Derrick Cetin

Who Should Get Extended Thromboprophylaxis After Bariatric Surgery?: A Risk Assessment Tool to Guide Indications for Post-discharge Pharmacoprophylaxis.

Objective: To determine the risk factors for 30-day postdischarge venous thromboembolism (VTE) after bariatric surgery and to identify potential indications for extended pharmacoprophylaxis. Background: VTE is among most common causes of death after bariatric surgery. Most VTEs occur after hospital stay; still a few patients receive extended pharmacoprophylaxis postdischarge. Methods: From American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, we identified 91,963 patients, who underwent elective primary and revisional bariatric surgery between 2007 and 2012. Regression-based techniques were used to create a risk assessment tool to predict risk of postdischarge VTE. The model was validated using the 2013 American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset (N = 20,575). Significant risk factors were used to create a user-friendly online risk calculator. Results: The overall 30-day incidence of postdischarge VTE was 0.29% (N = 269). In those experiencing a postdischarge VTE, mortality increased about 28-fold (2.60% vs 0.09%; P < 0.001). Among 45 examined variables, the final risk-assessment model contained 10 categorical variables including congestive heart failure, paraplegia, reoperation, dyspnea at rest, nongastric band surgery, age ≥60 years, male sex, BMI ≥50 kg/m2, postoperative hospital stay ≥3 days, and operative time ≥3 hours. The model demonstrated good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, P = 0.71) and discrimination (c-statistic = 0.74). Nearly 2.5% of patients had a predicted postdischarge VTE risk >1%. Conclusions: More than 80% of post-bariatric surgery VTE events occurred post-discharge. Congestive heart failure, paraplegia, dyspnea at rest, and reoperation are associated with the highest risk of post-discharge VTE. Routine post-discharge pharmacoprophylaxis can be considered for high-risk patients (ie, VTE risk >0.4%).

Bariatric and metabolic outcomes in the super-obese elderly

BACKGROUND Numerous reports address bariatric outcomes in super-obese or elderly patients, but data addressing this high-risk combination is lacking. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess outcomes of bariatric surgery in the super-obese elderly. SETTING Academic institution, United States. METHODS All primary bariatric cases performed on patients aged 65 years or older with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 50 kg/m(2) were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical approaches included laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). RESULTS Thirty patients (26 female, 4 male) with a mean age of 67.1 ± 2.7 years and BMI of 55.9 ± 3.9 kg/m(2), who had LRYGB (n = 16), LSG (n = 6), or LAGB (n = 8), were identified. There were no deaths, conversions, or intraoperative complications. Three patients were lost to follow-up after the 3-month visit. The early (<30 d) major morbidity rate was 10.0%. At a median follow-up of 37 (range, 6-95) months, the cohort had a mean BMI of 42.3 ± 6.7 kg/m(2), which corresponded to a mean percent excess weight loss of 44.5% ± 20.5% and mean percent total weight loss of 24.4% ± 12.2%. The most percent excess weight loss was achieved after LRYGB (54.1% ± 19.4%), followed by LSG (48.3% ± 10.2%) and then LAGB (26.2% ± 14.4%). Diabetic medication reduction in number and/or dosage was observed in 40% (6/15) patients, and 33% (5/15) of patients were completely off antidiabetic agents. CONCLUSIONS Although further research is needed, the present data suggest that successful weight loss and metabolic improvement can be achieved safely in the high-risk population of super-obese elderly.

Comprehensive Evaluation for Obesity: Beyond Body Mass Index

Many factors contribute to the diagnosis of obesity in a patient. Anthropometric measurements, such as the waist circumference and percentage of body fat, are used in the newly released obesity algorithm to risk stratify patients. Staging methods, which use the identification of comorbidities and disease burden to assess the severity of obesity, can result in treating a patient sooner than if the traditional body mass index is used. Obesity is a growing concern in the medical field, and providing additional avenues through which to diagnose obesity and address obesity-related health risks can improve prevention efforts and lead to expedited weight management. Obesity is a growing concern in the medical field, and providing additional avenues through which to diagnose obesity and address obesity-related health risks can improve prevention efforts and lead to expedited weight management.

Efficacy of adjuvant weight loss medication after bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND Some patients do not achieve optimal weight loss or regain weight after bariatric surgery. In this study, we aimed to determine the effectiveness of adjuvant weight loss medications after surgery for this group of patients. SETTING An academic medical center. METHODS Weight changes of patients who received weight loss medications after bariatric surgery from 2012 to 2015 at a single center were studied. RESULTS Weight loss medications prescribed for 209 patients were phentermine (n = 156, 74.6%), phentermine/topiramate extended release (n = 25, 12%), lorcaserin (n = 18, 8.6%), and naltrexone slow-release/bupropion slow-release (n = 10, 4.8%). Of patients, 37% lost>5% of their total weight 1 year after pharmacotherapy was prescribed. There were significant differences in weight loss at 1 year in gastric banding versus sleeve gastrectomy patients (4.6% versus .3%, P = .02) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy patients (2.8% versus .3%, P = .01).There was a significant positive correlation between body mass index at the start of adjuvant pharmacotherapy and total weight loss at 1 year (P = .025). CONCLUSION Adjuvant weight loss medications halted weight regain in patients who underwent bariatric surgery. More than one third achieved>5% weight loss with the addition of weight loss medication. The observed response was significantly better in gastric bypass and gastric banding patients compared with sleeve gastrectomy patients. Furthermore, adjuvant pharmacotherapy was more effective in patients with higher body mass index. Given the low risk of medications compared with revisional surgery, it can be a reasonable option in the appropriate patients. Further studies are necessary to determine the optimal medication and timing of adjuvant pharmacotherapy after bariatric surgery.

Adjustments to warfarin dosing after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND Warfarin dosing after bariatric surgery may be influenced by alterations in gastrointestinal pH, transit time, absorptive surface area, gut microbiota, food intake, and adipose tissue. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe trends in warfarin dosing after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). SETTING Single academic center. METHODS All patients chronically on warfarin anticoagulation before RYGB or SG were retrospectively identified. Indications for anticoagulation, history of bleeding or thrombotic events, perioperative complications, and warfarin dosing were collected. RESULTS Fifty-three patients (RYGB n = 31, SG n = 22) on chronic warfarin therapy were identified (56.6% female, mean 54.4 ± 11.7 yr of age). Of this cohort, 34.0% had prior venous thromboembolic events, 43.4% had atrial fibrillation, and 5.7% had mechanical cardiac valves. Preoperatively, the average daily dose of warfarin was similar in the RYGB group (8.3 ± 4.1 mg) and SG group (6.9 ± 2.8 mg). One month after surgery, mean daily dose of warfarin was reduced 24.1% in the RYGB group (P<.001) and 23.2% in the SG group (P = .002). At 12 months postoperatively, the required daily warfarin dose compared with baseline remained statistically different (RYGB: 6.8 ± 3.8 mg; SG: 6.1 ± 2.0 mg). CONCLUSIONS The warfarin dose is expected to be decreased by approximately 25% from preoperative levels after both RYGB and SG. Lower dose requirement within the first month after bariatric surgery is followed by a trend toward increased warfarin dose requirements, but remain less than baseline. Because dose requirements change constantly over time, frequent postoperative monitoring of the international normalized ratio is recommended.

Adjustments To Warfarin Dosing Following Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy

Abstract Background Warfarin dosing after bariatric surgery may be influenced by alterations in gastrointestinal pH, transit time, absorptive surface area, gut microbiota, food intake, and adipose tissue. Objectives The aim of this study was to describe trends in warfarin dosing after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Setting Single academic center. Methods All patients chronically on warfarin anticoagulation before RYGB or SG were retrospectively identified. Indications for anticoagulation, history of bleeding or thrombotic events, perioperative complications, and warfarin dosing were collected. Results Fifty-three patients (RYGB n=31, SG n=22) on chronic warfarin therapy were identified (56.6% female, mean 54.4 ± 11.7 yr of age). Of this cohort, 34.0% had prior venous thromboembolic events, 43.4% had atrial fibrillation, and 5.7% had mechanical cardiac valves. Preoperatively, the average daily dose of warfarin was similar in the RYGB group (8.3 ± 4.1 mg) and SG group (6.9 ± 2.8 mg). One month after surgery, mean daily dose of warfarin was reduced 24.1% in the RYGB group ( P P = .002). At 12 months postoperatively, the required daily warfarin dose compared with baseline remained statistically different (RYGB: 6.8 ± 3.8 mg; SG: 6.1 ± 2.0 mg). Conclusions The warfarin dose is expected to be decreased by approximately 25% from preoperative levels after both RYGB and SG. Lower dose requirement within the first month after bariatric surgery is followed by a trend toward increased warfarin dose requirements, but remain less than baseline. Because dose requirements change constantly over time, frequent postoperative monitoring of the international normalized ratio is recommended.

7 Patient Selection: Pathways to Surgery

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for morbid obesity and has favorable and lasting effects on obesity-associated comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea. Perioperative management of this patient population requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach with enhanced recovery schemes to improve both short- and long-term outcomes. The specific medical, psychological, and nutritional needs of each patient pose challenging issues that require appropriate consultation and optimization to reduce morbidity. In addition, refined anesthesiology and technical advancements have allowed bariatric procedures to be liberally applied to the treatment of extreme BMIs, adolescents, and well-selected older patients. Aggressive management of the super obese has brought forth staged procedures and revisional surgeries that are often associated with increased complications. In these cases, in-depth anatomical understanding and preoperative planning are required to mitigate risk. Clinical pathways to facilitate the standardization of perioperative care are essential components for bariatric centers of excellence; however, at present, there is no uniformly accepted practice. In this chapter, we review perioperative care interventions and demonstrate how they fit within a clinical pathway designed to enhance patient selection and postoperative recovery.

44 The High-Risk Bariatric Patient

Advances made in the field of bariatric surgery have decreased surgical times, improved outcomes, and thus allowed patients that previously were of prohibitive operative risk to undergo necessary surgery. Often the patients that were in most need of the benefits that bariatric surgery has to offer were deemed too moribund by risks that were associated with obesity.