Francesca Abbatini

Long-term remission of type 2 diabetes in morbidly obese patients after sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and other related co-morbidities in severely obese patients. METHODS From May 2003 to July 2008, 33 morbidly obese diabetic patients (20 with body mass index [BMI]>50 kg/m(2)) underwent LSG. A total of 23 females and 10 males participated, with a mean age of 49.3±8 years, mean preoperative BMI of 52.1±8.5 kg/m(2), mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 143.2±47.9 mg/dL, mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7.3%±1.4%, and a mean T2DM duration of 7 years. All patients had a 36-month follow-up, and 13 had a 60-month follow-up. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients (87.8%) discontinued antidiabetic medications 3 months after LSG, (mean BMI of 42.8±7.8 kg/m(2); FPG of 104.5±22.1 mg/dL; HbA1c of 5.3%±.4%). At 36 months, 22 of 26 LSG patients (84.6%) had normal FPG and HbA1c values without antidiabetic therapy. At the 60-month follow-up, 10 of 13 patients (76.9%) had normal FPG and HbA1c values without antidiabetic therapy. The Framingham risk score decreased significantly from 9.7% preoperatively to 4.7% postoperatively. No new diabetic retinopathy occurred during the whole period of observation. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the efficacy of LSG in the treatment of T2DM and indicates that, at both 36- and 60-month follow-ups, LSG can provide a significant percentage of treated patients with a prolonged remission of T2DM, with diminished cardiac risk factors and no development of diabetic retinopathy. These results compare favorably with those reported after standard medical therapy.

Type 2 diabetes in obese patients with body mass index of 30–35 kg/m2: sleeve gastrectomy versus medical treatment

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are diseases of epidemic proportions. Long-term realistic weight loss by nonsurgical methods has a variable effect on glycemic control, and only a proportion of patients with T2DM have a worthwhile response. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been proposed as an advantageous bariatric procedure for patients with a lower body mass index (BMI). Our objective was to compare the effects of LSG and medical therapy on patients with T2DM and a BMI of <35 kg/m(2). METHODS A total of 18 nonmorbidly obese patients with T2DM, diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association guidelines, were consecutively enrolled. Of these patients, 9 underwent LSG (group A) and 9 underwent conventional medical therapy (group B). The 2 groups were matched for BMI, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and C-peptide levels, pretrial therapy type, and number of patients with a T2DM duration of >10 years. RESULTS In group A, T2DM resolution was achieved in 8 (88.8%) of the 9 patients (T2DM duration 5.2 yr). Hypertension was controlled in all 8 of 9 patients. Dyslipidemia was corrected. In 1 patient, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome improved. In group B, all 9 patients continued to have T2DM and required hypertensive and hypolipemic therapies throughout the observation period. At baseline, 3 patients were affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and remained affected 1 year later. CONCLUSION The results of the present study have confirmed the efficacy of LSG in the treatment of nonmorbidly obese T2DM patients, with a remission rate of 88.8% without undesirable excessive weight loss. The results in this group of patients add to those obtained by us in patients with a BMI >35 kg/m(2).

Laparoscopic gastric sleeve and micronutrients supplementation: Our experience

Background. Laparoscopic gastric sleeve (LGS) has been recently introduced as a stand-alone, restrictive bariatric surgery. Theoretically, LGS attenuates micronutrients deficiencies and associated complications that were typically observed following malabsorptive procedures. The aim of this study was to assess some micronutrients and mineral deficiencies in patients undergoing LGS. Methods. In the period between July 2008 and April 2010, 138 obese patients (110 females and 28 males) with mean BMI 44.4 kg/m2 ± 6.5, mean age 43.9 ± 10.9 years were enrolled and underwent LGS. Patients were followed up with routine laboratory tests and anthropometric measurements and assessed for nutritional status, as regards vitamin B12, folic acid, iron, hemoglobin, calcium, and vitamin D, every three months throughout 12 months. Results. 12 months after sleeve, patients did not show iron deficiency and/or anemia; plasma calcium levels were in the normal range without supplementation from the sixth month after the operation. Vitamin B12 and folic acid were adequately supplemented for all the follow-up period. Vitamin D was in suboptimal levels, despite daily multivitamin supplementation. Conclusion. In this study, we showed that LGS is an effective surgery for the management of morbid obesity. An adequate supplementation is important to avoid micronutrients deficiencies and greater weight loss does not require higher dosage of multivitamins.

Ten-year duration of type 2 diabetes as prognostic factor for remission after sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND Several studies have demonstrated a high rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) resolution after sleeve gastrectomy. Different prognostic factors have been hypothesized for T2DM remission after bariatric surgery. Our objectives were to analyze the role of T2DM duration as an independent prognostic factor for remission. METHODS From January 2008 to September 2010, 56 obese patients with T2DM underwent sleeve gastrectomy. Group A consisted of 16 patients who had lived with T2DM for >10 years (12 women and 4 men, mean body mass index 42.7 kg/m2). Group B included 40 obese patients who had lived with T2DM for <10 years (29 women and 11 men, mean body mass index 44.9 kg/m2). RESULTS In group A, 43.7% were treated with oral hypoglycemics, 6.3% with insulin, and 50% with oral hypoglycemics and insulin. In group B, 87.5% were treated with oral hypoglycemics, 5% with dietary therapy, and 7.5% with insulin. The preoperative average glycemia, glycosylated hemoglobin, and C-peptide value was 206.2 mg/dL, 9.5%, and 2.8 μg/L in group A and 134 mg/dL, 7.1%, and 4.5 μg/L in group B, respectively (P < .05 for all). The T2DM remission rate in all 56 patients was 80.3%. However, in group B, the resolution rate was 100%, but in group A, the resolution rate was 31%. Patients without complete remission were more sensitive to lower doses of antidiabetic drugs. CONCLUSION Sleeve gastrectomy is effective in the treatment of obese patients with T2DM. The duration of T2DM seems to be of paramount importance as a prognostic factor, with 10 years representing a cutoff between a 100% rate of remission and significantly lower rates of remission.

Gut Microbiota Markers in Obese Adolescent and Adult Patients: Age-Dependent Differential Patterns

Obesity levels, especially in children, have dramatically increased over the last few decades. Recently, several studies highlighted the involvement of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of obesity. We investigated the composition of gut microbiota in obese adolescents and adults compared to age-matched normal weight (NW) volunteers in order to assemble age- and obesity-related microbiota profiles. The composition of gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA-based metagenomics. Ecological representations of microbial communities were computed, and univariate, multivariate, and correlation analyses performed on bacterial profiles. The prediction of metagenome functional content from 16S rRNA gene surveys was carried out. Ecological analyses revealed a dissimilarity among the subgroups, and resultant microbiota profiles differed between obese adolescents and adults. Using statistical analyses, we assigned, as microbial markers, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Actinomyces to the microbiota of obese adolescents, and Parabacteroides, Rikenellaceae, Bacteroides caccae, Barnesiellaceae, and Oscillospira to the microbiota of NW adolescents. The predicted metabolic profiles resulted different in adolescent groups. Particularly, biosynthesis of primary bile acid and steroid acids, metabolism of fructose, mannose, galactose, butanoate, and pentose phosphate and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis were for the majority associated to obese, while biosynthesis and metabolism of glycan, biosynthesis of secondary bile acid, metabolism of steroid hormone and lipoic acid were associated to NW adolescents. Our study revealed unique features of gut microbiota in terms of ecological patterns, microbial composition and metabolism in obese patients. The assignment of novel obesity bacterial markers may open avenues for the development of patient-tailored treatments dependent on age-related microbiota profiles.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and left adrenalectomy with supragastric approach

A female patient, 48-year-old, with morbid obesity (body mass index 42.5 kg/m2) complicated by hypertension, T2DM, and severe Ostructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome was candidated to bariatric surgery. During the preoperative work-up, an abdominal ultrasonography and an RMN showed an incidental left adrenal tumor with a diameter of 11 cm. The laboratory evaluation for the functional adrenal tumor was negative. A laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and left adrenalectomy with supragastric approach was successfully carried out. The minimally invasive treatment of coexisting abdominal pathologies such as morbid obesity and adrenal incidentalomas seem to be suitable and safe, providing several benefits in terms of surgical and anesthesiologic management and postoperative clinical outcomes. The supragastric approach may represent a valuable option for left adrenalectomy combined with laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Surgical Approaches to the Treatment of Obesity

Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LAGB) was the first bariatric procedure to be performed by a laparoscopic approach. Introduction of LAGB into clinical practice was an immediate success in Europe as well as in Australia. Although sleeve gastrectomy, standard Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) currently represent the majority of laparoscopic bariatric/metabolic procedures in the United States and Canada, laparoscopic gastric banding during the last 10 years has been growing acceptance by physicians as well as by patients. The idea behind the operation is to “create” a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach with a controlled and adjustable stoma, without stapling, thus limiting the daily food intake (restrictive procedure). The silicone prosthesis is placed around the stomach just below the gastroesophageal junction, creating a 15–20 mL pouch (virtual pouch) (Fig. 2.1). This operation does not involve neither rerouting of food through the upper gastrointestinal tract nor exclusion of intestinal segments. The weight loss process in the short and long term is due to the food intake restriction and early satiety. In the highest quality study, excess body weight loss at 1 year after LAGB is 48%. At this time the hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and sleep apnea resolution rate were about 55%, 58%, 42%, and 45%, respectively [1]. The LAGB represents the bariatric procedure with the lower reported incidence of short- and midterm adverse events [2–4]; however, long-term data show a higher incidence of postoperative acute complications leading to band repositioning or removal and eventually conversion to other procedures [5–7].

Role of bariatric surgery in chronic kidney disease patients

Bariatric surgery represents the elective treatment of severe obesity (BMI≥40Kg/m2) since it results in better control of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities typically associated with obesity, like diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Obesity is a recognized independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease and for progression of renal insufficiency. Pathomechanisms are still incompletely known. Obesity is associated with hyper-filtration, microalbuminuria and proteinuria all of which favor renal disease and its progression. This narrative review reports on the available evidence linking bariatric surgery and renal function since this surgery may affect proteinuria, hyper-filtration and glomerular filtration rate. Although available data are limited in particular in cases with more advanced stages of renal failure, bariatric surgery associates with improved filtration and lower proteinuria in patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency. In patients with more advanced stages of renal failure, surgery should be considered if obesity represents a relative contraindication to transplantation. Surgery seems to improve graft survival. Further, nephrologists should be informed on the metabolic and nutritional changes associated with bariatric surgery, which could be responsible for untoward effects requiring early identification and treatment. Bariatric surgery could be a valid therapeutic option in renal patients to improve the negative clinical outcomes of obese subjects.