Retrospective longitudinal and comparative observational study between gastric bypass surgery and sleeve gastrectomy: 5-year post-operative follow-up.

BACKGROUND

Among the 2.0 billion overweight individuals in the world, Brazil ranks fifth in the number of obese people, therefore requiring treatment options for obesity.

AIM

The aim of this study was to compare the percentage of total body weight loss (%TWL), change in body mass index (BMI), percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL), incidence of reflux esophagitis, and occurrence of Barrett's esophagus in obese patients undergoing gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass [RYGB]) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG), both techniques by videolaparoscopy.

METHODS

The study included 100 consecutive patients who underwent RYGB and SG techniques, totaling 200 patients, and were followed up for 60 months, from June 2013 to July 2018.

RESULTS

The frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was lower in RYGB patients (p<0.05). At 60 months, the %EWL was 77.4±13.3 kg (RYGB) versus 80.5±17.5 kg (SG) (p<0.05). The BMI data were statistically significantly different between groups after 5 years (28.5±3.9 kg/m2 in RYGB and 31.9±5.3 kg/m2 in SG groups, p<0.05). During the follow-up, the RYGB showed higher %EWL compared to the SG (at 60 months, 80.1% vs. 59.1%, respectively, p<0.05). The %TWL was 30% for the RYGB and 19.7% for the SG (p<0.05). The RYGB had a lower frequency of reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus.

CONCLUSIONS

The RYGB technique showed greater absolute weight loss, %TWL, BMI reduction, and %EWL in higher obesity classes compared to the SG technique. Additionally, RYGB had a lower frequency of reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus.