Antecolic or Retrocolic Alimentary Limb in Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass? A Meta-Analysis

Internal hernia (IH) is a severe complication after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The orientation of the alimentary limb has advocated to affect IH. Available data regarding the incidence of IH, gastro-jejunostomy leakage, obstructive symptoms, anastomotic obstruction, adhesion, incisional hernia, total complications, and recurrent IH were meta-analyzed according to the orientation of the alimentary limb. Fourteen studies (13,660 patients) were included. Antecolic orientation resulted associated with a lower incidence of IH and obstructive symptoms, while the route of the alimentary limb did not show to affect the other outcomes. Antecolic orientation decreases the IH. However, the role and the technique of the closure of mesenteric defects cannot be stated due to the lack of adequate data to date. Well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed.