1- and 2-year outcomes and predictors of weight loss after gastric sleeve to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass conversion: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy to Roux-en-Y bypass conversion is a commonly performed procedure, yet data are limited on outcomes and their predictors. The purpose of this study is to characterize the long-term outcomes of patients after sleeve-to-bypass conversion and identify predictors of post-conversion outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent sleeve-to-bypass conversion for obesity across four hospitals from 06/2017 to 04/2023.

Greatest Quality of Life Improvement in Patients With Large Ventral Hernias: An Individual Assessment of Items in the HerQLes Survey.

Background: Ventral hernia repair (VHR) has been shown to improve overall quality of life (QOL) by the validated 12-question Hernia-Related Quality-of-Life survey (HerQLes). However, which specific aspects of quality of life are most affected by VHR have not been formally investigated.

Methods: Through retrospective analysis of the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative national database, we measured the change in each individual component of the HerQLes questionnaire from a pre-operative baseline assessment to one-year postoperatively in VHR patients.

Quality in Endoscopy.

Quality improvement is a dynamic process that requires continuously monitoring quality indicators and benchmarking these with national and professional standards. Endoscopists have formed societal task forces to propose quality indicators and performance goals. Institutions are now incentivized by payers and value-based reimbursement agreements to have processes in place to measure, report, and act on these quality metrics.

Tobacco use is not associated with increased risk of recurrent reflux 5 years after laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery.

Introduction: Tobacco use worsens gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD). Smoking cessation improves GERD symptoms, but its impact on the efficacy of laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (LARS) is unclear. In this retrospective cohort study, we hypothesized that non-smokers would demonstrate greater long-term improvements in disease-specific quality of life than active smokers.

Programmed Death Ligand 1: A Step Toward Immunoscore for Esophageal Cancer.

Background: This study sought to evaluate the effect of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on the prognosis of esophageal cancer.

Methods: Banked tissue specimens from 53 patients who underwent esophagectomies for malignancy at a single institution over a 6-year period were stained for cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3), CD8, and PD-L1. Tumors were characterized as staining high or low density for CD3 and CD8, as well as positive or negative for PD-L1.

Endovascular Reconstruction of Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease with an Aberrant Pelvic Kidney.

Aortoiliac occlusive disease coincident with a congenital ectopic pelvic kidney is a rare occurrence. Traditionally, the treatment has been open aortobifemoral repair with reimplantation of the renal artery. We present a patient with Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) D bilateral aortoiliac occlusive disease, an ectopic pelvic kidney, and prohibitive medical comorbidities.