One such area of concern has been the depression and even suicidal tendencies seen in some cases after bariatric surgery. There are various case reports of depression and suicides after bariatric surgery in the literature ^1-4.

Recently a paper published in a reputed journal made an attempt to analyse this rather alarming problem ⁵. After critically analyzing these papers it was suggested that some papers suffered from methodologic problems such as small sample size, failure to use validated assessments of psychopathology and absence of appropriate comparison groups (for example , how many candidates were already depressed and having suicidal ideation before bariatric surgery).

One  study found out that many of the patients undergoing bariatric surgery already have psychiatric disorders in the form of anxiety , mood , and personality disorder ⁶. In another study the extremely obese subjects were found to experience increased suicidal ideation than their normal ­­­­weight counterparts ⁷. This may be partly responsible for the increased negative psychosocial effects seen in patients after bariatric surgery.

On the other hand, there are many papers  that suggest that Bariatric surgery is  associated with significant improvements in psychosocial status. Most psychosocial characteristics, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, health-related quality of life, self-esteem, a­­nd body image, improve dramatically in the first postoperative year.^8-13

Unfortunately, a minority of patients appears to struggle with numerous psychological issues postoperatively. Although the evidence submitted in the literature to prove the adverse psychosocial outcome arising as a direct result of bariatric surgery is far from convincing due to the reasons stated above, it is probably a good policy to involve a mental health professional in all cases before performing such surgery. ­­

References:

1.    Higa KD, Boone KB, Ho T. Complications of the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 1,040 patients–what have we learned? Obes Surg. 2000;10(6):509-513.

2.    Hsu LK, Benotti PN, Dwyer J, et al. Nonsurgical factors that influence the outcome of bariatric surgery: a review. Psychosom Med. 1998;60(3):338-346.

3.    Waters GS, Pories WJ, Swanson MS, Meelheim HD, Flickinger EG, May HJ. Long-term studies of mental health after the Greenville gastric bypass operation for morbid obesity. Am J Surg. 1991;161(1):154-157.

4.    Adams TD, Gress RE, Smith SC, et al. Long-term mortality after gastric bypass surgery. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(8):753-761.

5. David B. Sarwer,  Anthony N. Fabricatore, P et al. Primary Psychiatry. 2008;15(8):50-55

6.    Kalarchian MA, Marcus MD, Levine MD, et al. Psychiatric disorders among bariatric surgery candidates: relationship to obesity and functional health status. Am J Psychiatry. 2007;164(2)328-334.

7.    Dong C, Li WD, Li D, Price RA. Extreme obesity is associated with attempted suicides: results from a family study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006;30(2):388-390.

8.    Bocchieri LE, Meana M, Fisher BL. A review of psychosocial outcomes of surgery for morbid obesity. J Psychosom Res. 2002;52(3):155-165.

9.    Herpertz S, Kielmann R, Wolf AM, Langkafel M, Senf W, Hebebrand J. Does obesity surgery improve psychosocial functioning? A systematic review. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003;27(11):1300-1314.

10.    van Hout GC, van Oudheusden I, van Heck GL. Psychological profile of the morbidly obese. Obes Surg. 2004;14(5):579-588.

11.    Sarwer DB, Wadden TA, Fabricatore AN. Psychosocial and behavioral aspects of bariatric surgery. Obes Res. 2005;13(4):639-648.

12.    Herpertz S, Kielmann R, Wolfe AM, Hebebrand J, Senf W. Do psychosocial variables predict weight loss or mental health after obesity surgery? A systematic review. Obes Res. 2004;12(10):1554-1569.

13.    van Hout GC, Boekestein P, Fortuin FA, Pelle AJ, van Heck GL. Psychosocial functioning following bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2006;16(6):787-794.

What is done is that the greater curvature of the stomach is freed from the tissues attached to it (known as the gastrocolic omentum) using a vessel sealing device like the Harmonic Scalpel or the Ligasure. This is the first step of the sleeve gastrectomy procedure, as well.

However, unlike the sleeve, here we do not use the stapler to remove 80% of the stomach. We merely imbricate/plicate the stomach using running stitches from above downwards, layer by layer, till most of the stomach is pushed inwards, creating a narrowing of the passage, and a tunnel along the lesser curvature, just like the sleeve.

Lap Gastric Plication

In the same vein, if someone wants to reverse the procedure, the stitches may be removed by laparoscopy (making this a potentially reversible procedure like the Lap Band), though this would neither be a good thing nor a great experience!

Some patients have significant reflux symptoms after LGP, as after the sleeve, as we have discussed before.

It is possible that the stitches may give way later and hamper the weight loss, but preliminary results, as presented in the recent International Conference of Obesity in Stockholm, show good results akin to the sleeve.

More info later!

This article discusses these issues. Please buckle your seat belts!

First things first, who doesn’t know what a sleeve (as this operation will from now on be called) is and what it is for? Please refer to our Procedures page and also search this site for many other articles on this popular weight loss procedure.

Normally, the weight loss expected out of the sleeve is in the whereabouts of 50-80 percent of excess body weight. This is usually achieved in the vicinity of one year and may go on till three years, after which time there is usually no inherent weight loss from the surgery. This does not mean you will stop losing weight after that time. You could lose weight if your diet and exercise plans are on the spot. But in practice, weight loss plateaus in and around the third year. A recent study from India published in the journal SOARD reports a nearly 75 percent weight loss of the sleeve in three years.

(the stomach being stapled at BMI, Kolkata. Procedure done at Belle Vue Clinic)

So, the weight loss curve hits a plateau at a point in time. In itself, this is a benefit, as sleeve patients would shrink to oblivion otherwise! So, now that the weight loss plateau is upon you, what to do?

(the stapling process proceeds towards the direction of the foodpipe/esophagus)

Before we answer this, let us eliminate one important cause of weight regain* after the sleeve: a residual fundus. This means that the upper baggy part of the stomach, which is the source of the hunger hormone ghrelin, has not been fully removed by the surgery (usually a technical error). If this is detected, it is bad news.

*The definition of this is taken to be a weight regain of 10 kgs from the nadir (bottom) of the weight loss curve.

(the resected stomach being removed through one of the port sites)

In order to get the desired weight loss, re-surgery has to be undertaken. In such a case, we do one of the following:

1. Re-sleeve: using an endoscopic stapler, the extra fundus (the culprit) is excised. An option to create a narrower sleeve is also possible, but would mean more staplers, and higher cost.

2. Convert to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: especially if the patient is super-super-obese (BMI more than 60), where the sleeve is usually the first of a two-stage operative strategy. An alternative we can explore in the Western/Muslim/non-vegetarian super-super-obese patient is the Duodenal Switch (DS). The reason for this is that these patient classes usually eat enough proteins by way of meats. This is a very crucial consideration as the DS causes severe malabsorption of proteins and fats and can cause debilitating malnutrition in the vegetarian patient.

3. A banded sleeve. This adds an additional restrictive element to the sleeve, but has the disadvantages that a Lap Band normally carries (which is another full article). In short, high explantation rates, erosions, prolapse of gastric mucosa, esophageal dilatation, etc.

In a special section on sleeve gastrectomy published June 2010 in the journal Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques, I quote:

Similar to the banded gastric bypass, a band can also be placed in SG performed as ‘‘primary banded sleeve gastrectomy,’’ as published by Alexander et al. In this series of 27 patients, a band of 6 cm length made of biologic tissue (AlloDerm) was placed approximately 6 cm below the gastro-esophageal junction.

This is same, but different, compared to the former “secondary” sleeve banding described by Greenstein.

In some cases, improper eating (large feeds, drinking colas and binge eating) can cause the gastric tube (sleeve) to become dilated. Though the initial surgery may have been perfect, the end result is similar to that of a residual fundus after primary surgery: inadequate weight loss, or an early weight loss plateau. This is the reason it is critical to screen patients before surgery for eating disorders and psychiatric conditions that make for unreliable post-op compliance (which means we don’t want to operate on patients who won’t listen to us, and are likely to screw up the results of surgery and give us a bad name).

Let’s get back to the originally asked question. If you underwent a gastric sleeve surgery, and there were no operation-related problems and you lost 70-75% of your excess body weight in, say, three and a half years, BUT you put back 5 kgs in the last few months, what to do?

First, we evaluate the stomach: is it dilated? Is there a residual fundus?

If there is no surgically significant problem, we must get back to basics.

Our strategy is simple:

1. Motivation: talk, talk and more talk. Help the patient understand how results should be the focus, not eating.

2. Eliminate processed foods, sugars, sweetened beverages, alcohol, and other such temptations.

3. Reserve grains as a cheat meal, not as a daily component of the diet.

4. Put some patients on a low-carb diet.

5. Careful food journaling and monitoring of nutritional intake. An online journal may be kept for free at www.fitday.com (or similar sites).

6. Fish oil capsule supplements: 1.8 to 3 grams daily (around 6-8 caps daily).

7. Activity guidance: walk, cycle, play, climb, skip. Don’t sit, slouch, drive, ride.

8.  Exercise: strength training with cardio, both HIIT and long-slow cardio.

Once we hit the system with renewed vigor, you will soon be back on track with weight loss!

References:

1. Revisional bariatric surgery for inadequate weight loss. Gumbs AA, Pomp A, Gagner M. Obesity Surgery, Sept 2007.

2. Re-sleeve gastrectomy. Baltasar, et al. Obesity Surgery, Nov 2006.

3. The Spanish study on sleeve gastrectomy outcomes. Obesity Surgery, Sept 2009.

4. French prospective multicenter study: results at 1 and 2 years. Nocca, et al. Obesity Surgery May 2008.

5. LSG with minimal morbidity. Rubin, et al. Obesity Surgery Dec 2008.

6. Greenstein’s article link in SOARD.

7. Banded Sleeve Gastrectomy. Alexander et al. Obesity Surgery, Sept 2009.

We need to now examine why these leaks occur. Is it the make of the stapler?

All over the world, surgeons use either the Ethicon stapler (called Echelon) or the Covidien product (the legendary endo-GIA). In our experience, while both are world class products, the mechanical problems arise with reuse of the stapler guns. In India, not many patients want to pay for a new gun. Surgeons also tend to give lower packages in an effort to be patient-friendly, thereby giving short shrift to a new gun (something that may cost nearly 20,000 to 30,000 INR, or in the vicinity of 400-500 USD).

If you reuse a gun beyond its shelf life, you can have misfirings during the operation. This is a ghastly experience which no surgeon should have. I have even had occasions where the stapler failed to unlock after firing! Clearly, no surgeon should allow a situation like this to happen, but how can he prevent it? After all, the stapler gun doesn’t say, “Don’t use me now, I am gonna die!”

What I say now may be controversial, but this is my humble experience of using laparoscopic staplers over a decade. The Covidien gun tends to work better with reuse, while the Echelon stapler works best when new. If I use the latter product in a case, I make sure I buy a new gun and throw it off (after all, these products were not meant to be reused!) after the case. Obviously, this pushes up the cost of the operation, but what can we do except to hope that the patient understands the reasons?

To come back to the point, reusing staplers is a tricky and potential troublesome issue. I have found no evidence in the scientific literature linking leak rates with reuse, but I suspect that there may be a relationship in some cases, at least.

In a personal communication with the authors of the Chilean paper I referenced in Part One, they opine that leak rates may be related to thermal injuries. This means that when we seal off and divide the blood vessels of the stomach, we may cause some heat injury to the wall of the organ. If such a part is left behind (rather than removed as part of the specimen) it may leak in the post-op period.

Another mechanism of leak: if the gastric tube is too narrow at the region of the body ( a point called the incisura) the resultant increase in pressure in the upper part of the stomach tube may lead to a blowout at the most vulnerable part above. This is usually at the junction of the food pipe and the stomach (the GE junction). This is borne out in clinical practice. The commonest site of a leak is the GE junction.

Another site of a leak could be the junction between adjacent staple cartridges. This is why it is considered important to oversew these junctions.

Does oversewing the staple line prevent leaks? We all think it  does, which is why practically all of us do so. However, as this Czech paper says, it may be unnecessary in most cases.

How do we detect leaks?

During the operation, we check the staple line by pushing in methylene blue dye into the stomach. A leak will be seen if present. Some people use an endoscopic verification of the staple line.

After the operation, a contrast (dye) study usually done just before liquid diet is started may be done, especially if intraoperative checks were not done, or a leak was detected and corrected at that time.

Does using staple line reinforcement reduce leaks? As this literature review says, no.

Which patients are more prone to leaks?

While the heaviest middle-aged male smokers are the stereotypical ‘bad’ patients, those who undergo revision surgery (for example, a sleeve with a band removal) are more liable to leaks.

How is a leak managed?

1. Ensure drainage of the peritoneal cavity (percutaneous, CT-guided drainage versus laparoscopic surgical placement of a drain)

2. Endoscopic stent to cover the leak, though a stent may migrate and be unsatisfactory in a given situation.

3. Suture closure of the leak after re-exploration of the abdomen.

4. Parenteral or enteral nutrition.

5. Mere observation in given patients

In most instances, the leak takes several weeks to dry out fully, and this results in prolonged hospitalisation and increased costs as well.

The important thing about leaks is to detect it early, as clinical examination in the severely obese is notoriously unreliable.

Useful references:

1. ASMBS position paper on Sleeve Gastrectomy 2009

2. Canadian overview on Sleeve Gastrectomy

3. World Journal of Gastroenterology 2008 Editorial

We as surgeons tend to counsel patients according to our own perspectives. I have never failed to acknowledge that, while I can place in a Band as well as another Johnnie, I have a distinct distaste for it. My counseling tends to betray this bias. I am objective enough to acknowledge this, while many others would put an evidence-based spin to their own colored viewpoint.

So our pre-op counseling tends to favor the sleeve. I do try to attract the patient to the benefits of the bypass, but I am careful when doing so. An inappropriate procedure in an unsuited patient can be a miserable experience. As I was saying before interrupting myself for the nth time, we tend to portray the sleeve as the safest procedure for the patient, with very negligible leaks and problems like bleeding. We tend to convey the impression that the expected complications are more likely to be those of any procedure in the severely obese patient, like embolism, pneumonia, infections, etc.

Now, if I can be brutally frank about this, we are not being entirely factual. Why? Because even an operation as safe as sleeve gastrectomy does have a specific leak rate in the literature. How much? If you look at a recent prospective study from the famous Chilean University Hospital known for the great surgeon Atilla Csendes, they had seven leaks in 214 patients, around 3 percent. This is higher than other papers like this one from Cleveland Clinic, where the leak rate was 0.7 percent. However, on the whole, a figure of 2.7 percent is an accepted leak rate arrived at from 24 studies covering over 1700 patients. To our surprise, we find that the leak rate of the sleeve may be more than after the bypass, an operation generally acknowledged as having more complication rates (Nguyen et al).

There are several major issues of import here:

Are the leaks stapler related?

Are these leaks reduced by staple line reinforcement methods like suturing or Seamguard?

Can we identify a subset of patients who are more susceptible to leaks?

How do we manage these leaks?

For all these and more, stay tuned for Part Two.

(B, a young patient who was 165 kgs, before surgery)

The same applies to ‘morbid obesity’. We call this ‘Clinically Severe Obesity’ now. Allegedly because the term ‘morbid’ is negatively prejudiced against the obese. Some time soon, they will replace the term ‘obese’ and call it ‘adiposely challenged’ or something, I have no doubt!

All said and done, what does it change? Does it change the fact that obesity kills more people than most other diseases today? If you want to know why obesity is not considered being healthy, have a look at this list of diseases associated with it. The term we use is ‘co-morbidity’.

(from Gen Surg News)

People forget the fact that lasers are only applicable in a handful of situations across specialities, with the most use being in retinal surgery and dermatology.

Now, this article in the New York Times will add fat to the fire. A company called Zeltiq Aesthetics has brought the Zerona laser to the fore. This four armed machine points red beams at the fat rolls and some sessions later, the inches will have disappeared. At least, in theory.

(pic from Flickr.com)

Talking of which, here is a randomized study on the subject. Interestingly, Zeltiq’s motto is ‘More science, less fat’. Hmmmn. Sounds like BMI!

Even if the laser works (and I can clearly see some drawbacks with it), there is a good chance that commercial abuse will occur widely.

The theoretical argument of the fat (literally) melting and leaking into the lymphatic system to be subsequently metabolised in the body has some flaws, IMO.

This would work if the body is in a metabolically demanding situation (as in exercise and fasting), when the released fatty acids and glycerols (which components make fat) would be metabolised for energy. This would result, indeed, in fat loss.

However, if the patient (or client) has a bag of fries and a sandwich with a Frappuccino, this is not likely to happen.

More information is obviously needed before we judge this product, and you know where to stay tuned for this. Don’t you?

The researchers concluded that “Obesity, glucose intolerance, and hypertension in childhood were strongly associated with increased rates of premature death from endogenous causes in this population. In contrast, childhood hypercholesterolemia was not a major predictor of premature death from endogenous causes.”

Not very surprising, that! Cholesterol levels are a very crude indicator of cardiovascular risk, with total cholesterol a largely meaningless number.

However, in children, we needed data to show us how obesity really affects them in the long term. In the study group, the heaviest children had more than double the risk of death. Children with highest levels of blood glucose had a 73% greater chance of death.

It is now a major problem for Western society to decide whether child obesity is a form of child abuse or not. This study is likely to give more muscle to those who call for greater State control over the issue of child obesity.

Whichever side of this issue you are on, one thing is for sure — no one is going to be unaffected by this issue anymore!