Long-term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy As a Primary Bariatric Procedure

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been established as a reliable bariatric procedure, but questions have emerged regarding its long-term results. Our aim is to report the long-term outcomes of LSG as a primary bariatric procedure.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients submitted to LSG between 2005 and 2007 in our institution. Long-term outcomes at 5 years were analyzed in terms of body mass index (BMI), excess weight loss (EWL) and co-morbidities resolution. Surgical success was defined as %EWL>50%. Also, we compared long-term results according to preoperative BMI, using Mann-Whitney test.

Results: A total of 161 LSG were analyzed, and 114 patients (70.8%) were women. The median age was 36 years old (range 16-65), median preoperative BMI was 34.9 kg/m(2) (interquartile range [IQR], 33.3-37.5). A total of 112 patients (70%) completed 5 years of follow-up. At the fifth year, median BMI and %EWL was 28.5 kg/m(2) (IQR: 25.8-31.9) and 62.9% (IQR: 45.3-89.6), respectively, with a surgical success of 73.2% of followed patients. According to preoperative BMI, surgical success was achieved in 80% of patients with BMI<35 kg/m(2), 75% of BMI 35-40 kg/m(2), and 52.6% of BMI>40 kg/m(2), with significant lower %EWL in patients with BMI>40 kg/m(2) (P = .001 and .004). Dyslipidemia and insulin resistance resolution was 80.7% and 84.7%, respectively. A total of 26.7% of patients reported new-onset gastroesophageal reflux symptoms at 5 years.

Conclusion: LSG as a primary procedure is a reliable surgery. We observed positive long-term outcomes of %EWL and co-morbidities resolution. In our series, best results are seen in patients with preoperative BMI<40 kg/m(2).