Jens Fromholt Larsen

Randomized clinical trial of the effect of pneumoperitoneum on cardiac function and haemodynamics during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) with carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum may cause major cardiovascular changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum and positional changes on haemodynamics and cardiac function in patients assigned randomly to CLC or gasless laparoscopic cholecystectomy (GLC).

Comparison of gene expression in intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat: a study of men with morbid obesity and nonobese men using microarray and proteomics.

Abstract: Extent of intra‐abdominal fat had significant linear relations with six metabolic coronary risk factors: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood concentrations of glucose, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1. Tumor necrosis factor‐α and adiponectin can be biological mediators from the intra‐abdominal fat to the metabolic coronary risk factors. Complementarily, we describe a new study that will analyze the gene expression in intra‐abdominal and subcutaneous fat on mRNA and protein level using high throughput methods. The study will elucidate further whether intra‐abdominal obesity is the common denominator for the different components of the metabolic syndrome.

Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptor in obesity and type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE The extracellular domain of the insulin-like growth factor II/mannose-6-phosphate receptor (IGF-II/M6P-R) is present in the circulation, but its relationship with plasma IGF-II is largely unknown. As IGF-II appears to be nutritionally regulated, we studied the impact of obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and weight loss on circulating levels of IGF-II and its soluble receptor. METHODS Twenty-three morbidly obese non-diabetic subjects were studied before and after gastric banding (GB), reducing their BMI from 59.3+/-1.8 to 52.7+/-1.6 kg/m(2). Lean controls (n=10, BMI 24.2+/-0.5 kg/m(2)), moderately obese controls (n=21, BMI 31.8+/-1.0 kg/m(2)) and obese T2D patients (n=20, BMI 32.3+/-0.8 kg/m(2)) were studied before and after a hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp. RESULTS Morbidly obese subjects had elevated IGF-II/M6P-R and IGF-II levels, which both decreased following GB (IGF-II/M6P-R: from 0.97+/-0.038 to 0.87+/-0.030 nmol/l, P=0.001; IGF-II: from 134+/-7 to 125+/-6 nmol/l, P=0.01), as did fasting plasma glucose and insulin (P<0.05). However, the metabolic parameters correlated with neither IGF-II nor IGF-II/M6P-R. Obese diabetics had increased IGF-II/M6P-R as compared with lean and obese controls (0.82+/-0.031 vs. 0.70+/-0.033 vs. 0.74+/-0.026 nmol/l; P<0.03) and levels were unaffected by clamp. In the latter cohort, IGF-II/M6P-R but not IGF-II correlated with HbA1c, and fasting plasma C-peptide, insulin and glucose (0.34<r<0.45; P<0.05). In all subjects, BMI correlated with IGF-II/M6P-R (r=0.57; P<0.001) and IGF-II (r=0.39; P<0.005). IGF-II/M6P-R and IGF-II were not associated. CONCLUSION Serum IGF-II/M6P-R is up-regulated in morbid obesity, down-regulated by weight loss and elevated in moderately obese T2D. However, although plasma IGF-II was also reduced following GB, the two peptides were not statistically correlated. No acute effect of insulin was seen. These findings indicate that the IGF-II/M6P-R is nutritionally regulated, independently of IGF-II.

Forefoot transcutaneous oxygen tension at different leg positions in patients with peripheral vascular disease

Transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPo2) was measured on the forefoot of 150 limbs of 128 patients with different stages of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and on 36 limbs of 18 healthy subjects in the sitting and supine position. The diagnostic value of TcPo2 measurements was tested and compared with indirect toe pressure measurements. TcPo2 measured in the supine position gives the best diagnostic discrimination between healthy controls and patients with PVD and between patients with different degrees of PVD. The median TcPo2 in patients with PVD and rest pain (severe PVD), patients with PVD without rest pain (moderate PVD) and control subjects was 12 mmHg (range 0-61), 50 mmHg (range 0-86), and 60 mmHg (range 35-78), respectively. In the supine position, 95% of the patients with severe PVD had TcPo2 values below 40 mmHg, as opposed to 28% of the patients with moderate PVD and 8% of the control subjects. TcPo2 below 40 mmHg measured on the forefoot in the supine position suggests severe ischaemia. The diagnostic value of TcPo2 measurement is comparable with that of toe systolic pressure measurement. As a diagnostic and quantitative non-invasive method of evaluating patients suspected of PVD, TcPo2 measurement is ideal as it is easy to perform, and does not cause discomfort.

Eliminating learning curve-related morbidity in fast track laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is associated with a significant learning curve. We report the results of a systematic training program from a high-volume bariatric center measuring the outcome by comparing the results with data from a consecutive series of 1000 fast-track LRYGB. METHODS Using a stepwise training program, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation was divided into an upper and lower procedure and subdivided into 11 well-defined steps. A laparoscopic surgeon without experience in upper-gastrointestinal surgery was mentored by an experienced bariatric surgeon. During 6-month full-time fellowship, 300 operations were performed. RESULTS The trainee surgeon performed 61 upper procedures and 121 lower procedures in which the mentor surgeon did the other part of the operation. In 110 patients, the trainee performed both procedures. Two percent had perioperative complications compared with 1% of 1000 patients. All were repaired and had an uneventful recovery. Two percent had postoperative complications <30 days compared with 2.8% in the clinic. In the trainees series, there were no leaks compared with 1% in 1000 patients. Operative time was 56/55/70 minutes for operation 0-100/100-200/200-300 compared with an average of 47 minutes registered in the clinic. Concerning time to discharge, there was no difference between patients operated by the trainee and the standard of the clinic. CONCLUSION Using a systematic training program in LRYGB surgery eliminates morbidity of the learning curve without affecting the volume.

Assessment of Intermittent Claudication by Means of the Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension Exercise Profile

Transcutaneous oxygen tension was measured simultaneously on both feet during exercise (TcpO2 exercise profile) in patients with claudication. The following groups were studied: 1) 21 control subjects; 2) 25 patients with bilateral claudication of whom eight had unilateral predominance; 3) 40 patients with unilateral claudication. The control group showed no significant decrease in TcpO2 during exercise. Patients with bilateral claudication and unilateral predominance showed a significant decrease in the TcpO2 exercise profile of both feet (P less than 0.05), the decrease in the more affected leg being significantly greater than that of the less affected leg (P less than 0.05). In patients without unilateral predominance of claudication there was a slight, yet significant decrease in TcpO2 of both legs. Patients with unilateral claudication were classified into three groups based on a constant work load of 50 W, which provoked typical leg pain during exercise (group I: 0-2 min; group II: 2-4 min; group III: greater than 4 min). The decrease in the TcpO2 exercise profile was always significant on the symptomatic leg. In the asymptomatic leg TcpO2 did not decrease. The changes in TcpO2 relative to values at rest of the symptomatic leg showed significant differences after 1 min in groups I, II, and III (P less than 0.05). In conclusion, the TcpO2 exercise profile appears to be a suitable objective method by which the peripheral arterial insufficiency during exercise in patients with intermittent claudication can be quantified.

Transcutaneous oxygen tension exercise profile. A method for objectively assessing the results after reconstructive peripheral arterial surgery.

Transcutaneous oxygen tension during exercise (TcPo2 exercise profile) was measured on the foot in 10 patients before reconstructive vascular surgery and 9 and 18 months later. The preoperative TcPo2 exercise profiles were abnormal in all 10 patients. In 9 of the patients the reconstructions were successful. In these patients the TcPo2 exercise profiles reverted to normal. In a control group of six healthy persons no significant changes in TcPo2 were observed during the follow-up period of 18 months. The reproducibility determined as the total week-to-week variation of claudicants and controls was 8%. The TcPo2 exercise test is suitable for monitoring the patient after reconstructive surgery, because it is based exclusively on objective data is non-invasive and the measurements are reproducible.

7106 Cardiovascular and pulmonary consequences of conventional and gasless laparoscopic cholecystectomy. a comparative randomized study.

Background: The positive CO 2 pneumoperitoneum needed to create the workspace for laparoscopic surgery induces cardiovascular, neuroendocrine and renal changes. A gasless method to create the working space for laparoscopic procedures might reduce these pathophysiological changes. Aim of the study: To compare the conventional pressure pneumoperitoneum with gasless technique in regard to hemodynamic and pulmonal function, before during and after pneumoperitoneum/traction. Patients and method: Fifty-two consecutive patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to two groups conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy(CLC) and gasless laparoscopic cholecystectomy (GLC). Data were collected from December 1, 1998 to October 1, 1999. All elective patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis over the age of 18 with a body mass index (BMI ) 2 concentration, expired minute volume, pulmonary static compliance. Results: To be presented.