Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for the management of patients with BMI < 50 kg/m2.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is currently the gold standard bariatric procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a relatively innovative procedure which has been increasingly applied lately as a sole bariatric procedure. A randomized trial was conducted in a Greek population to evaluate perioperative safety and 3-years results. METHODS: Sixty patients with body mass index (BMI) ≤ 50 Kg/m(2) were randomized to LRYGB or LSG. Patients were monitored for 3 years postoperatively and throughout the study period weight loss, in terms of percent excess weight loss (%EWL), early and late complications, improvement of obesity related comorbidities and nutritional deficiencies were compared between groups. RESULTS: There was no death in either group and there was no significant difference in early (10% after LRYGB and 13% after LSG, P > 0.05) and late morbidity (10% in each group). Weight loss was significantly better after LSG in the first years of the study and at 3 years %EWL reached 62% after LRYGB and 68% after LSG (p = 0.13). There was no significant difference in the overall improvement of comorbidities. Nutritional deficiencies occurred at the same rate in the two groups except to vitamin B(12) deficiency which was more common after LRYGB (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: LSG and LRYGB are equally safe and effective in the amelioration of comorbidities, while LSG is associated with fewer postoperative metabolic deficiencies, without the need of supplementation. Furthermore, LSG is a promising bariatric procedure, equally effective to LRYGB at 3 years follow up on weight reduction.