The Magenstrasse and Mill procedure can be combined with a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to produce greater and sustained weight loss.

BACKGROUND

The Magenstrasse and Mill operation (M&M) is effective in producing sustained weight loss and reducing obesity-related co-morbidity. It avoids the implantation of foreign material and is a more physiological procedure by maintaining normal gastric emptying. Side-effects are minimal and operative mortality is low. Satisfactory weight loss is seen at 1 year with 60% of excess weight lost. The present study compared weight loss produced by the combination of a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) with the standard M&M procedure.

METHODS

Between 1993 and 2001, 118 patients underwent surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity. 70 patients between 1993 and 1998 underwent only a M&M vertical gastric stapling, and 48 patients from 1998 underwent the M&M combined with a RYGBP.

RESULTS

Median follow-up for the M&M procedure was 36 months (range 1 to 72) and for the combined M & M and RYGBP was 30 months (range 1 to 48). At all time points following surgery, patients having a RYGBP performed in addition to the standard M&M procedure demonstrated a significantly greater amount of weight lost (P<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test) and overall percentage of excess weight lost (P<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test). Both groups had a significant reduction in BMI, although this was greater in the group that underwent the combined procedure at 3 years (P<0.001, sample t-test).

CONCLUSIONS

A more rapid and prolonged weight loss was found when the M&M procedure was performed in combination with a RYGBP. This suggests that this combined procedure may be more beneficial when greater amounts of weight loss are needed in the super-obese.