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Obesity is a multifactorial disease affecting a significant portion of the population. Bariatric surgery emerges as a prominent approach in this context, representing an effective treatment both in the short and long term. The costs associated with bariatric surgery vary depending on the characteristics of the patients, current hospital practices, and available funding sources.
To analyze the costs of minimally invasive bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity in a tertiary federal public hospital.
An observational and descriptive study aimed at assessing the costs associated with laparoscopic vertical gastrectomy (GV) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in a federal public tertiary service from 2018 to 2021. Data were obtained through the management of medical-hospital expenses related to surgical and anesthetic supplies, as well as the amount reimbursed by the funding source to the hospital.
Over the analyzed period, a total of 177 minimally invasive bariatric surgeries were performed. In terms of the charges, since 2018, the hospital has been receiving an amount of R$ 6,145.00 for the “bariatric surgery by videolaparoscopy” procedure, which includes RYGB, and R$ 4,095.00 for “vertical gastrectomy.” Regarding the average hospital cost of surgical supplies, RYGB incurred a total of R$ 9,907.54, while GV incurred a total of R$ 9,315.84. The average total cost of RYGB was R$ 10,799.23, and, for GV, it was R$ 10,207.53. These figures indicate that the hospital incurred a loss of approximately R$ 4,654.23 for performing RYGB and R$ 6,112.53 for GV.
Despite the increasing number of eligible patients for surgical treatment of obesity and the consequent quantitative growth of these procedures funded by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), the costs exceed the reimbursement from the funding source in federal public hospitals. There is a need for a precise assessment of financing in the fight against obesity.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease in the world and was recently renamed to emphasize its metabolic component.
This article seeks to fill the gap in specific guidelines for patients with obesity and MASLD who will undergo bariatric surgery.
A systematic search for guidelines was carried out on PubMed and Embase platforms.
A total of 544 articles were found, of which 11 were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. All 11 guidelines are from clinical societies; therefore, they do not include some necessary interpretations for bariatric patients.
We recommend that every patient undergoing bariatric and metabolic surgery be screened initially with the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, followed by transient hepatic elastography (vibration-controlled transient elastography, VCTE), especially for those with FIB-4>1.3. However, interpreting VCTE results in obese patients requires further studies to define the actual cutoff values. Enhanced Liver Fibrosis® shows promise but its availability is limited. The indication for liver biopsy during surgery needs to be individualized but it is recommended for those with changes in FIB-4 and/or VCTE. Family screening is recommended for relatives of young patients with already advanced fibrosis. Liver transplantation is an option for patients with advanced MASLD but the optimal timing for bariatric surgery with transplantation is still unclear. Regular follow-up and VCTE examination are recommended to monitor disease progression after surgery.
One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) has gained prominence in the search for better results in bariatric surgery. However, its efficacy and safety compared to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) remain ill-defined.
To compare the efficacy and safety of OAGB relative to RYGB and SG in the treatment of obesity.
We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases for randomized controlled trials comparing OAGB with RYGB or SG in the surgical approach to obesity. We pooled outcomes for body mass index, percentage of excess weight loss, type-2 diabetes mellitus remission, complications, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Statistical analyses were performed with R software (version 4.2.3).
Data on 854 patients were extracted from 11 randomized controlled trials, of which 422 (49.4%) were submitted to OAGB with mean follow-up ranging from six months to five years. The meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher percentage of excess weight loss at 1-year follow-up and a significantly lower body mass index at 5-year follow-up in OAGB patients. Conversely, rates of type-2 diabetes mellitus remission, complications, and gastroesophageal reflux disease were not significantly different between groups. The overall quality of evidence was considered very low.
Our results corroborate the comparable efficacy of OAGB in relation to RYGB and SG in the treatment of obesity, maintaining no significant differences in type-2 diabetes mellitus remission, complications, and gastroesophageal reflux disease rates.
Bariatric surgery can cause oral health problems in individuals, such as an increase in dental caries, periodontal diseases and dental erosion, which can be avoided if oral health promotion actions are implemented.
To assess the impact of an oral health promotion program implemented among gastroplasty patients.
This randomized clinical trial involved 208 patients undergoing gastroplasty; they were divided into two groups: Intervention Group, with participation in the Oral Health Promotion Program for Bariatric Patients, or Control Group. Assessments were carried out preoperatively, and six and 12 months postoperatively. The oral conditions assessed were: dental caries, periodontal diseases, tooth wear, dental plaque, and salivary flow. Sociodemographic information was obtained through application of structured questionnaires. For data analysis, the Chi-Square, Fisher’s Exact, and Mann-Whitney tests were performed — α=5%.
Patients in the Intervention Group, when compared to those in the Control Group, presented: fewer changes in enamel (6M: p<0.0001; 12M: p=0.001), in dentin (6M: p<0.0001; 12M: p<0.0001), moderate tooth wear (6M=0.002; 12M=0.005), gingival bleeding (6M: p<0.0001), dental calculus (6M=0.002; 12M: p=0.03), periodontal pocket 4-5 mm (6M=0.001; 12M: p=<0.0001); greater reduction in the bacterial plaque index (6M: p<0.0001; 12M: p<0.0001), and increased salivary flow (6M: p=0.019).
The oral health promotion program had a positive impact on the prevention and control of the main problems to the oral health of the gastroplasty patients.
To reduce the risk of regurgitation during anesthesia for elective procedures, residual gastric volumes (RGV) have traditionally been minimized by overnight fasting. Prolonged preoperative fasting presents some adverse consequences and has been abandoned for most surgical procedures, except for obese and/or diabetic patients.
The aim of this study was to assess the RGV in morbidly obese diabetic patients after traditional or abbreviated fasting.
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Research with Human Beings from the Federal University of Mato Grosso, under number 179.017/2012. This is a prospective, randomized, and crossover design study in eight morbidly obese type II diabetic patients. RGV was measured endoscopically after either traditional overnight fasting of at least 8 hours, or after abbreviated fasting of 6 hours for solids and 3 hours for a drink containing water plus 25 g (12.5%) of maltodextrin. Data were expressed as mean and range and differences were compared with paired t-tests at p<0.05.
The study population had a mean age of 41.5 years (28–53), weight of 135 kg (113–196), body mass index of 48.2 kg/m2 (40–62.4), and type II diabetes for 4.5 years (1–10). The RGV after abbreviated fasting was 21.5 ml (5–40) vs 26.3 ml (7–65) after traditional fasting. This difference was not significant (p=0.82).
Gastric emptying in morbidly obese diabetic patients is similar after either traditional or abbreviated fasting with a carbohydrate drink.
Patients with obesity present multiple comorbid psychiatric conditions and experience impairments in health-related quality of life. Reliable and valid tools that evaluate health-related quality of life are essential for clinical practice.
This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the six-item Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire II among Brazilian patients with severe obesity.
We assessed 387 patients (mean age 43 years, 78.8% women, mean body mass index of 46.5 kg/m²) on the waiting list of a bariatric surgery center. Trained research assistants concurrently applied the Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II, the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, and the Global Assessment of Functioning for assessing health-related quality of life, comorbid depressive symptoms, and patient functioning level, respectively.
The internal consistency of the Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II was considered acceptable. The total score was correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms and functioning level. The more body mass index increases, the more health-related quality of life worsens. The Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II presented a unidimensional structure.
The unidimensional Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II is a reliable and valid measure for evaluating health-related quality of life in Brazilian patients with severe obesity. The questionnaire allows to quickly assess the health-related quality of life of patients in different bariatric contexts, considering depression and functional level.
Vitamin, mineral, and metabolic deficiencies occur in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery, in the short and long term, and are worrisome intercurrences.
To evaluate the association of serum vitamin D levels with the lipid profile in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
Case series of patients assisted from 2010 to 2018, in a private hospital of medium and high complexity, who underwent bariatric surgery using sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass techniques, monitored by the same surgeon. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric data were collected preoperatively and at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.
A total of 156 individuals, mostly female (75.6%) were monitored. The most frequent comorbidities were hepatic steatosis (76.3%) and hypertension (48.27). Regarding preoperative vitamin D levels, only 18.9% of the population had a satisfactory level (≥30 ng/mL). There was a reduction in weight and an improvement in the lipid profile after surgery. Significant correlations were observed between the lipid profile and vitamin D concentration only in the sample submitted to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass technique: negative correlation between total cholesterol and vitamin D two years after surgery; positive correlation between triglycerides and vitamin D one year after surgery; and negative correlation between high-density lipoprotein and vitamin D two years post-surgery.
It is essential to routinely monitor vitamin D levels and lipid profile pre- and postoperatively in order to avoid damage associated with this vitamin deficiency.
Weight regain in the postoperative period after bariatric surgery is directly related to the relapse of preoperative comorbidities and a negative impact on the patients’ biochemical profile.
To assess the metabolic impact of weight regain on preoperative comorbidities and on patients’ biochemical profiles, in order to show the impact of the complications on the metabolic outcomes of bariatric surgery.
A retrospective study was carried out with 75 women in the late postoperative period of bariatric surgery who presented pathological weight regain (≥20% of the maximum weight loss). Data of interest consisted of glycemic, lipid, and inflammatory profile measurements at three different moments of evaluation: preoperative period, at the weight nadir (minimum weight), and after weight regain. A multivariate analysis was performed.
The mean age was 46.39±12.09 years. Preoperative body mass index was 40.10±4.11 kg/m2. There was an overall increase of 3.36 points in the mean body mass index between the nadir and after regain: from 26.30±3.9 kg/m2 to 29.66±4.66 kg/m2. The mean time to reach the nadir was 18±7.6 months, with an average percentage of excess weight loss of 91.08±11.8%. The median time for pathological weight regain was 48 months, and the mean regain amongst the sample was 8.85±5.65 kg. There was a significant correlation between pathological weight regain and levels of insulin (r=0.351; p<0.011), C-peptide (r=0.303; p<0.011), C-reactive protein (r=0.402; p<0.001), and vitamin D (r=-0.435; p<0.001), the last two being the most influenced by the percentage of weight regained.
The pathological weight regain in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery results in losses in the patients’ metabolic and inflammatory profiles. However, the biochemical benefits are sustained up to the preoperative levels of the parameters analyzed.
This Brazilian multi-society position statement on emerging bariatric and metabolic surgical procedures was issued by the Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SBCBM), the Brazilian College of Digestive Surgery (CBCD), and the Brazilian College of Surgeons (CBC). This document is the result of a Brazilian Emerging Surgeries Forum aimed at evaluating the results of surgeries that are not yet listed in the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), the regulatory agency that oversees and regulates medical practice in Brazil. The Forum integrated more than 400 specialists and academics with extensive knowledge about bariatric and metabolic surgery, representing the three surgical societies: SBCBM, CBC, and CBC. International speakers participated online and presented their experiences with the techniques under discussion, emphasizing the regulatory policies in their countries. The indications for surgery and the subsequent procedures were carefully reviewed, including One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB), Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal with Sleeve Gastrectomy (OADS or SADI-S), Sleeve Gastrectomy with Transit Bipartition (SGTB), and Sleeve Gastrectomy with Ileal Interposition (SGII). The recommendations of this document are based on an extensive literature review and discussions among bariatric surgery specialists from the three surgical societies. We concluded that patients with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 kg/m2 may be candidates for metabolic surgery in the presence of comorbidities (arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes) with no response to clinical treatment of obesity or in the control of other associated diseases. Regarding the surgical procedures, we concluded that OAGB, OADS, and SGTB are associated with low morbidity rates and with satisfactory weight loss and resolution of obesity-related comorbidities such as diabetes and arterial hypertension. SGII was considered a good and viable promising surgical alternative technique. The recommendations of this statement aim to synchronize our societies with the sentiments and understandings of most of our members and also serve as a guide for future decisions regarding bariatric surgical procedures in our country and worldwide.
The association of gastric plication with fundoplication is a reliable option for the treatment of individuals with obesity associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
To describe weight loss, endoscopic, and gastroesophageal reflux disease-related outcomes of gastric plication with fundoplication in individuals with mild obesity.
A retrospective cohort study was carried out, enrolling individuals who underwent gastric plication with fundoplication at a tertiary private hospital from 2015–2019. Data regarding perioperative and weight loss outcomes, endoscopic and 24-hour pH monitoring findings, and gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms were analyzed.
Of 98 individuals, 90.2% were female. The median age was 40.4 years (IQR 32.1–47.8). The median body mass index decreased from 32 kg/m2 (IQR 30,5–34) to 29.5 kg/m2 (IQR 26.7–33.9) at 1–2 years (p<0.05); and to 27.4 kg/m2 (IQR 24.1–30.6) at 2–4 years (p=0.059). The median percentage of total weight loss at 1–2 years was 7.8% (IQR −4.1–14.7) and at 2–4 years, it was 16.4% (IQR 4.3–24.1). Both esophageal and extra-esophageal symptoms showed a significant reduction (p<0.05). A significant decrease in the occurrence of esophagitis was observed (p<0.01). The median DeMeester score decreased from 30 (IQR 15.1–48.4) to 1.9 (IQR 0.93–5.4) (p<0.0001).
The gastric plication with fundoplication proved to be an effective and safe technique, leading to a significant and sustained weight loss in addition to endoscopic and clinical improvement of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
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