Outcomes of Sleeve Gastrectomy in Patients With Organ Transplant-Related Immunosuppression

Obesity is frequent among organ transplant recipients, increasing the risk of acute graft rejection and overall morbimortality. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) effectively improves graft survival and associated comorbidities. We first compared 30-d outcomes between chronic immunosuppressed (CI) and nonchronic immunosuppressed (non-CI) patients. Then, between organ transplant and non-organ transplant CI patients who underwent LSG.

Patients who underwent LSG within the metabolic and bariatric surgery accreditation and quality improvement program 2017-2019 were included. Using 1:1 and 1:4 propensity score matching analysis, the cohorts were matched for 30 characteristics. We then compared 30-d outcomes between CI and non-CI (analysis 1) and between organ transplant and non-organ transplant CI patients who underwent LSG (analysis 2).

A total of 486,576 patients were included. The matched cohorts in analysis 1 (n = 8978) and analysis 2 (n = 1152, n = 371) had similar preoperative characteristics. Propensity score matching in analysis 1 showed that patients in the CI group had significantly higher rates of renal complications (0.4% versus 0.2%, P = 0.006), unplanned intensive care unit admission (1.1% versus 0.7%, P = 0.003), blood transfusions (1.1% versus 0.7%, P = 0.003), readmissions (4.6% versus 3.5%, P < 0.001), reoperations (1.4% versus 1.0%, P = 0.033), interventions (1.3% versus 1.0%, P = 0.026), and postoperative bleeding (0.6% versus 0.4%, P = 0.013). In analysis 2, patients with organ transplant CI had a higher rate of pulmonary complications (1.1% versus 0.3%, P = 0.043), renal complications (2.4% versus 0.2%, P < 0.001), blood transfusions (6.5% versus 1.3%, P < 0.001), and readmissions (10.0% versus 4.6%, P < 0.001).

Patients with transplant-related CI who underwent LSG have higher 30-d postoperative complication rates compared to nontransplant-related CI patients; however, there were no differences in terms of mortality, intensive care unit admissions, staple line leaks, or bleeding. LSG is safe and feasible in this high-risk population.