Results of biliopancreatic diversion after five years.

BACKGROUND

Gastric restrictive procedures, currently the most popular surgical operations for morbid obesity, have proved to be effective in initiating weight loss, but questions regarding their long-term efficacy in weight maintenance have arisen. Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) is a mixed and complex technique that has shown good long-term results. There are no series with long-term follow-up of BPD in Spain. We present >5 year results (average 67.9 +/- 15 SD mons, range 48-96), evaluating weight loss, morbidity and mortality after BPD.

METHODS

74 patients who underwent BPD and completed 5 or more years of follow-up were studied. The results have been analyzed in terms of weight loss (classification of Reinhold), improvement in morbidity, and improvement in quality of life (BAROS).

RESULTS

78.6% were women. Mean age was 38 +/- 11 years (18-61). Mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 54 +/- 8 kg/m(2). Progression of BMI: 1 year 34 +/- 6, 2 years 31 +/- 6, 5 years 33 +/- 7 and 7 years 31 +/- 3 kg/m(2). Excess weight loss at 1 year follow-up was 67%, at 2 years 75%, at 5 years 70% and at 7 years 71%. There were significant differences between morbidly obese (BMI <50 kg/m(2)) and super-obese (BMI >50 kg/m(2) ), with better results in the morbidly obese group.

CONCLUSION

BPD shows long-term effectiveness in weight loss, co-morbidity improvement and quality of life. Protein, vitamin and oligoelement deficits may appear in the long-term, so that strict follow-up and supplementation of deficiencies are necessary.