The Role of Gastrojejunostomy Size on Gastric Bypass Weight Loss

The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) has been considered a reference procedure in the bariatric surgery. The linear-stapled gastrojejunostomy (GJ) has proved to be safe and effective, but its optimal size referred to postoperative weight loss remains poorly understood.

Evaluate the role of the linear-stapled GJ size in the mid-term post-LRYGB weight loss and occurrence of complications.

From January to April 2014, 128 patients underwent LRYGB with linear-stapled GJ in a 2-year follow-up. The LRYGB were carried out with the same technical steps, except for the length of the GJ. In GJ-15-mm group (n = 64), the GJ was constructed with white 45-mm cartridge in an extension of only 15 mm whereas in GJ-45-mm group (n = 64), the GJ was achieved using full extension of the cartridge. The body mass index (BMI) reduction was recorded for 24 months after procedure.

The mean ages were 38 ± 10.6 and 41.3 ± 12.3 years, and there were 45 (70.3%) and 51 (79.7%) females in the GJ-15-mm and GJ-45-mm groups, respectively. The analysis on raw BMI data showed that both groups had significant reduction of BMI over time (p ≤ 0.05); however, reduction was greater in the GJ-15-mm group from 18 months onwards (p ≤ 0.05). The only complication observed was a case (1.56%) of stenosis in the group GJ-15 mm.

The global analysis of BMI reduction indicated that the narrower GJ used (GJ-15-mm group) represented a favoring factor decreasing significantly more the BMI when compared to the wider one (GJ-45-mm group).