Evaluating Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obesity: A Prospective Follow-Up Study

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become a primary option within bariatric surgery (BS), exhibiting favorable outcomes in terms of weight reduction and improvement of associated health conditions. This study was conducted to assess the outcomes of LSG in morbid obesity (MO) in terms of weight reduction and improvement of comorbidities. Materials and methods A prospective follow-up study was conducted from January 2021 to January 2023 at the Department of Surgery, 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur. The study was approved by the institutional ethical committee with protocol no. IEC/612/2020, including 25 patients diagnosed with MO (BMI >40kg/m²) who underwent LSG. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery to track improvements in comorbidities and weight loss. Pre- and post-operative photos were taken, and any complications during the follow-up period were noted. Results Most participants in the study were middle-aged individuals, and 84% of the cohort had common comorbidities such as hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM). LSG led to significant and sustained weight loss, with patients achieving an average reduction of 31.56 kg by the 12th month following the surgery. Moreover, substantial improvements in comorbidities, particularly HTN (76.9%) and DM (80%), were observed. However, not all comorbidities exhibited similar rates of recovery, highlighting the need for tailored management strategies. Using a correlation test, no significant correlation was found between the percentage over ideal body weight (IBW) and the reduction in excess weight, as indicated by a p-value exceeding 0.05. Conclusion LSG is an effective treatment for severe obesity, delivering significant weight loss and notable improvements in metabolic health and overall quality of life.