Long-term Emergency Department Visits and Readmissions After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: a Systematic...

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery Outcomes
• Gastroenterology Research
• Public Health Surveillance

Background:

• Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) are well-documented.
• Long-term data, particularly regarding emergency department (ED) visits and readmissions, remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the incidence, indications, and risk factors for ED visits and readmissions occurring more than 30 days post-LRYGB.
• To synthesize current evidence on the long-term post-operative course of LRYGB patients.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO).
• Inclusion of studies with ≥ 50 patients reporting ED visits/readmissions > 30 days post-LRYGB.
• Quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and adherence to PRISMA guidelines.

Main Results:

• Twenty articles were included, analyzing data from 2,818 (ED visits) and 276,543 (readmissions) patients.
• Long-term ED visits occurred in 25.6% (1 year) to 31.1% (3 years) of patients; readmissions ranged from 4.75% (1 year) to 29% (2 years).
• Abdominal pain was the most frequent indication for both ED visits and readmissions.

Conclusions:

• Long-term ED visits and readmissions are significant concerns after LRYGB, affecting a substantial patient proportion.
• Abdominal pain is the primary driver for these post-operative events.
• Improved understanding of indications and risk factors is crucial for enhancing long-term patient care following LRYGB.