Treatment of super obesity by laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: experience of 42 cases

Abstract

To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass(LRYGB) for super obesity(BMI≥50 kg/m(2)). Clinical data of 42 patients undergoing LRYGB in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between 2004 and 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. All the LRYGB procedures were successfully performed with no conversion to open surgery. Average operation time was 145.1 minutes, volume of blood loss during the surgery was 25.0 ml, and length of postoperative hospital stay was 9.9 days. The cases were followed up for 1 month to 30 months. Body weight and BMI decreased significantly 1 month after the operation and reached a minimum level after 2 years then became stable while excess body weight loss rate(EWL) increased(P<0.05). All the obese-related symptoms were relieved significantly. Four cases(9.5%) showed complications during perioperative period including 1 case of respiratory failure, 2 cases of gastrojejunal anastomotic bleeding, 1 case of umbilical wound infection, and 11 developed long-term complications. All of them were cured by conservative treatment. Treatment of super obesity by LRYGB is feasible with significant short-term results. But due to the difficulty of the operation and postoperative complications, comprehensive treatment from experienced bariatric surgical team is needed. The long-term outcome needs for further observation.