Outcomes of laparoscopic revisional conversion of sleeve gastrectomy to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: Diff erent strategies for obese and non-obese Asian patients

Abstract

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the most performed bariatric procedure now. Some patients would necessitate a revision to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) as a salvage procedure for intractable gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, outcome of the revision in Asians with co-existed obesity and those non-obese is not clear. We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients who underwent revisional laparoscopic RYGB after SG between 2007 and 2019 for intractable GERD with data of one year follow-up. Pre-operative clinical data, perioperative outcomes, GERD symptoms, weight loss and medication details were analyzed. Patients were classified into those with body mass index (BMI)≥25 and< 25kg/m2. Fifty-five patients (44 women, 11 men; mean age 42.5 years) were included. Mean interval from the initial SG to revision surgery was 51.2 months (range, 5-132). Mean body mass index before SG was 34.6kg/m2, whereas that before revision surgery was 27.6kg/m2. All the patients required continue proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to control the GERD symptoms before surgery. Among them, 36 (65.4%) patients in the obese group received long BP limb (>100cm) RYGB for associated obesity but the common channel was assured to≥400cm or 70% of small bowel length, the other 19 (34.6%) patients in the non-obese group received standard BP limb (<100cm) RYGB. There was no difference in basic characters between the two groups before revision surgery except a higher mean BMI (30.0 vs. 22.2kg/m2, p<0.001), blood pressure and triglyceride in obese group. One year after revision surgery, all the patients had improved GERD symptoms but only 33 (60%) can completely wave PPI, without difference between the 2 groups. Obese group with a long BP limb RYGB had a significant higher % total weight loss (TWL) than non-obese group (%TWL 9.1% vs.-3.1%, p=0.005). Laparoscopic revision to RYGB is a safe and effective treatment for patients with intractable GERD after SG but some patients may still have residual GERD symptoms. Using a modified RYGB technique in revision surgery may help in weight reduction for obese Asian patients.