Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Esophageal Cyst ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Radiography ; Young Adult

Bariatric Surgery ; Humans ; Obesity, Morbid ; complications ; surgery

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) frequently occurs in patients with gastric cancer (GC) and confers a dismal prognosis despite advances in systemic chemotherapy. While systemic chemotherapy has poor peritoneal penetration, intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy remains sequestered, resulting in high peritoneal drug concentrations with less systemic side-effects. The first application of IP treatment was hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis (GCPM); but was associated with an increased morbidity and mortality rate without significantly improving overall survival (OS). While CRS confers limited benefit, the potential role of prophylactic HIPEC and laparoscopic neoadjuvant HIPEC are currently being evaluated. Combination systemic and IP chemotherapy (SIPC) gained popularity in the 1990s, since it provided the benefits of IP treatment while reducing surgical morbidity, demonstrating promising early results in multiple Phase II trials. Unfortunately, these findings were not confirmed in the recent PHOENIX-GC randomized controlled trial; therefore, the appropriate treatment for GCPM remains controversial. Small observational studies from Japan and Singapore have reported successful downstaging of PM in GC patients receiving SIPC who subsequently underwent conversion gastrectomy with a median OS of 21.6–34.6 months. Recently, the most significant development in IP-directed therapy is pressurized IP aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC). Given that aerosol chemotherapy achieves a wider distribution and deeper penetration, the outcomes of multiple ongoing trials assessing its efficacy are eagerly awaited. Indeed, IP-directed therapy has evolved rapidly in the last 3 decades, with an encouraging trend toward improved outcomes in GCPM, and may offer some hope for an otherwise fatal disease.

INTRODUCTIONBariatric surgery is increasingly recognised as an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes that significantly improves glycaemic control, even achieving remission. This study examined perceptions and concerns of diabetic patients towards bariatric surgery as a treatment option for diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA total of 150 patients were recruited from a specialised diabetic outpatient clinic and completed a questionnaire (items were rated on a Likert scale from slightly important [lowest score of 1] to extremely important [maximum score of 5]). Logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing decision for surgery.

RESULTSThe 74 males and 76 females had mean age of 50 (range 20 to 78) and body mass index (BMI) of 29.6 kg/m(range 18.1 to 51); 61% considered surgery favourably. Predictive factors for interest in surgery: higher educational levels (OR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.4), duration of diabetes (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2 to 1.0) and use of insulin (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.1). Reasons for surgery: desire for remission (Likert scale 4.7 ± 0.7), to prevent complications (Likert scale 4.5 ± 0.9) and to reduce medications (Likert scale 4.3 ± 1.1). For those not keen on surgery, main reasons were fear of surgery (Likert scale 4 ± 1.5) and satisfaction with current therapy (Likert scale 3.7 ± 1.6).

CONCLUSIONMany diabetic patients would consider surgery as an option to improve their metabolic disorder (greater interest in patients with higher educational levels, currently using insulin and with shorter duration of diabetes). Surgical complications, length of recovery and duration of benefits were the main concerns.

Adult ; Aged ; Attitude to Health ; Bariatric Surgery ; Decision Making ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motivation ; Obesity ; complications ; surgery ; Obesity, Morbid ; complications ; surgery ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONThe Singapore National Survey of 2004 reported the prevalence of obesity to have increased to 6.9%, thus reflecting the profound changes in our society's lifestyle and eating habits. Bariatric surgery has steadily been increasing to counter the ill effects of obesity.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe audited our prospective series of 31 patients who had laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LABG) for morbid obesity performed by our multidisciplinary team at the National University Hospital, Singapore, between August 2004 and December 2006.

RESULTSThe median age at presentation was 40 years old including 6 males and 25 females. Their median BMI was 42.35 kg/m(2). At a median follow-up of 26 months, the median percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was 41.95%. The positive impact of gastric banding on comorbidities are evident whereby 15 (94%) of the diabetics had improved glycaemic control with HbA(1)C of 7.7% preoperatively improving to 5.9% postoperatively, and also 8 (58%) now take smaller doses of oral hypoglycaemic agents. Hypertension improved in 4 patients and 2 (11%) were cured. All our patients with dyslipidaemia had their statin doses reduced with marked lowering of serum lipid levels. We had 2 patients (6.45%) with band erosion and another 2 with reflux oesophagitis. Our article also summarises the available surgical procedures while discussing the pros and cons of each.

CONCLUSIONOur results showed that a multidisciplinary programme can achieve significant weight loss for obese patients in Singapore. To achieve long-term weight loss, a commitment of both the medical team and the patient is necessary. Laparoscopy has revolutionised the practice of bariatric surgery worldwide. LAGB is an effective and safe procedure.

Adult ; Bariatric Surgery ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Comorbidity ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Gastric Bypass ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Hospitals, University ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Morbid ; complications ; epidemiology ; surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight Loss ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONOutcomes of bariatric surgery for super obese Asians are not well reported. We aimed to compare short-term outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in Asian patients with body mass index (BMI) <47.5 kg/m to those with BMI •••••• ≥47.5 kg/m.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA total of 272 patients from Singapore university hospital who underwent LSG from 2008 to 2015 with a follow-up of at least 6 months were included in the study. Primary endpoint was weight loss at 1-year and 3-years. Morbid obesity (Group 1, G1) was defined as BMI <47.5 kg/m and super obesity (Group2, G2) was defined as BMI ≥47.5 kg/m.

RESULTSThere were 215 patients in G1 and 57 patients in G2 (mean preoperative weight: 107.3 kg and 146.8 kg; mean follow-up: 27.9 and 26.8 months, respectively). Mean total weight loss at 3-year of 41.9 kg for G2 was significantly higher ( = 0.003) than 27.2 kg for G1. Mean percentage excess weight loss (EWL) did not differ at 3-years. There was no difference in operating time, blood loss, length of stay, 30-day morbidity and readmission. There were no conversions and mortality in both groups. Remission of herpertension ( - 0.001) and dyslipidaemia ( = 0.038) were significantly associated with achieving EWL percentage (%EWL) >50 in G1.

CONCLUSIONLSG is an equally safe and effective operation in Asians with BMI ≥47.5 kg/m2 when compare to patients with BMI <47.5 kg/m in achieving significant weight loss and improvement in comorbidities. Super obese lose more weight but have lower %EWL.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Obesity, Morbid ; surgery ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Patient Safety ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore

INTRODUCTION: We report outcomes of patients with oesophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) plus surgery or definitive chemoradiotherapy (chemoRT) at our institution. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent chemoRT from 2005 to 2017. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were disease-free survival (DFS) and toxicities. RESULTS: We identified 96 patients with median age of 64 years and squamous cell carcinoma in 82.3%. Twenty-nine patients (30.2%) received NACRT plus surgery, 67 patients (69.8%) received definitive chemoRT. Median follow-up was 13.5 months. The 3/5-year OS were 26.4%/13.4%, and 59.6%/51.6% in the definitive chemoRT and NACRT plus surgery groups, respectively. The 3/5-year DFS were 19.3%/12.3%, and 55.7%/37.2% in the definitive chemoRT and NACRT plus surgery groups, respectively. NACRT plus surgery significantly improved OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22-0.72, CONCLUSION NACRT plus surgery improved OS and DFS. However, in view of treatment-related complications, careful selection of patients is warranted. With the predominant histology of our cohort being squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), our results may be more relevant for those with SCC.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies

Gastric carcinoma rarely presents as a perforation, but when it does, is perceived as advanced disease. The majority of such perforations are Stage III/IV disease. A T1 gastric carcinoma has never been reported to perforate spontaneously in English literature. We present a 56 year-old Chinese male who presented with a perforated gastric ulcer. Intra-operatively, there was no suspicion of malignancy. At operation, an open omental patch repair was performed. Post-operative endoscopy revealed a macroscopic Type 0~III tumour and from the ulcer edge biopsy was reported as adenocarcinoma. Subsequently, the patient underwent open subtotal gastrectomy and formal D2 lymphadenectomy. The final histopathology report confirms T1b N0 disease. The occurrence of a perforated early gastric cancer re-emphasises the need for vigilance, including intra-operative frozen section and/or biopsy, as well as routine post-operative endoscopy for all patients.
Adenocarcinoma ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Frozen Sections ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Male ; Peritonitis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer