Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: surgical technique, indications and clinical results.

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been introduced as a multipurpose restrictive procedure for obese patients. Variations of the surgical technique may be important for the late results.

METHODS

50 patients submitted to LSG from January 2005 to December 2006 were studied. Mean age was 38.2 years, preoperative weight was 103.4 +/- 14.1 kg (78 to 146 kg), and preoperative BMI was 37.9 +/- 3.4 (32.9 to 46.8). Important co-morbidities were present in 39 patients (78%).

RESULTS

Operative time was 110 +/- 15 min. Intraoperative difficulties were observed in 7 patients. Volume of the resected specimen was 760 +/- 55 ml and capacity of the gastric remnant was 108.5 +/- 25 ml. There was no conversion to open surgery. Histology of the resected stomach was normal in 8 patients, while chronic gastritis was found in 42 patients. At 6 and 12 months postoperatively, weight loss was 28.0 +/- 6.4 kg and 32.6 +/- 6.8 kg respectively. In the 18 patients who have reached 1 year follow-up, % excess BMI loss reached 85 +/- 0.7%. Most of the medical diseases associated with the obesity resolved after 6 to 12 months.

CONCLUSION

LSG may be an acceptable operation. It is easy to perform, safe, and has a lower complication rate than other bariatric operations. Further studies are necessary for the clinical results at long-term follow-up.