Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in obese Korean patients: efficacy and potential adverse events

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the medium-term efficacy and adverse events of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) performed at a single center in Korea.

Methods: The records of 412 consecutive patients who underwent LRYGB between January 2011 and February 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The preoperative demographics, surgical outcomes, and follow-up data including anthropometrics indices and late complications were analyzed.

Results: The mean preoperative body mass index was 38.0 ± 5.8 kg/m(2) and 338 patients (82.0 %) had at least one obesity-related comorbidity. Seven patients (1.7 %) developed severe complications requiring invasive intervention or reoperation. The %EWL of the eligible patients was 63.1, 74.3, 79.2, 65.4, and 89.8 % at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Diabetes was resolved in 63.5 % of the followed up patients. Twenty-two out of 256 patients (8.6 %) with available follow-up data failed to achieve %EWL ≥50 % by 12 months after the surgery. The most frequent late complications were marginal ulcers (24.5 %) and anemia (18.0 %).

Conclusion: LRYGB achieves excellent weight loss and significant short- to medium-term comorbidity resolution in Korean obese patients with acceptable perioperative risks. However, late complications including marginal ulcers and nutritional deficiencies are not negligible. Therefore, regular and lifelong surveillance is mandatory in patients undergoing LRYGB.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Morbid obesity; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.