Early and long-term clinical outcomes of bilio-intestinal diversion in morbidly obese patients

Abstract

To evaluate the early and long-term postoperative results of malabsorptive surgery in morbidly obese patients. Between 2000 and 2007, 102 morbidly obese patients were referred to the Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni", "Sapienza" University of Rome, Policlinico "Umberto I°", Rome, Italy for malabsorptive surgery. All patients underwent derivative biliodigestive surgery after they had been reviewed by a team of surgeons, physicians, dieticians, and psychologists. There were no intra-operative complications, but two patients suffered postoperative pulmonary embolisms, which resolved with medical treatment. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 7days, with no early or late mortality. Maximum weight loss was reached 12-24months after surgery, while the mean percentage excess weight loss at 3-5years ranged from 45 to 64%. Specific postoperative complications in the first 2years after surgery were abdominal abscess (n=2), gastroduodenal reflux (n=4), and incisional hernia (n=6). Diabetes resolved in 98% of the diabetic patients within a few weeks after surgery and blood pressure normalised in 86.4% of those who had had hypertension preoperatively. Obstructive sleep apnoea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome also improved significantly in 92% of the patients. Morbidly obese patients can undergo biliodigestive surgery safely with good long-term weight loss and quality of life expectancy.