Study design
The current registry was a monocenter, prospective, single-arm, investigational device registry of patients undergoing laparoscopic RYGB with the easyEndoTM Universal Linear Cutting Stapler and Reloads (EziSurg Medical). Pregnant patients, patients with a history of bariatric surgery and patients who were suspected to be unable to comply with the study protocol or proposed follow-up visits were excluded from this registry. One hundred fifty patients were recruited by the investigational site. This number provides sufficient observations to ensure the scientific validity of the conclusions. Patients who were scheduled for RYGB underwent standard follow-up 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months after the operation. Pseudonymized data were collected in a prospectively maintained electronic database.
Endpoints
The primary endpoint was to investigate the safety of the easyEndoTM Universal Linear Cutting Stapler in laparoscopic RYGB surgery by evaluating peri- and post-operative anastomotic leaks and intraluminal/intraperitoneal bleeding. Secondary endpoints of this study included assessments of the safety profile (peri-operative, early and late complications), of primary technical success of the procedure and device performance, of the bariatric surgery related re-interventions and of the patient’s weight profile. Primary technical success was defined as laparoscopic RYGB formation as intended without technical difficulties and without conversion to laparotomy. Device performance was evaluated for different characteristics of the device using a scoring system from 0 to 4 (0: very unsatisfied, 1: unsatisfied, 2: neutral, 3: satisfied, 4: very satisfied). The patient’s weight profile was described as BMI, percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) and percentage total weight loss (%TWL). The BMI was calculated as the weight divided by the square of the patient’s height (in meters). The %EWL was defined as the baseline weight minus the follow-up weight, divided by the excess body weight, and multiplied by 100. Excess body weight was defined as the weight at the time of surgery minus the ideal body weight, calculated as 25 multiplied by length squared. The %TWL was defined as the baseline weight minus the follow-up weight, divided by the baseline weight, and multiplied by 100.
Procedure
All patients underwent a comprehensive pre-operative assessment. The laparoscopic RYGB procedure was performed according to a standardized surgical technique (19, 20). All surgeries were performed under general anesthesia. Patients were positioned in the 30° reverse Trendelenburg beach-chair position with split-legs. Abdominal insufflation with carbon dioxide (CO2) was achieved using a Veress needle. Intra-abdominal pressures were maintained at 15 mmHg. A five-port technique was employed. A gastric pouch was created along the lesser curvature of the stomach and oriented vertically with exclusion of the gastric fundus. The gastric pouch volume was between 15.1 and 30.0 ml for the majority of patients (Table 1). On average, 3.39±0.64 reloads were used to create the gastric pouch, mostly 60 mm reloads (Table 1). The Roux limb was brought up in a antecolic position and placed anterior to the stomach remnant. Roux limb length was usually between 100 and 150 cm (88.0%) (Table 1). A gastrojejunostomy using a circular stapler was performed in all cases (Table 1). The circular stapler was preferred to complete the gastrojejunostomy, because, compared to the linear technique, this technique does not require closure of a common opening, eliminating a possible leakage site; traction on the gastrojejunostomy is limited due to an equal distribution of forces on the anastomosis; and the circular stapler has a fixed diameter reproducing the opening. The proximal jejunum was divided distal to the ligament of Treitz. A side-to-side jejunojejunostomy was performed by stapling the anastomosis, with closure of the enterostomy by barbed suture in 95.3% of cases, and a fully stapled anastomosis in 4.7% of cases (Table 1). The 60 mm reloads (R60W-2.5 White) were used to create the jejunojejunostomy in all cases (Table 1). The biliopancreatic limb varied around 70 cm. Intra-operatively, a leak test with methylene blue was performed. Briefly, after positioning of the orogastric tube at the level of the gastrojejunostomy, leakage was checked by injecting 60 ml of methylene blue and air with force while closing the alimentary limb distally. If any leakage was present or if some traction was detected, the gastrojejunostomy was reinforced with additional stitches of an absorbable monofilament suture. The mesenteric gaps were closed with a stapler to prevent the formation of an internal hernia. To prevent post-operative bleeding, all staple lines were inspected at an elevated systolic pressure above 130 mmHg and any detected bleeding points were clipped. A drain is put through the left lateral trocar incision and placed adjacent to the gastric pouch. On the day of surgery, patients remained sober. The following day, they were allowed to drink and yogurt was started. Patients were discharged if pain was controlled, drinking and eating yogurt was successful, and if there was no vomiting, nor any signs of melaena.
Linear stapler
The easyEndoTM Universal Linear Cutting Stapler (EziSurg Medical) places two, triple-staggered rows of titanium staples while simultaneously separating the tissue from the central line. The device is available in lengths of 70 mm, 160 mm and 250 mm. Reloads are available in four staple sizes to accommodate different tissue thicknesses: 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm, 3.8 mm and 4.1 mm. The available reload lengths are 30 mm, 45 mm and 60 mm. The device can be reloaded and fired up to 25 times during one procedure. The shaft of the easyEndoTM Universal Linear Cutting Stapler rotates freely and achieves an articulation angle of 60 degrees to facilitate lateral access to the operative site. It is the world’s first full 60° laparoscopic linear cutter stapler. Transection and creation of anastomoses were performed according to the instructions for use.
Statistics
Continuous variables are presented as mean (standard deviation [SD]), median and range, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) based on the Student’s-t distribution. Categorical variables are presented as number, denominator and percentage, and a 95% Clopper Pearson interval. As this is a single arm study, no statistical inferences are made with regards to comparison of treatment arms or subgroups. All applicable statistical tests are two-sided and are performed using a 5% significance level. No adjustments are made for multiplicity for the primary and secondary outcomes. For parameters which were recorded at multiple visits (baseline and follow-up visits), the change from baseline is statistically tested using the paired Student’s t test (continuous variables). Statistical tests with a p-value <0.05 are considered as statistically significant. The number of missing observations is reported. Data are summarized as observed with no imputation for missing values. Statistical expertise was available to the authors. All datasets, table and figures, and statistical analyses were created by SBD Analytics (Bekkevoort, Belgium) using the SAS Statistical Software packages (SAS V9.4, The SAS Institute, Cary NC).