The Nissen-Sleeve: Early Postoperative Complications

Abstract

Introduction: Nissen Sleeve (NS) was introduced in the bariatric armamentarium with the purpose to decrease the risk of reflux symptoms following sleeve gastrectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate our personal experience with this new technique, in particular concerning early postoperative complications (<30 days). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively collected data on consecutive morbid patients with obesity receiving NS from December 2019 to August 2020. All data pertaining to each patient, including demographic data and preoperative and postoperative clinical data, were collected. Results: A total of 28 N-sleeve procedures were performed in the considered period. All the patients had a hiatal hernia that was evaluated between 2 and 6 cm of extent in the preoperative work. Esophagitis of stage A, according to the Los Angeles classification, was detected in 71% of the patients, while 8 out of 28 patients presented a stage B esophagitis. One of the patients had a preoperative diagnosis of Barrett esophagus. A complete disappearance of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms was achieved in 25 patients out of 28, while the remaining patients reported an improvement in symptoms and continued to be treated with low doses of proton pomp inhibitors. Two reinterventions (7.1%) were performed (Clavien-Dindo IIIb). Three other patients (10.7%) experienced a transient postoperative dysphagia that in one case persisted for 4 months (Clavien-Dindo II). All the patients were managed with conservative treatment, and in each case an endoscopic dilatation was necessary. Conclusions: NS appears to be a safe surgical technique with an acceptable early postoperative complication rate. NS appears to be effective in treating patients suffering from obesity and preoperative reflux, but the data are insufficient to establish whether it can reduce the long-term risk of de novo GERD in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy patients.

Keywords: Nissen Sleeve; complications; reflux; sleeve.