Influence of Patient Choice on Outcome of Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND

The "perfect" bariatric procedure remains the topic of debate. The aim of this study is to compare the safety and outcome of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) to those of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and adjustable gastric band (AGB) in a single centre, amongst those patients who made their own choice of which procedure they prefer.

METHODS

After the multi-disciplinary team's assessment, the patients could make their own choice of procedures (self-selected, SS), unless medical/surgical conditions limited this (medically restricted, MR). All consecutive primary bariatric procedures were involved and reviewed between June 2010 and September 2014. The primary outcomes included 30-day complication and readmission rates, excess weight loss (%EWL) and co-morbidity resolution at 24 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

A total of 303 patients were included and 271 of them made their own choice (SS 90%). One hundred eighty-three chose LRYGB (60.4%), and 57 underwent LSG (SS 45 and MR 12; overall 18.8%), with the initial BMI of 50.7 and 52.5 kg/m, respectively. Sixty-two patients (SS 43, MR 19, overall 20%) underwent AGB, with a BMI of 52.1 kg/m. Thirty-day complication rates for LRYGB and LSG were 10.2 and 2.9% (p < 0.05), and the readmission rates were 4.7 and 2.9%, respectively. %EWL for LRYGB was significantly higher than that of other procedures at 24 months (67.8 vs SS-sleeve 43.9%, MR-sleeve 47%, SS-band 33.8% and MR-band 36%; FU rate 94%). Diabetes remission was achieved in 31/50 patients in the LRYGB group (62%) and 2/9 patients (22%) in the LSG group.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-selected bariatric procedures yield excellent weight loss and metabolic outcome. Providing an information-dense environment augments the choice of the right operation and could improve patients' compliance with weight loss surgery programmes.