Banded versus non-banded Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: short, mid, and long-term surgical outcomes - a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is considered as one of the most effective treatments for people with obesity. A variant of this procedure, the banded-RYGB, may present several advantages over the standard technique. These potential benefits include enhanced weight loss, decreased recurrent weight gain, a lower incidence of dumping syndrome, and less distention of the jejunum below the gastrojejunostomy.

Objectives: The objective of this meta-analysis is to compare the surgical outcomes of RYGB procedures with a band (banded-RYGB) and without a band (RYGB) in the management of individuals with obesity.

Setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Cochrane protocol (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023439874).

Method: The systematic review process led to the identification of 13 comparative studies involving 3230 patients who underwent banded-RYGB and 5302 who received RYGB, all of which were eligible for inclusion and meta-analysis.

Results: Four studies reported data on 1-year postoperative percent excess weight loss (%EWL), demonstrating a significant increase of 6.03 %EWL in patients who underwent banded-RYGB. Four studies reported the 2-year postoperative %EWL, showing that patients who had banded-RYGB experienced a 5.32 greater %EWL compared to those who received RYGB, even if this was not statistically significant. For 5-year %EWL after bariatric surgery, 5 studies were included for continuous outcome meta-analysis. The average 5-years %EWL difference was 7.6 in favor of banded-RYGB. Patients who had banded-RYGB presented a nonsignificant 1.45 OR of developing postoperative complications compared to patients receiving RYGB.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates that, compared to RYGB, patients who underwent banded-RYGB surgery showed a statistically significant increase in the %EWL at 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively. Moreover, the banding procedure does not significantly increase the risk of postoperative complications.

Keywords: Banded gastric bypass; Bariatric surgery; Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.