Complications of bariatric surgery.

The epidemic of obesity in the United States has triggered an exponential increase in the number of bariatric procedures performed. This has led to an elevated awareness of the complications of bariatric surgery. Several recent studies have suggested that the mortality rate from bariatric surgery is substantially higher than previously stated, particularly in the elderly and disabled population.

Nutritional deficiencies following bariatric surgery: what have we learned?

Deficiencies in vitamins and other nutrients are common following the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPDDS), and may become clinically significant if not recognized and treated with supplementation. This paper presents a review of the current literature and evidence of the most commonly deficient vitamins and minerals following weight loss surgery, including protein, iron, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), and other micronutrients. The deficiencies appear to be more substantial following malabsorptive procedures such as BPD, but occur with restrictive procedures as well.

Primary cardiac sarcoma involving the pulmonary artery and valve.

Primary pulmonary artery neoplasms are rare and lethal. Those involving the pulmonary valve are even rarer with only a few reported cases in the literature. The poor prognosis of these neoplasms, despite attempted multimodal therapy, is largely related to delay and difficulty in diagnosis.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for severe gastroesophageal reflux after vertical banded gastroplasty.

Background: Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) is sometimes associated with complications such as pouch obstruction, dilatation, and gastroesophageal reflux. This occasionally requires surgical revision, in many cases to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP).

Case Report: A 47-year-old woman with severe obesity developed severe symptoms of stenosis of the pouch outlet and gastroesophageal reflux 15 years after VBG.