Perioperative Outcomes of Proximal and Distal Gastric Bypass in Patients with BMI Ranged 50-60 kg/m(2)--A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Proximal Roux-en-Y gastric bypass may not ensure adequate weight loss in superobese patients. Bypassing a longer segment of the small bowel may increase weight loss. The objective of the study was to compare the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic proximal and distal gastric bypass in a double-blind randomized controlled trial of superobese patients. The study was conducted at two public tertiary care obesity centers in Norway. METHODS: Patients with body mass index (BMI) 50-60 kg/m(2) were randomly assigned to a proximal (150 cm alimentary limb) or a distal (150 cm common channel) gastric bypass. The biliopancreatic limb was 50 cm in both operations. Patients and follow-up personnel were blinded to the type of procedure. Thirty-day outcomes including complications are reported. RESULTS: We operated on 115 patients, of whom two were excluded at surgery, leaving 56 and 57 patients in the proximal group and distal group, respectively. The median (range) operating time was 72 (36-151) and 101 (59-227) min, respectively (p < 0.001). Two distal procedures were converted to laparotomy during the primary procedure. Median length of hospital stay was 2 (1-4) days in the proximal group and 2 (1-24) days in the distal group. The number of patients with complications and complications categorized according to the Contracted Accordion classification did not differ significantly. However, all six reoperations were performed in the distal group, of which three were completed by laparoscopy (p = 0.01 between groups). There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: In superobese patients with BMI between 50 and 60 kg/m(2), distal gastric bypass was associated with longer operating time and more severe complications resulting in reoperation than proximal gastric bypass.

Myotubes from severely obese type 2 diabetic subjects accumulate less lipids and show higher lipolytic rate than myotubes from severely obese non-diabetic subjects.

About 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes are classified as overweight. However, only about 1/3 of severely obese subjects have type 2 diabetes. This indicates that several severely obese individuals may possess certain characteristics that protect them against type 2 diabetes. We therefore hypothesized that this apparent paradox could be related to fundamental differences in skeletal muscle lipid handling. Energy metabolism and metabolic flexibility were examined in human myotubes derived from severely obese subjects without (BMI 44±7 kg/m2) and with type 2 diabetes (BMI 43±6 kg/m2). Lower insulin sensitivity was observed in myotubes from severely obese subjects with type 2 diabetes. Lipolysis rate was higher, and oleic acid accumulation, triacylglycerol content, and fatty acid adaptability were lower in myotubes from severely obese subjects with type 2 diabetes compared to severely obese non-diabetic subjects. There were no differences in lipid distribution and mRNA and protein expression of the lipases HSL and ATGL, the lipase cofactor CGI-58, or the lipid droplet proteins PLIN2 and PLIN3. Glucose and oleic acid oxidation were also similar in cells from the two groups. In conclusion, myotubes established from severely obese donors with established type 2 diabetes had lower ability for lipid accumulation and higher lipolysis rate than myotubes from severely obese donors without diabetes. This indicates that a difference in intramyocellular lipid turnover might be fundamental in evolving type 2 diabetes.