30-Day Outcomes After Intraoperative Leak Testing for Bariatric Surgery Patients

Intraoperative testing of anastomoses and staples lines is commonly performed to minimize the risk of postoperative leaks in bariatric surgery, but its impact is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the association between leak testing and 30-d postoperative leak, bleed, reoperation, and readmission rates for patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

This is a retrospective observational study utilizing 2015-2016 data from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program database. Postoperative outcomes were compared using χ² test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with 30-d outcomes.

We included 237,081 patients. Leak testing was performed on 73.0% and 92.1% of LSG and RYGB patients, respectively. LSG was associated with lower rates of leak, bleed, reoperation, and readmission than RYGB. On multivariable analysis, intraoperative leak testing was associated with increased rates of postoperative leak for LSG and RYGB (OR 1.48 and 1.90, respectively) and lower rates of bleed for LSG (OR 0.76). There were no significant associations between leak testing and rates of reoperation or readmission.

Use of intraoperative leak testing was not associated with improved outcomes for either LSG or RYGB. A prospective trial investigating leak testing is warranted to better elucidate its impact.