Five-year Outcomes of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Comparison Between Adults and Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Bariatric surgery in adolescents is still under debate. Literature about the long-term impact of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on adolescents' obesity and associated morbidities is scarce. It is unknown if LSG shows better long-term results in the adolescent or adult group.

Aim: To compare the long-term effectiveness of LSG on obesity and associated comorbidities between adolescents and adults.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed all patients with morbid obesity who underwent LSG in (2011-2012) and were followed for up to 5 years. Patients were divided into two groups: adolescents and adults. Data were compared between the two groups.

Results: LSG was performed in 139 adults and 91 adolescents. The mean ages of the adults and adolescents were 37.4 ± 11.4 and 17 ± 1.5 years, respectively. The preoperative body mass index values of the adults and adolescents were 48.4 ± 8.7 and 47.6 ± 7.5 kg/m2, respectively (P = 0.95). At 5 years, percentage of total weight loss increased in adolescents (to 35.8 ± 11.5%), while it remained almost the same in adults (26.3 ± 10%). At 1 year, about 68.2% of adults and 62.5% of adolescents were cured from diabetes though, 13% of diabetic adults had relapse at 5 years and none of the adolescents relapsed. Postoperative complications occurred in both groups.

Conclusion: LSG showed comparable weight loss results in adults and adolescents, with better results in adolescents. LSG is more effective in preventing and treating diabetes/prediabetes in the adolescent group.

Keywords: Adolescents; Diabetes; Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; Pre-diabetes.