Clinical Research Directory

Ultrasonography Guided Pneumoperitoneum for Laparoscopic Surgery in Morbidly Obese Patients

Bariatric Surgery for morbid obesity is indicated when BMI \> 40 kg/m2 without comorbidities or BMI \> 35 kg/m2 with co-morbidities. Different surgeries performed for obesity are classified as restrictive, malabsorptive, and hybrid procedures. Because laparoscopic surgery has increased the interest and growth of bariatric surgery, soaring demand for laparoscopic bariatric surgery from patients has boosted the boom in bariatric surgery worldwide. Achieving pneumoperitoneum is the initial and one of the most crucial steps in any laparoscopic surgery, giving the surgeon working space to operate on a particular organ/organ system. Usually, pneumoperitoneum is achieved either by a closed technique with a veress needle or an open technique with many variations like finger assisted or the conventional open technique. Given the excess amount of subcutaneous fat in morbidly obese patients, putting a veress needle to achieve pneumoperitoneum successfully is particularly challenging which takes a toll on the operating surgeon when he/she is trying to locate the midline one can either overshoot to cause omental emphysema or undershoot getting lost in the subcutaneous fat. It is usually done in the supra umbilical area. Sometimes, due to previous surgical scars other sites are preferred. Sonography is routinely used by radiologists with negligible radiation exposure. Anesthesiologists in the operating room have used it for many assisted procedures like central line insertion / giving nerve blocks. It can also be used in obese patients undergoing metabolic surgery to assist in creating pneumoperitoneum by a veress needle. Advantages of Intraoperative ultrasonography in this particular study : 1. To quantify the thickness of subcutaneous fat 2. To visualise the linea alba and guide the veress needle safely into the peritoneal cavity 3. Real-time visualisation of the pneumoperitoneum created 4. Avoid complications like omental emphysema, bowel or vascular injury

Tapered Versus Abrupt Discontinuation of Semaglutide After Treatment of Recurrent Weight Gain or Suboptimal Response Following Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Every course of obesity pharmacotherapy ends. Cost, supply, pregnancy plans, side effects, or the patient's own wish. In Egypt, cost alone makes discontinuation the rule, not the exception. Yet the entire evidence base describes what happens when the drug stops, and none of it tests how to stop. Abrupt withdrawal fails predictably. One year after stopping semaglutide, STEP 1 extension participants had regained two thirds of their lost weight. SURMOUNT-4 showed the same pattern after tirzepatide withdrawal, and meta-analysis confirms it across agents. After MBS specifically, stopping GLP-1 therapy is likewise followed by regain. The guidelines say: do not stop at all. The 2026 ADA and Obesity Association Standards strongly recommend continuing medication through maintenance, and the 2024 IFSO consensus agrees that when medication is needed to hold the benefit after MBS, ongoing treatment is probably necessary, while stating, at 94% agreement, that intermittent therapy and dose-reduction strategies require research. Our patients cannot follow the first recommendation. Cost decides for them. This trial is the research the second sentence asks for: the evidence for the moment when continuing is not an option. Clinicians already taper, on no evidence. A 2025 expert commentary describes 8-to-12-week dose reductions in routine practice and states plainly that the approach is anecdotal and untested (Obesity and Endocrinology 2025). Practice has run ahead of the trial. The general-population trial now exists, and we cite it rather than duplicate it. The REST trial has registered exactly this comparison, gradual 16-week dose reduction versus abrupt cessation, in non-surgical patients with obesity. No such trial exists after MBS.

Semaglutide Before Primary Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Patients With BMI 60 kg/m² or Higher

Patients with BMI 60 kg/m² or higher are the hardest operations in bariatric surgery. Thick abdominal wall, massive hepatomegaly, reduced working space, fragile fatty tissue, higher conversion and complication rates. Every bariatric surgeon knows this group. Almost no trial recruits it. The standard answer is a short liver-reduction diet before surgery. It helps, but the effect is modest, hard to tolerate, and short-lived. GLP-1-based drugs now produce far larger and better-tolerated weight loss and are already being given before surgery in routine practice, without trial evidence. Retrospective series show more preoperative weight loss and no obvious harm, and no more than that (Obesity Research \& Clinical Practice 2026). A 2023 review of drugs on the surgical waiting list found that GLP-1 receptor agonists had never been evaluated for the preoperative indication at all. Two registered trials are now adjacent to this question, and we cite both. The PreMO pilot randomizes 50 patients to open-label preoperative tirzepatide versus standard care, with tissue inflammation as the scientific focus (PMID 41643256; NCT06721507). A three-arm trial before one-anastomosis gastric bypass compares tirzepatide, ketogenic diet, and standard care, with weight loss at one year as primary (NCT07622992). Neither is blinded. Neither recruits BMI 60 and above. Neither measures whether the drug actually makes the operation easier and safer. The 2024 IFSO international consensus reached 100% agreement that evidence is insufficient to recommend routine preoperative medication, that use must be individualized, and that more research on benefits, risks, and outcomes is required; it also agreed, at 97%, that adequate protein and resistance exercise must accompany any preoperative drug treatment (PMID 39612579). This trial is the research that consensus calls for, and its preoperative program is built to the 97% requirement.

Immediate Versus Criterion-triggered Semaglutide for Suboptimal Clinical Response One Year After Primary Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Roughly one patient in five never reaches the expected weight loss after MBS, and long-term regain after SG is well documented. These patients are identifiable at the 12-month visit. Today they are watched, coached, and treated only when failure is established. Whether the drug works in this group is no longer the question. BARI-STEP, published this year, randomized 70 patients with less than 20% weight loss after gastric bypass (including one-anastomosis) or sleeve gastrectomy, a mean of seven years after surgery, to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo: 18.0% loss versus 0.4% gain at 68 weeks, an adjusted difference of 19.1 percentage points. Its population was mixed, 55.7% with recurrent weight gain and 44.3% with suboptimal initial response, and its exploratory comparison found no difference in drug response between the two presentations. BARI-OPTIMISE showed the same direction with liraglutide, as did a randomized trial after gastric banding. Efficacy is settled. Timing is not. BARI-STEP recruited patients a mean of seven years past surgery, after failure had hardened. No trial has tested treating at first recognition, the 12-month visit, against the current standard of structured waiting. The field's own reviews name timing and duration as the open questions. The 2024 IFSO international consensus reached 100% agreement that medication after MBS should generally be withheld until the weight plateau, and 100% agreement that adding it for a suboptimal response can then improve outcomes. That is exactly our immediate arm: treat at the plateau, at first recognition. The triggered arm is what clinics actually do: wait for established failure. Both positions rest on expert agreement, not on a trial. This is the randomized test of the consensus pathway. A registered open-label pilot starts tirzepatide at 12 or 18 months but is small, unblinded, and not a strategy comparison. The 2026 consensus draws the line for us, and this protocol respects it. The Delphi panel defined surgical nonresponse as less than 10% TWL at 12 months, defined recurrent weight gain as regain of more than 25% of lost weight from nadir, and treated a 10% swing in %EWL from nadir as normal physiologic fluctuation. It gave no 12-month label at all to the patient with 10 to 19.9% TWL, and the IFSO Delphi consensus expects the weight nadir up to 2 years after surgery (Obes Surg 2023). So a patient at 14% TWL at one year may still be on the way down, and calling that failure would be wrong. The protocol therefore splits eligibility into two tiers. Below 10% TWL at 12 months: consensus-defined nonresponse, randomized at once, waiting adds nothing. 10 to below 20% TWL: randomized only after a documented plateau, defined in Section 4, with a hard cap at month 18 so waiting cannot drift into neglect. Randomization is stratified by tier, and results are reported by tier.

The PREBA Study: Effect of Preoperative Weight Loss With a 14-day Low-calorie Diet on Surgical Procedure and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing RYGB Surgery

Bariatric guidelines recommend preoperative weight loss of 5% to reduce the risk of surgical complications. However, results in the literature on the improvement of surgical procedure and outcomes are still conflicting. This study aims to evaluate the effect of preoperative weight loss by means of a 14-day low-calorie diet in bariatric patients on operative time, the ease of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedure and long-term weight loss in a real-life experimental setting.

Evaluation of Nutritional Interventions to Limit Gestational Weight Gain in Women With Class III Obesity (BMI >40)

Women with obesity who gain more weight than recommended during pregnancy are more likely to have problems such as cesarean delivery, diabetes in pregnancy, high blood pressure, and larger babies. Standard prenatal care does not usually include nutrition counseling based on weight alone. This trial tested whether adding group nutrition classes during pregnancy helps these women gain less weight during pregnancy compared to standard prenatal care alone.

Two Different Regimens of Bemiparin as a Thromboprophylaxis in Morbidly Obese Surgical Patients

Morbid obesity, is known to be associated with a high risk of VTE and, unfortunately, fixed doses of anticoagulant regimens may not provide optimal VTE prophylaxis in these patients especially after surgery.

Tailored Stapled SADI-S: Initial Report and Preliminary Results

Obesity is a serious health problem worldwide and can lead to many diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep apnea. When lifestyle changes and medications are not enough, metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is currently the most effective and long-lasting treatment option. This study focuses on one of the newer types of bariatric surgery called Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy (SADI-S). This procedure combines two parts: Sleeve gastrectomy, which reduces the size of the stomach so the patient feels full after eating a small amount. Duodeno-ileal bypass, which shortens the path food takes through the small intestine to reduce calorie absorption. Our hospital's surgical team is studying a tailored version of this operation, where the length of the bypassed intestine is adjusted to each patient's anatomy. We believe this personalized approach may improve weight loss results while lowering the risk of vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. The study will include 40 adult patients with obesity who are undergoing SADI-S surgery, either as their first weight loss operation or as a revision surgery after an earlier sleeve gastrectomy. During the operation, surgeons will measure the total length of each patient's small intestine and use a formula to decide how much of it should be bypassed. The duodeno-ileal connection will be made using a stapled technique, which is expected to be safe and efficient. After surgery, patients will be followed regularly at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, and then once per year. At each visit, the study team will monitor weight loss, body mass index (BMI), resolution of diabetes and other obesity-related conditions, nutritional status (including vitamins and minerals), and any side effects such as diarrhea, reflux, or nutritional problems. The goal of this study is to learn whether this tailored SADI-S technique can provide strong, sustained weight loss and health improvement with fewer long-term complications. The results will help improve surgical planning for future patients by showing whether measuring and customizing the bypass length is safer and more effective than using a fixed length. All data collected will be kept confidential. Patients' participation in the study will not change their regular care or follow-up, and they can withdraw at any time without affecting their treatment.

Impact GLP-1 Agonists Following Bariatric

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose levels through improved insulin sensitivity and release of insulin from the pancreas, control hunger, induce satiety and plays a role in the metabolic health of a person. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) have been shown to be effective in achieving weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes while improving blood glucose control. Bariatric surgical procedures have been shown to be effective in treating obesity as well as superior to best medical therapy for treatment of diabetes not just through restriction of calories but also through a positive impact in modifications of gut hormones, changes in circulating bile acids, modifications in the gut microflora as well as other undefined mechanisms. The combined benefits of GLP1-RAs with bariatric surgery have only been studied to a limited effect. In this randomized trial, the effects of continuation or discontinuation of GLP1-RA therapy in patients undergoing bariatric surgery will be determined. We will compare changes in weight, metabolic determinants including circulating bile acids and gut microbiome, psychological determinants of eating behavior, and adverse side effects in patients who continue vs discontinue therapy. Given differences in metabolic and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), both surgical groups will be examined. The study will be conducted at a high volume bariatric surgical program where patients will undergo randomization at the time of final clinic visit prior to surgery to continue or discontinue GLP1-RA. It is hypothesized that participants who continue GLP1-RA therapy after bariatric surgery will lose more weight with improved blood glucose control than those who discontinue therapy. Furthermore, changes in gut microbiome and circulating bile acids, known determinants of metabolic health, will be modified to a differential extent in those who are on GLP1-RAs vs those where GLP1-RAs are discontinued. Understanding the role these medications play in not only clinical outcomes after metabolic surgery but potential metabolic mechanisms by which surgery improves patient's metabolic health could help people with obesity and type 2 diabetes make informed decisions about their treatment options as well as advise providers on the continuation of these medications in the perioperative and postoperative period.

Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Changes During Bariatric Surgery

This prospective clinical study aimed to evaluate the effects of pneumoperitoneum and patient positioning on intracranial pressure in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Intracranial pressure was assessed noninvasively using ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurements. ONSD measurements were performed before anesthesia induction in the supine position (T0), 5 minutes after anesthesia induction (T1), 5 minutes after creation of pneumoperitoneum and placement in the reverse Trendelenburg position (T2), at the 20th minute of pneumoperitoneum (T3), and 5 minutes after termination of pneumoperitoneum and return to the supine position (T4). The study aimed to determine the effects of anesthesia, pneumoperitoneum, and surgical positioning on intracranial pressure during bariatric surgery

Accelerated Aging of the Cells of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Morbid Obese Subjects

Numerous epidemiological studies clearly showed the relationship between the excessive growth of visceral adipose tissue and risk of developing insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors. However, the mechanisms contributing to the deleterious role of visceral adipose tissue remain to be elucidated. Several observations suggest that adipose tissue depots exhibit distinct metabolic and secretory capacities according to their locations. We have recently shown that visceral fat depots display higher immuno-inflammatory cells infiltration than that of subcutaneous fat. In addition, the endothelial cells of visceral compared to subcutaneous adipose tissues express a pro-inflammatory phenotype and several markers related to aging. Finally, we have shown that visceral adipocyte-derived secretions promote the endothelial cell senescence in an extent higher than subcutaneous adipocyte-derived products. These data suggest that senescence 1) might be a phenomenon related to the location and therefore the microenvironment of adipose tissue and 2) might be responsible for an abnormal activation of proinflammatory response, favouring the development of metabolic and secretory dysfunction of adipose tissue in obesity. Our working hypothesis, based on these observations, is that the visceral adipose tissue provides a microenvironment that promotes accelerated aging. This senescence may be responsible for the establishment of an inflammatory reaction, alteration of the metabolic activity and adipocyte differentiation capacity of progenitor cells leading to the development of obesity associated diseases. The proposed project is a descriptive cross-sectional pathophysiological study .The aims are 1) to better define the process of senescence in human adipose tissue, 2) to precise the mechanisms and 3) to analyse the cellular and functional consequences of aging on inflammation, adipose tissue development and metabolism. 200 morbidly obese candidates for bariatric surgery will be studied. The collection of clinical and laboratory data and the collection of biological samples (plasma, blood cells and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues) will be made at the inclusion and during surgery (obesity center, Hôpital Louis Mourier). Analyses of adipose tissue will be performed at INSERM U1048 and will focus on in vitro approaches of the cells of the adipose tissues (mature adipocytes, endothelial cells, progenitor cells and immuno-inflammatory cells). This project will permit to better understand the pathogenicity associated with the excessive growth of visceral adipose tissue and may reveal new therapeutic targets to limit obesity-associated pathologies.

Predictive Value of Nutritional and Inflammatory Indices for Postoperative Complications After Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for severe obesity, but postoperative complications remain an important cause of morbidity. Several nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers derived from routine preoperative blood tests have been proposed as predictors of postoperative outcomes; however, their comparative value in bariatric surgery has not been fully established. This single-center retrospective cohort study will evaluate the ability of preoperative nutritional and inflammatory indices, including the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), and C-reactive Protein-to-Albumin Ratio (CAR), to predict 30-day postoperative complications following bariatric surgery. The study aims to identify the most clinically useful biomarker for preoperative risk stratification and optimization of perioperative care.

Induction of Labor in Morbidly Obese Patients

The goal of this randomized control trial is to compare different doses of Misoprostol (25 mcg vs 50 mcg) in induction of labor (IOL) in morbidly obese patients with BMI \>40. It is known that morbid obesity is a risk factor for failed IOL and ultimately cesarean delivery (CD.) If the rates of vaginal delivery in this population can improve, then surgical morbidity can be reduced in these patients.

Impact of Reverse Trendelenburg on ONSD in Obesity Surgery

This prospective randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effect of reverse Trendelenburg positioning applied before pneumoperitoneum on optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and, consequently, intracranial pressure during laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Patients will be randomly assigned to two groups, and perioperative changes in ONSD will be compared between the groups. The primary hypothesis of the study is that applying the reverse Trendelenburg position before pneumoperitoneum may attenuate ONSD enlargement and thereby help prevent increases in intracranial pressure.

Early Feasibility for Safety & Device Functionality of SFM Anastomosis Device Used in 3 Procedures (SNAP-S) or (SNAP-PS) or (J-J)

The objectives of this study are to assess the initial safety and device functionality of the SFM Anastomosis System including delivery systems when used to create a duodenal-ileal (D-I) anastomosis either during sleeve gastrectomy (i.e., SNAP-S procedure) or patients with prior sleeve gastrectomy who experience inadequate weight loss (i.e., SNAP-PS procedure) or a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass jejuno-jejunostomy. Additionally, the study is designed to evaluate the potential of these procedures to induce weight loss and to improve metabolic comorbidities in obese subjects.

FMT in Obesity: RYGB vs. LEAN vs. Autologous FMT

This double-blinded proof-of-concept study is proposed to explore the effects of fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) in human subjects. Here we perform FMTs into obese recipients using stool from lean unoperated donors and from previously obese patients after successfull treatment with bariatric Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery. Obese patients treated with their own material (autologous FMT) serve as controls. After FMT treatment the functional impact of post-surgery microbiome changes on host energy consumption and regulation of blood glucose levels will be analysed. Additionally the variations on the microbiota and metabolite composition will be profiled using extensive sequencing analyses. The major aim of the study is to explore the scientific rationale for targeted gut microbiota modulation in management of obesity and related metabolic diseases.We estimate the transfer of microbiota from RYGB donors is superior to the transfer of lean microbiota at inducing reduced adiposity and improving high blood glucose levels in obese recipients. Each is better than a sham procedure (autologous FMT), which itself can also induce considerable short-term effects.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Early Proctologic Effects in Morbid Obesity

Prospective observational cohort study evaluating the early proctologic effects of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy in morbidly obese patients. Participants will undergo baseline and 3-month anorectal symptom assessment and proctologic examination to evaluate newly developed proctologic diseases and changes in pre-existing symptoms.

Bariatric Embolization Before Sleeve Gastrectomy for Super Obese Patients

In patients with severe obesity, bariatric surgery provides consistent and long-term weight loss. BMI ≥50kg / m2 is an independent factor of increased morbidity / mortality in bariatric surgery compared with patients weighing less than 50 kg / m2 (1.2% and 0.8%) mainly due to technical difficulties. Preoperative weight loss reduces this morbidity / mortality. Recent studies have shown that blocking blood vessels to a particular portion of the stomach (bariatric or left gastric artery embolization) can temporarily decrease levels of the appetite inducing hormone ghrelin, and result in weight loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the association bariatric embolization before sleeve gastrectomy in super obese patients.

Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Female Sexual Function and Sex Hormones

The goal of this observational study is to learn about how weight loss surgery (also called bariatric surgery) affects sexual function and sex hormone levels in women with severe obesity. It will also look at how the surgery affects mood, quality of life, body image, and the partner's sexual health. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does sexual function improve after weight loss surgery? * Do sex hormone levels change after weight loss surgery? * Are these changes linked to improvements in mood and quality of life? * Does the partner also experience changes in sexual function? Researchers will compare each participant's results before surgery to their results 6 months after surgery. This helps show how things change over time. This study will include about 40 women who: * Are between 18 and 45 years old * Have severe obesity and are scheduled for weight loss surgery at Cairo University Hospital * Have a stable, sexually active partner relationship What participants will do: * Complete questionnaires about sexual function, mood, quality of life, and body image (twice: before surgery and 6 months after) * Provide a blood sample to measure sex hormone levels (before surgery and 6 months after) * Their partners will complete a short questionnaire about their own sexual function This research is important because sexual health is a key part of quality of life that is often overlooked in obesity care. Understanding how weight loss surgery affects sexual function, hormones, and mood can help doctors better counsel patients about what to expect after surgery. This is one of the first studies in Egypt to examine these questions and the first to include partner assessment. The study will start in January 2026. Results will be available by late 2026.

Interaction Between Head/Neck Position and C-MAC Blade Geometry on Videolaryngoscopic Intubation in Morbidly Obese Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to explore the effect of head/neck position (sniffing vs ramped) and C-MAC blade geometry (MAC vs D-blade) on intubation in morbidly obese patients. The patients will be randomized into 4 groups: 1. S MAC: Sniffing + MAC blade. 2. R MAC: Ramped + MAC blade. 3. S D-blade: Sniffing + D-blade. 4. R D-blade: Ramped + D-blade.

Pilot Study on the Effectiveness and Safety of OPTILENE® SILVER MESH ELASTIC in Prevention of Surgical Site Infection (SSI) and Incisional Hernia (IH)

The aim of the study is to describe the effectiveness of Optilene® Silver Mesh Elastic on prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) at 6 months follow-up in patients undergoing urgent laparotomy by collecting clinical data on the SSI rates, IH rates and overall clinical performance of Optilene® Silver Mesh Elastic used for the prevention of incisional hernia as prophylactic mesh in patients that require urgent median laparotomy in clinical routine.

Determinants of the Long-Term Success of Bariatric Surgery

The management of obesity is based on a multidisciplinary approach and justifies the use of surgery in patients with the most severe forms. Surgery for obesity or bariatric surgery generally allows rapid and significant weight loss however it is associated with significant risks, and its long-term results remain heterogeneous and unpredictable. Long-term data will clarify the role of different types of bariatric surgery in surgical strategy, improve patient information and identify predictors of failure in order to provide personalised and tailored surgery for each candidate .

Metabolic Responses to Bariatric Surgery

Research the genetic and biomechanical markers of human adipose tissue on patients with morbid obesity. Additional tissue/fluid collection is also gathered during the time of surgery.

Stool Analysis After Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Gastric Bypass

The goal of this observational study is to learn whether routine stool tests can detect changes in gut function 6 months after two common types of weight loss surgery: sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass (including mini gastric bypass and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass). The main questions it aims to answer are: Do stool tests show more signs of undigested food or carbohydrate malabsorption after gastric bypass compared to sleeve gastrectomy? Do signs of gut inflammation in stool (like fecal calprotectin) decrease after surgery, and does this relate to improvements in blood sugar and weight loss? Can simple stool test results at 6 months predict how much weight a person loses or how well their diabetes improves? Researchers will compare stool test results between the two surgery groups (sleeve gastrectomy vs. gastric bypass) to see if the type of surgery leads to different changes in gut health. Participants will: Provide a stool sample before surgery and again 6 months after surgery Provide a blood sample at the same time points to measure weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol Undergo their planned weight loss surgery as part of their regular medical care