Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a retrospective review of 1- and 2-year results

Recently, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been added as a surgical treatment for obesity. We report our 1- and 2-year results with LSG.

From September 2005, we have performed 247 LSGs. We retrospectively reviewed our 1- and 2-year data to assess weight loss, body mass index (BMI), percentage excess weight loss (%EWL), length of stay (LOS), complications, and resolution of diabetes.

A total of 40 patients were eligible for follow-up at 2 years, and 157 patients were eligible for follow-up at 1 year. Data was available on 33/40 patients for 2 years and 131/157 patients for 1 year. Initial mean age, mean weight, and mean BMI for 1-year data were 43.2 years, 270.8 lb, and 44.3 kg/m(2), respectively. Initial mean age, mean weight, and mean BMI for 2-year data were 41.4 years, 273.3 lb, and 45.1 kg/m(2), respectively. Mean weight loss, BMI, and %EWL, for patients at 1 year and 2 years were 89.3 lb, 29.6 kg/m(2), and 78% and 87.5 lb, 30.0 kg/m(2), and 75%, respectively. There was no significant difference between use of 46-Fr, 40-Fr, and 36-Fr bougie with respect to weight loss, BMI or %EWL. Likewise, there was no difference seen between use of 7-cm versus 4-cm antral pouch. Mean LOS for both groups was 1.1 days. A total of 12 complications occurred, including one (0.6%) death and two (1.3%) leaks. A total of 39 patients were diabetic, of whom 32 (82%) were cured of diabetes and the remaining 7 patients had their medications decreased.

Our results show that LSG is a safe and effective weight-loss procedure with results similar to those of gastric bypass. Additional long-term studies are still needed to accurately compare laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with gastric bypass and/or gastric banding.