A statistically validated dysphagia-specific questionnaire was utilized to evaluate the impact of LSG on dysphagia including its functional and emotional influences. The psychosocial handicap of dysphagia significantly reduced weight loss outcomes. A correlation between PPI use and dysphagia after LSG was found. The prevalence of dysphagia after LSG and the factors that contribute to its symptoms need to be further studied.

Background The occurrence of distant metastasis (DM) is the most important prognostic factor influencing survival outcomes in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Identifying patients who are likely to develop DM and offering these cases more aggressive surgical approaches and I‐131 therapy, is paramount to achieving the best possible outcomes. DM on presentation in DTC are uncommon, with an incidence of 1–9%. However, the incidence of DTC is rising and the disease affects a relatively young cohort of patients. The aims of this study were to investigate predictive factors in the development of DM by comparing a homogenous group of DTC patients with and without DM, and to illustrate the overall and disease‐specific survival (DSS) rates of DTC patients presenting with DM. Methods A matched case–control study of patients with DTC and DM was undertaken. The study group comprised a consecutive series of cases with DM treated in the period 1968–2014. Patients with DM at initial presentation were identified (DTC‐DM group). A control group of patients without DM were matched based on age, gender, tumour size and histological subtype. The primary outcome measures were overall and disease‐free survival. Secondary outcome measures were lymph node involvement (LNI), extra‐thyroidal extension (ETE) of tumour and presence of BRAFV600E mutation identified on immunohistochemistry. Results A total of 2547 patients with DTC were reviewed and of these 83 (3.26%) had DM at initial presentation. At 5 and 10 years, the overall survival rates for DTC‐DM patients were 89.6% and 64%, respectively. The 5 and 10 year DSS rates for DTC‐DM cases were 90.2% and 67.3%, respectively. When compared to the DTC group, the DTC‐DM group had significantly higher rates of ETE (63% vs. 29.5%, P < 0.0001) and LNI (32.5% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.044). Among patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), the presence of BRAFV600E mutation was significantly associated with DM (62.2% vs. 36.8%, P = 0.028). Conclusion ETE, LNI and BRAFV600E mutation in PTC are significant predictors for the development of distant metastatic disease.

Introduction/aims: Depression is the most common mental disorder found in patients seeking bariatric surgery. Current literature regarding the impact of pre-operative depression on weight outcomes after bariatric surgery is equivocal. Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) is the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in Australia. Few studies have examined the role of depression as a predictor of weight loss post-LSG specifically. Furthermore, this relationship has not been analyzed in an Australian cohort.Methods: 124 patients underwent LSG. Pre-operative Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores were available for 117 patients. Post-operative weight outcomes were collected at 1 year. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between pre-operative BDI-II scores and weight loss outcomes at 1 year. A multivariate model was employed to examine the impact of baseline variables including age, sex and pre-operative weight on weight outcomes. Results:The mean pre-operative weight and BMI was 123.9 kg and 43.1 kg/m 2 respectively. 2 patients were lost to follow-up. The mean post-operative ΔBMI and %EWL at 12 months was 13.1 kg/m 2 and 76.1% respectively. The median pre-operative BDI-II score was 14 (range 1-52), correlating with mild depression. No significant association was found between BDI-II scores and weight outcomes on univariate and multivariate analysis. On multivariate modeling, older age resulted in lower ΔBMI (p=0.001) and TWL (p=0.001). Higher baseline weight was significantly associated with greater ΔBMI, TWL and %TWL (p=0.0). Conclusion:Pre-operative depression severity was not predictive of weight loss outcomes in this study. Future studies with standardized assessment protocols and follow-up durations are needed to delineate the impact of depression on weight loss after LSG.