Bariatric re-operations: are they preventable?

Many operations are currently used for morbid obesity, and every procedure appears to have advantages, drawbacks and failures. Re-operation is a part of bariatric surgery practice that is necessary in the event of failure. We analyzed the reasons for failure in the bariatric re-operation group.

From June 1998 to April 2000, 17 morbidly obese patients had a bariatric re-operation. Of 203 bariatric operations performed in our institution, 12 patients had a re-operation (5.9%), and 5 patients had their primary procedure performed elsewhere. Mean age was 36.5 +/- 11 years, mean original weight 151.3 +/- 44.3 kg, mean BMI 58.4 +/- 16.9 kg/m2 and mean excess body weight (EBW) 94.4 +/- 43.5 kg. Mean height was 161 +/- 7.7 cm, and 15 patients were female (88.2%). The primary bariatric operation was vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) in 15 patients (88.2%), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) in 1 patient (5.9%), and gastric banding in 1 patient (5.9%). Duration since the primary surgery was a mean of 15.6 months (range 1-72 months).

Reasons for re-operation were inadequate weight loss (47%) or food intolerance (53%). 11 patients had VBG converted to RYGBP, 1 patient had a gastric banding converted to a BPD, 4 patients had their VBG converted to a gastro-gastrostomy, and 1 patient had a RYGBP staple dehiscence re-stapled.

Incidence of bariatric re-operations may be decreased if super-obese patients, older patients, and sweets-consuming individuals undergo RYGBP or BPD as the primary operation rather than VBG or gastric banding. The use of staplers transecting and separating the gastric pouch from the remaining stomach can decrease staple dehiscence.