Is sleeve gastrectomy overcriticized? A single-center Indian experience with 5-year follow-up results.

Abstract

Bariatric surgery has seen a sharp rise in numbers worldwide in the last decade. Being a popular procedure, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has been widely studied over the years for its efficacy, potential for weight regain, metabolic impact, and de novo gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). To evaluate clinical outcomes of laparoscopic SG after 5 years of follow-up in terms of weight loss, co-morbidity resolution, and GERD. The study was performed in a center of excellence in bariatric surgery in India. All patients who underwent laparoscopic SG from January 2012 to April 2013 were included in the study. Their demographic, preoperative, and postoperative data were prospectively maintained in Microsoft Excel and analyzed statistically. Two hundred eighteen patients underwent SG in 2012-2013. Patients had a preoperative body mass index of 45.8 ± 9.5 kg/m2 (mean ± standard deviation) and excess weight of 54.1 ± 25.6 kg. Percent excess weight loss was 87.6% ± 28.9% at 1 year, 77.2% ± 29.3% at 3 years, and 69.1% ± 27.8% at 5 years. Percent total weight loss at 1 year was 35.5% ± 7.6%, 31.4% ± 9.1% at 3 years, and 29.2% ± 9.8% at 5 years. At 5 years, 11 of 25 (44%) showed complete diabetic remission and 5 of 25 (20%) showed partial remission. De novo GERD was seen in 24 of 153 (15.7%) patients. Our study reflects good outcomes after SG in terms of weight loss and diabetes resolution at 5-year follow-up, though GERD remains a matter of concern.