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Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2008; 14(39): 6024-6029
Published online Oct 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6024
Prospective evaluation of laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass in patients with clinically severe obesity
Konstantinos Vagenas, Spyros Panagiotopoulos, Ioannis Kehagias, Stavros Nikolaos Karamanakos, Nancy Mead, Fotis Kalfarentzos
Spyros Panagiotopoulos, Ioannis Kehagias, Stavros Nikolaos Karamanakos, Fotis Kalfarentzos, Kostantinos Vagenas, Department of Surgery, University of Patras School of Medicine, University Hospital, Rion 26504, Greece
Nancy Mead, Fotis Kalfarentzos, Nutrition Support and Morbid Obesity Clinic, University of Patras School of Medicine, University Hospital, Rion 26504, Greece
Author contributions: Vagenas K and Kalfarentzos F designed the study; Kehagias I and Karamanakos SN performed the research; and Panagiotopoulos S and Mead N wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Fotis Kalfarentzos, MD, FACS, Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Platia Voriou Ipirou 5, Patras 26441, Greece. fkalfar@med.upatras.gr
Telephone: +30-26-10999299 Fax: +30-26-10993984
Received: September 1, 2008
Revised: September 20, 2008
Accepted: September 27, 2008
Published online: October 21, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate and present our experience with laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in a selected patient population.

METHODS: A cohort of 130 patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 35 and 50 kg/m2 were evaluated in relation to postoperative morbidity, weight loss and resolution of co-morbidities for a period of 4 years following laparoscopic RYGB.

RESULTS: Early morbidity was 10.0%, including 1 patient with peritonitis who was admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 1 conversion to open RYGB early in the series. There was no early or late mortality. Maximum weight loss was achieved at 12 mo postoperatively, with mean BMI 30 kg/m2, mean percentage of excess weight loss (EWL%) 66.4% and mean percentage of initial weight loss (IWL%) 34.3% throughout the follow-up period. The majority of preexisting comorbidities were resolved after weight loss and no major metabolic disturbances or nutritional deficiencies were observed.

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic RYGB appears to be a safe and effective procedure for patients with BMI 35-50 kg/m2 with results that are comparable to previously published data mostly from the USA but from Europe as well.

Keywords: Laparoscopic gastric bypass; Evaluation; Obesity