Revisional bariatric surgery: 13-year experience from a tertiary institution

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of revisional bariatric surgery at a tertiary institution. Revisional bariatric operations for unsuccessful weight loss or intolerable complications following the primary intervention are increasing.

Design: Case series from a prospective database.

Setting: Tertiary bariatric referral center.

Patients: From 1995 to 2008, 56 patients who had been formerly operated on for clinically severe obesity underwent a revisional procedure at our institution. Their mean (SD) age and body mass index were 39.6 (9.6) years and 46.9 (16.4), respectively. They were divided into 3 groups according to the indications for reoperation: (1) unsatisfactory weight loss (n = 39), (2) severe nutritional complications (n = 15), and (3) intolerable adverse effects (n = 2).

Main outcome measures: Effectiveness of the procedures according to the indication of revision and overall morbidity and mortality rates.

Results: Mean (SD) follow-up was 102 (8) months. There was no mortality but there was an early morbidity rate of 33.9% due to postoperative complications, including 2 cases of acute renal failure (3.6%), 5 anastomotic leaks (13.1%), 8 cases of pneumonia (14.3%), and 1 case each of wound infection, incisional dehiscence, bile leak, and small-bowel obstruction (1.8%). Late complications included stenosis of the gastrojejunal anastomosis in 2 patients (3.6%), hypoalbuminemia in 2 patients (3.6%), and incisional herniation in 9 patients (16.1%). Late morbidity was 23.2%.

Conclusion: Although revisional bariatric surgery is associated with higher risk of perioperative complications compared with the primary procedures, it appears to be safe and effective when performed in experienced centers.