The present systematic review includes a random-effects meta-analysis. The antecolic procedure, with closure of both the mesenteric and Petersen defects, has the lowest internal herniation incidence following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

This RCT demonstrates that, despite the initial better weight loss in the VBG group, based on complication rates and clinical outcome, LAGB is preferred. It had a shorter LOS and less postoperative morbidity.

Patients that received fast track care had a decreased length of stay. Although more complications occurred after discharge in the fast track care group, this did not lead to adverse outcomes. Fast track does enhance recovery and is suitable for unselected patients. Care providers should select their patients for early discharge and pursue a low threshold for readmission.

Aim A standardized postoperative score, the DULK (Dutch leakage) score, has been demonstrated to be a useful clinical tool in the diagnosis of anastomotic leakage. It is complicated, however, and a simplification (the modified DULK score) based on fewer parameters derived from multiple logistic regression analyses has been developed. These include clinical condition, abdominal pain not localized at the wound, C-reactive protein level and respiratory rate. The accuracy of each was compared.Method Data of all patients from five Dutch centres operated on between 16 October 2007 and 1 November 2009 with an anastomosis in the colon or rectum were entered into a prospectively maintained database. ResultsIn total, 782 patients were included of whom 81 (10.4%) had a clinically relevant anastomotic leakage. The DULK score gave an overall sensitivity of 97% for anastomotic leakage, overall specificity of 53%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 16% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%. The modified DULK score used clinical condition, abdominal pain not localized at the wound, C-reactive protein level and respiratory rate. With at least one parameter present, overall sensitivity was 97%, overall specificity 57%, PPV 17% and NPV 99.5%. With at least two points PPV was 41% and with three points 57%.Conclusion Both the original and modified DULK scores are useful for the early diagnosis of clinically relevant anastomotic leakage. The modified DULK score offers the benefit of fewer parameters and so can easily be used in a clinical environment to estimate the likelihood of anastomotic leakage. However, the early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage remains difficult.

The management of common bile duct (CBD) stones in patients subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still a subject of debate. A prospective study was performed of all 699 patients with symptomatic gallstones at risk of CBD stones between mid-1987 and 1994. Based on clinical, biochemical and ultrasonographic criteria, 119 patients underwent preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with or without endoscopic sphincterotomy. Results showed a high positive predictive value (over 85 per cent) for the presence of CBD stones in patients with acute cholangitis, persistent obstructive jaundice or in the acute phase of gallstone pancreatitis. In the other groups (increased liver enzyme levels, a wide CBD and after resolution of jaundice or pancreatitis) the positive predictive value was less than 25 per cent. The complication rate of ERCP with sphincterotomy was 14 per cent with a mortality rate of 2 per cent. These results argue for more selective use of preoperative ERCP only for patients with acute cholangitis, persistent jaundice or acute gallstone pancreatitis. Other patients at risk of harbouring CBD stones should undergo intraoperative laparoscopic cholangiography and, if stones are found, laparoscopic exploration of the bile duct or postoperative ERCP.

Introduction Prevalence of obesity and associated diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are increasing. Underlying mechanisms, especially in humans, are unclear. Bariatric surgery provides the unique opportunity to obtain biopsies and portal vein blood‐samples. Methods The BARIA Study aims to assess how microbiota and their metabolites affect transcription in key tissues and clinical outcome in obese subjects and how baseline anthropometric and metabolic characteristics determine weight loss and glucose homeostasis after bariatric surgery. We phenotype patients undergoing bariatric surgery (predominantly laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass), before weight loss, with biometrics, dietary and psychological questionnaires, mixed meal test (MMT) and collect fecal‐samples and intra‐operative biopsies from liver, adipose tissues and jejunum. We aim to include 1500 patients. A subset (approximately 25%) will undergo intra‐operative portal vein blood‐sampling. Fecal‐samples are analyzed with shotgun metagenomics and targeted metabolomics, fasted and postprandial plasma‐samples are subjected to metabolomics, and RNA is extracted from the tissues for RNAseq‐analyses. Data will be integrated using state‐of‐the‐art neuronal networks and metabolic modeling. Patient follow‐up will be ten years. Results Preoperative MMT of 170 patients were analysed and clear differences were observed in glucose homeostasis between individuals. Repeated MMT in 10 patients showed satisfactory intra‐individual reproducibility, with differences in plasma glucose, insulin and triglycerides within 20% of the mean difference. Conclusion The BARIA study can add more understanding in how gut‐microbiota affect metabolism, especially with regard to obesity, glucose metabolism and NAFLD. Identification of key factors may provide diagnostic and therapeutic leads to control the obesity‐associated disease epidemic.

Because of the complexity of this inflammatory process, choice of either an assisted or a more invasive laparoscopic facilitated approach is necessary. The decision is based on the technical difficulty as determined by data collected both preoperatively and during laparoscopy.

The liver selectively extracts most BAs and BAs with highest affinity for the most important metabolic BA receptor, TGR5, are typically low in both porcine and human peripheral circulation. Our findings raise questions about the magnitude of a peripheral TGR5 signal and its ultimate clinical application.