to 2.65) among subjects of European descent. Among Europeans, the total calculated penetrance was 15.8% in stage 2 or higher, 12.1% in stage 3 or 4 and 2.9% in stage 4. The penetrance was slightly higher in males (18.7%) than in females (13.2%). It was 19.9% for individuals over 40 years of age (24.1% and 16.3% in males and females, respectively) with a maximum of 31% in subjects between 50 and 54 years old. Among 249 patients with complete records, 24% were in stage 2, the majority (58%) were in stage 3, and 18% in stage 4. There was a higher proportion of males, and excessive alcohol intake was more prevalent in stage 4 than in stages 2 and 3 combined., Conclusions: A French Mediterranean regional hemochromatosis registry with strict inclusion criteria is a useful tool for characterizing the history of this disease, particularly for the most severely affected patients, as defined by the disease severity classification. The total prevalence of symptomatic C282Y homozygotes in the region was found to be low. However, clinical penetrance (stages 3 and 4) was not negligible.