Patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) Underwent Bariatric Surgery Benefit more from High-Intensity Home Care

Long-term weight loss effect of bariatric surgeries for patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) remains controversial since factors like postoperative home care intensity may impact the outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of home care intensity on long-term weight loss effect of bariatric surgery in patients with PWS.

This was a prospective observational study on patients with PWS undergoing bariatric surgery and patients were enrolled from July 2015 to December 2016. Detailed information of patients' weight and behaviors was recorded by caregivers postoperatively. The intensities of home care applied to patients were classified into four categories (high, moderate, low, and very low) according to the records.

Six cases (3 males, 3 females) were enrolled in this study with LSG (n = 2), RYGB (n = 3), and LSG-DJB (n = 1) as their primary operation. The mean BMI of these participants was 46.78 ± 11.63 kg/m², and the mean age was 17.66 ± 6.59 years. All patients had at least 5 years of follow-ups, and the %EWL were 51.57 ± 23.36%, 64.54 ± 18.97%, 35.34 ± 36.53%, 19.45 ± 41.78%, and - 4.74 ± 71.50% in the half, first, second, third, and fifth year after surgery respectively. Two patients with high-intensity home care achieved a %EWL of 70.57 ± 8.86% in the fifth year after surgery.

Overall long-term weight loss of bariatric surgery for patients with PWS was not found through the follow-ups. Two patients with high-intensity home care maintained weight loss at the fifth-year follow-up, suggesting a pivotal role of high-intensity home care in long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients with PWS.