Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is effective and safe in over 55-year-old patients: a comparative analysis

Controversy exists regarding the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in elderly patients. We evaluated our outcomes of LRYGB in patients aged ≥ 55 years.

A total of 549 consecutive patients underwent LRYGB as primary operation and 132 were ≥ 55 years old. Patients were divided in two groups: group <55 years comprised 417 patients, with mean age (± SD) of 41.15 ± 8.47 years; group ≥ 55 years comprised 132 patients, with mean age of 59.43 ± 3.81 years. Mean preoperative body mass index was 47.01 ± 7.47 and 46.21 ± 7.47 respectively, whereas mean excess weight loss percent (EW%) was 88.06 ± 30.28 and 84.86 ± 29.87 %. Early morbidity (30 days) and outcomes at 6, 12, and 24 months follow-up were evaluated.

Significant difference was found in operative time (84.19 ± 29.05 vs. 90.89 ± 30.95 min, p = 0.03). One conversion to open procedure occurred in group <55 years, whereas three occurred in group ≥ 55 years (p = 0.04). Intraoperative complications occurred in 22 patients (5.27 %) in group <55 years versus 19 in group ≥ 55 years (14.39 %), which was statistically significant (p = 0.001). One case of death occurred in the younger group. Overall postoperative morbidity rate was 18.7 % in group <55 years and 25.76 % in group ≥ 55 years, with no significant difference (p = 0.08). Mean EWL% at 12 months in group <55 years was 65.95.05 ± 26.96 versus 62.61 ± 41.78 in group ≥ 55 years, whereas at 24 months it was 65.08 ± 29.68 versus 64.48 ± 18.44 with no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.51; p = 0.92).

LRYGB for patients ≥ 55 years achieves outcomes and complications rates comparable to the younger population. Patients should not be denied bariatric surgery for the age alone.