Roux-en-Y gastric bypass reversal: a systematic review

Due to the large number of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries performed over the last decade, reversal of the bypass to normal anatomy has been increasingly reported.

University affiliated Teaching Hospital, United States.

The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the literature data regarding the indications, technical considerations, and outcomes of gastric bypass reversal.

PubMed/MEDLINE search was conducted for articles reporting reversal of gastric bypass to normal anatomy. Patients' demographic characteristics, primary reason for reversal, reversal technique, and postreversal events were retrieved and categorized from each eligible paper.

Thirty-five articles encompassing a total of 100 patients were eligible. Malnutrition was the most common indication for reversal (12.3%), followed by severe dumping syndrome (9.4%), postprandial hypoglycemia (8.5%), and excessive weight loss (8.5%). Techniques for gastrogastrostomy were available in 42 patients, with the hand-sewn technique as the most common (67.4%) followed by the linear stapler (23.2%) and the end-to-end anastomosis stapler used in 3 patients (6.9%). The reversal technique was performed endoscopically and described in 3 studies (3 patients). Techniques for handling the Roux limb were described in 56 patients (56%); the limb was reconnected in 32 patients (57.2%) and resected in 24 patients (42.8%). Weight regain was the most prevalent postreversal event (28.8%), followed by severe gastroesophageal reflux diseases (10.2%) and persistent abdominal pain (6.8%). There was no reported mortality.

Gastric bypass reversal is indicated for excessive weight loss, dumping syndrome, and postprandial hypoglycemia. The procedure is well tolerated and feasible when performed laparoscopically and has no reported mortality.