A Cohort Study on the Outcomes of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Regarding the Change in Body Mass Index, Remission of Comorbidities and Quality of Life After 12-Month Follow-up

Abstract

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is recognized as the gold-standard procedure in bariatric surgery, although laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is becoming accepted as an appropriate technique in its own right. The purpose of our study was to compare the effectiveness of these two techniques with respect to weight reduction, remission of obesity-associated comorbidities and enhancement of quality of life after 12-month follow-up in a Brazilian setting. Our prospective observational cohort study involved 110 patients undergoing LRYGB and LSG at a hospital in south-east Brazil during the period August 2016–March 2017. Patients were assessed prior to and 12 months after intervention with respect to body mass index (BMI), the presence of comorbidities, and quality of life as determined by Short Form 36 Health Survey and World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaires. No significant differences were detected between LRYGB and LSG regarding reduction in BMI. Both procedures engendered positive impacts on the quality of life that were essentially similar, although the level of improvement was not necessarily associated with the degree of weight loss. Patients who had undergone LRGYB experienced a higher resolution of comorbidities, especially type 2 diabetes, than those who had received LSG. LSG is effective in achieving weight loss, resolving comorbidities and improving the quality of life, reinforcing the current tendency for its use as a stand-alone procedure in the surgical treatment of obesity.