Follow-up of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients at 5 or more years postoperatively

Short-term results (24 to 36 months) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) have been extensively described. Little is reported on the patients operated > or = 5 years ago. We analyzed the results of weight loss, resolution of co-morbidities and nutritional complications of patients submitted to the silicone ring RYGBP, at least 5 years before.

75 morbidly obese patients who underwent silicone ring RYGBP between Oct 1995 and Dec 1999, 18 men and 57 women, were studied. Demographic data, nutritional status and the presence of co-morbidities (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, dyslipidemia) were accessed. Pre- and postoperative BMI were registered, along with excess weight loss (EWL). Nutritional deficiencies were accessed by laboratory assays.

Mean follow-up was 87 months. Initial BMI was 56.7 +/- 10 kg/m2. After 2 years, BMI had dropped to 29.3 +/- 6.8, and by the last interview BMI was 35.5 +/- 10. %EWL after 2 years was 80.2 +/- 17.3%, and at the end was 71.8 +/- 21.6%. After 2 years, only 1 of the 75 patients (1.33%) had not achieved an EWL of at least 50%. At the end, 23 patients (30.6%) could not maintain this EWL. Resolution of diabetes was 76.5%, arterial hypertension 37.3% and sleep apnea 93.5%. Iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D were the most common nutritional deficiencies.

Long-term follow-up (5 to 9 years) after the RYGBP was associated with satisfactory mantainance of EWL, and resolution or improvement of the main co-morbidities was observed in the majority of the patients.