Laparoscopic gastric bypass. Another option in bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND

The present report describes the technical details of laparoscopic bypass for morbid obesity.

METHODS

The laparoscopic approach was attempted in eight patients and completed in six. In these latter patients the stomach was divided with an endoscopic linear cutter (ETC 60 Ethicon), and a antecolic jejunal loop was brought to the proximal pouch and anastomosed by use of manual suture technique supported with locking clips for knotting substitutes [Lapra-Ty (Ethicon)]. Distal to the gastrojejunostomy a side-to-side enteroanastomosis was also performed.

RESULTS

Five patients in whom the laparoscopic procedure was completed had an uneventful postoperative period and a rapid recovery. However, one patient had a postoperative left-sided pleuropneumonia that required prolonged hospital stay. Of those who were converted, one was because of a large steatotic left liver lobe and another was due to a perforation of the small intestine.

CONCLUSIONS

These early results indicate that gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity can be safely performed with laparoscopic techniques. Further development in this field should be encouraged.