Initial Experience of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Morbidly Obese Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is rapidly gaining ground as one of the surgical procedures in bariatric surgery with emerging long-term follow-up data. The aim of the present study was to report our initial experience of LSG in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: Sixty-four consecutive patients underwent LSG from April 2009 to July 2010 at our bariatric surgery center. Patients eligible for LSG were those with a body mass index (BMI) of >37 kg/m2, and >32 kg/m2 with co-morbidities. LSG was performed using 5 trocars and endo-staplers with guidance of 34 Fr bougie. Perioperative management was standardized. The clinical data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among 64 patients, 19 were male and 45 were female, mean age was 35 years (range 20~57), mean preoperative BMI was 38.8 kg/m2 (range 32~57), and mean preoperative body weight was 108 kg (range 75~164). Mean operative time was 118 minutes (range 65~340) and mean length of hospital stay was 3.4 days (range 1~82). Staple line leak occurred in 1 patient, kinking of the gastric tube occurred in 2 patients. There was no open conversion and no postoperative mortality. After 170 days of follow-up, 24.4 kg of body weight loss and 52.7% of excess weight loss (%EWL), on average, was noted. CONCLUSION: Though long-term follow-up is needed, our early operative outcome was satisfactory in terms of %EWL and safety of the procedure. LSG was a safe and effective treatment strategy for morbidly obese patients.