Few studies have compared the effect of surgical and conservative weight loss strategies on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We hypothesized that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) would be more effective than intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) at reducing the prevalence and severity of OSA (apnea-hypopnea-index [AHI] ≥ 5 events/hour).A total of 133 morbidly obese subjects (93 females) were treated with either a 1-year ILI-program (n = 59) or RYGB (n = 74) and underwent repeated sleep recordings with a portable somnograph (Embletta).Participants had a mean (SD) age of 44.7(10.8) years, BMI 45.1(5.7) kg/m(2), and AHI 17.1(21.4) events/hour. Eighty-four patients (63%) had OSA. The average weight loss was 8% in the ILI-group and 30% in the RYGB-group (p < 0.001). The mean (95%CI) AHI reduced in both treatment groups, although significantly more in the RYGB-group (AHI change -6.0 [ILI] vs -13.1 [RYGB]), between group difference 7.2 (1.3, 13.0), p = 0.017. Twenty-nine RYGB-patients (66%) had remission of OSA, compared to 16 ILI-patients (40%), p = 0.028. At follow-up, after adjusting for age, gender, and baseline AHI, the RYGB-patients had significantly lower adjusted odds for OSA than the ILI-patients-OR (95% CI) 0.33 (0.14, 0.81), p = 0.015. After further adjustment for BMI change, treatment group difference was no longer statistically significant-OR (95% CI) 1.31 (0.32, 5.35), p = 0.709.Our study demonstrates that RYGB was more effective than ILI at reducing the prevalence and severity of OSA. However, our analysis also suggests that weight loss, rather than the surgical procedure per se, explains the beneficial effects. CITATION: Fredheim JM; Rollheim J; Sandbu R; Hofsø D; Omland T; Røislien J; Hjelmesaeth J. Obstructive sleep apnea after weight loss: a clinical trial comparing gastric bypass and intensive lifestyle intervention. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(5):427-432.

OBJECTIVE:

Although Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is an effective treatment for severe obesity, weight loss (WL) after this operation is highly variable. Accurate predictors of outcome would thus be useful in identifying those patients who would most benefit from this invasive therapy. WL has been characterized using several different metrics, including the number of BMI units lost (ΔBMI), percent baseline WL (%WL), and percent excess body WL (%EBWL). To identify clinically relevant predictors most sensitively, it is necessary to avoid confounding by other factors, including preoperative BMI (pBMI), the strongest known predictor of RYGB-induced WL.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

To determine the WL measure least associated with pBMI, outcomes of 846 patients undergoing RYGB were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Patients in this cohort had an average pBMI of 50.0 kg/m(2) at baseline. At weight nadir, they lost an average 19.4 kg/m(2) , 38.7% WL, and 81.2% EBWL. pBMI was strongly and positively associated with ΔBMI at both 1 year (r = 0.56, P = 4.7 × 10(-51) ) and nadir (r = 0.58, P = 2.8 × 10(-77) ) and strongly but negatively associated with %EBWL at 1 year (r = -0.52, P = 3.8 × 10(-44) ) and nadir (r = -0.45, P = 7.2×10(-43) ). In contrast, pBMI was not significantly associated with %WL at 1 year (r = 0.04, P = 0.33) and only weakly associated at nadir (r = 0.13, P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS:

Of the metrics examined, %WL is the parameter describing WL after RYGB least influenced by pBMI. It thus improves comparison of WL outcomes across studies of patients undergoing surgery and facilitates the most sensitive identification of novel predictors of surgery-induced WL. We therefore is recommend that %WL be adopted more broadly in reporting weight loss after RYGB.

Context Bariatric surgery has proven to be the most effective method of treating severe obesity. Nevertheless, the acceptance of bariatric surgery is still questioned. The surgical complications observed in the early postoperative period following surgeries performed to treat severe obesity are similar to those associated with other major surgeries of the gastrointestinal tract. However, given the more frequent occurrence of medical comorbidities, these patients require special attention in the early postoperative follow-up. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of these complications are directly associated with a greater probability of control. Method The medical records of 538 morbidly obese patients who underwent surgical treatment (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery) were reviewed. Ninety-three (17.2%) patients were male and 445 (82.8%) were female. The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 70 years (average = 46), and their body mass indices ranged from 34.6 to 77 kg/m2. Results Early complications occurred in 9.6% and were distributed as follows: 2.6% presented bleeding, intestinal obstruction occurred in 1.1%, peritoneal infections occurred in 3.2%, and 2.2% developed abdominal wall infections that required hospitalization. Three (0.5%) patients experienced pulmonary thromboembolism. The mortality rate was 0,55%. Conclusion The incidence of early complications was low. The diagnosis of these complications was mostly clinical, based on the presence of signs and symptoms. The value of the clinical signs and early treatment, specially in cases of sepsis, were essential to the favorable surgical outcome. The mortality was mainly related to thromboembolism and advanced age, over 65 years.

Bariatric Surgery Centres of Excellence have been promoted by the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders European Chapter to improve outcomes and security of patients. A retrospective analysis of our prospective database has been performed. Between May 2001 and September 2012, we operated on 690 patients, first with open gastric bypass (2001-2005), then laparoscopy (2006-2009), introduced robotics and finally the Centre of Excellence period (2012). Complication rate was 18.9 % in the first period and 3 % in the last. We reoperated on 9 % of patients in two early periods and none in the last. Mortality rate was 2, 0.85, 0.47 and 0 % in the four periods. Teams that are just at the beginning of their experience in bariatric surgery in order to avoid complications and deal with better long-term results.

The amount of weight loss attained after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery follows a wide and normal distribution, and recent evidence indicates that this weight loss is due to physiological, rather than mechanical, mechanisms. To identify potential genetic factors associated with weight loss after RYGB, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 693 individuals undergoing RYGB and then replicated this analysis in an independent population of 327 individuals undergoing RYGB. We found that a 15q26.1 locus near ST8SIA2 and SLCO3A1 was significantly associated with weight loss after RYGB. Expression of ST8SIA2 in omental fat of these individuals at baseline was significantly associated with weight loss after RYGB. Gene expression analysis in RYGB and weight-matched, sham-operated (WMS) mice revealed that expression of St8sia2 and Slco3a1 was significantly altered in metabolically active tissues in RYGB-treated compared to WMS mice. These findings provide strong evidence for specific genetic influences on weight loss after RYGB and underscore the biological nature of the response to RYGB.

Bariatric surgery, and in particular, gastric bypass is an increasingly utilized and successful approach for long-term treatment of obesity and amelioration of comorbidities. Nutrient deficiencies after surgery are common and have multiple causes. Preoperative factors include obesity, which appears to be associated with risk for several nutrient deficiencies, and preoperative weight loss. Postoperatively, reduced food intake, suboptimal dietary quality, altered digestion and absorption, and nonadherence with supplementation regimens contribute to risk of deficiency. The most common clinically relevant micronutrient deficiencies after gastric bypass include thiamine, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, and copper. Reports of deficiencies of many other nutrients, some with severe clinical manifestations, are relatively sporadic. Diet and multivitamin use are unlikely to consistently prevent deficiency, thus supplementation with additional specific nutrients is often needed. Though optimal supplement regimens are not yet defined, most micronutrient deficiencies after gastric bypass currently can be prevented or treated by appropriate supplementation. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Nutrition Volume 33 is July 17, 2013. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/catalog/pubdates.aspx for revised estimates.

BACKGROUND:

Obesity is a significant risk factor in abdominal hernia occurrence and recurrence. In patients having bariatric surgery, there are no clear guidelines as to whether repair should be done simultaneously, especially if procedures involve division or resection of part of the gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS:

A retrospective case series review over a 6-year period to December 2012 from a prospective database was conducted. As per existing practice for bariatric procedures, patients were followed up indefinitely. Short- and long-term outcomes were analysed.

RESULTS:

Forty-five patients underwent combined laparoscopic bariatric surgery and abdominal wall hernia repair. Of these, 36 had resection procedures (gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy) and 9 had non-resection procedures (gastric banding). The mean operative time was 151 min and the mean length of stay was 3 days. Two patients developed post-operative mesh seroma infections. To date, there have been no mesh removals or recurrent hernias. There was no mortality in this series.

DISCUSSION:

This study demonstrated a low rate of mesh infection (4.44%) at a median follow-up of 13 months, even when a resectional procedure was performed (5.56%). These results suggest the possible viability and reasonable short-/long-term outcomes of simultaneous laparoscopic abdominal wall hernia repair during bariatric surgical procedures, even if the surgery involved division or resection of part of the gastrointestinal tract. This topic is an area of clinical research that warrants further study.

Surgical interventions have proven to be more effective than other measures in the treatment of morbid obesity. The short-term outcomes of the various surgical interventions have been well documented in the literature, with fewer reports on long-term outcomes. The reported long-term outcome of the vertical-banded gastroplasty (VBG) is conflicting. The aim of the present study was to evaluate our long-term experience with VBG. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was conducted. Records of patients who underwent VBG five or more years ago were retrieved. An analysis of the long-term weight changes and reported complications was conducted. The study included 150 patients: 43 males (29 %) and 107 females (71 %). Their mean age was 30 years old (12-53), and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 47 ± 8.4 kg/m(2). Patients were followed up for an average of 8 years (5-11). More than 60 % of patients had good long-term weight loss (EWL > 50 %). A significant negative correlation was found between the excess weight loss percent (EWL%) and the pre-operative BMI (p < 0.05). The differences in EWL% between males and females were not significant (p = 0.061). Nevertheless, the change in EWL% over time for both males and females was significant (p = 0.004). Revision surgery was required in seven patients (4.7 %). Five patients had conversion of VBG to gastric bypass (3.3 %), while two patients (1.3 %) had reversal of the procedure. Late complications included mesh erosion in three cases, staple line dehiscence in two patients, and stomal stenosis in six patients. VBG could be a long-term effective intervention for the treatment of morbid obesity. Good selection is the cornerstone for long-term success. Late complication rate is acceptable after VBG. VBG is a specifically useful tool under stringent financial circumstances.

Gut secreted incretin hormones and gastric bypass surgery currently provides some of the most successful treatments for diabetes and obesity respectively. However, despite the evident importance of the gut endocrine system no information exists on the total number and distribution of different types of endocrine cells in the gut. Here we have used the established preclinical Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rat model which displays elevated levels of GLP-1 to assess L-cell distribution and L-cell dynamics in the full rostro-caudal extension of the rat intestinal tract.Using mathematically unbiased stereology we provide total and regional estimates of gut volume, gut surface area and the total number of L-cells throughout the intestinal tract in obese ZDF rats and lean controls.The total number of L-cells in the lean and obese ZDF gut is estimated to 4.8 and 10.9 million, respectively, coupled with a corresponding near doubling in total gut volume and total surface area. L-cell numbers were found to be distributed rather evenly throughout the jejunum, ileum and colon.The present study provides the first stereological report of total L-cell number and L-cell distribution throughout the rat intestinal tract. In contrast to the currently held view, the majority of L-cells are actually located proximal to the traditionally defined ileum and colon.