Hospitalization before and after mini-gastric bypass surgery

The mini-gastric bypass (MGB) was developed to address some of the limitations of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ("RNY"). The RNY has recently been reported to increase the need for hospitalization for complications after RNY surgery. To determine the rates and indications for inpatient hospital use before and after MGB in comparison to similar rates in RNY. The study is a self reported retrospective study of patients from across the United States receiving MGB in Centers for Excellence in Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery ("CELOS") hospitals from 2000 to 2005. Complications and hospitalization in the year before and in the 1 to 5 years after MGB. 1069 patients who underwent MGB were selected for study. The rate of hospitalization in the year following MGB was 67% of the rate in the year preceding MGB (11% vs. 17%, P<0.001). The most common reasons for admission prior to MGB were general medical problems (38%) obstetric and Gynecological issues (36%), orthopedic problems (16%), gallbladder surgery (9%) and renal stones in 2%. The most common reasons for hospital admission after MGB were complications from surgery (29%), gallbladder surgery (20%), renal stones (14%), plastic surgery procedures (11%), appendectomy (9%), Gynecologic issues (9%) and orthopedic problems (6%). Thus while MGB complications made up a third of hospital readmissions following MGB surgery the over all hospitalization rates declined significantly. Previous studies have demonstrated that hospitalization after RNY gastric bypass increases remarkably (20% per year). The present study shows that hospitalization following MGB instead of rising, as reported with RNY, decreases by a third. The MGB has been shown to be a short, safe successful weight loss surgery in previous work. The present study supports the MGB as a low risk procedure that decreases the need for hospitalization.