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Outcome of Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Patients with Super Obesity (Body Mass Index > 50 kg/m2)

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Abstract

Purpose

With increasing BMI, the complexity of treating patients with obesity rises. The focus of this study is to investigate the effects of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on perioperative morbidity and remission of comorbidities at 3 years in patients with a BMI > 50 kg/m2.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective multicenter analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed to enroll patients with a 3-year follow-up after SG or RYGB between 2005 and 2019 and a BMI of > 50 kg/m2 preoperatively. Patients’ BMI and comorbidity status were recorded preoperatively.

Results

We analyzed data from 2939 patients who had at least a preoperative BMI > 50 kg/m2. A total of 1278 patients underwent RYGB surgery, and 1661 underwent SG. The distribution of sex, BMI, hypertension, reflux, and sleep apnea was significant between the two groups. Three years after surgery, the percent excess weight loss (%EWL) was 62.21% in RYGB and 55.87% in SG (p < 0.001). The change in hypertension (p < 0.001) and reflux (p < 0.001) was significantly in favor of RYGB. The change in diabetes mellitus was not significant between the two groups (p > 5%). There was a minimal difference in sleep apnea in favor of SG (p < 0.001). Mortality and overall complication rates were not significant in either group.

Conclusion

Both procedures positively affected comorbidities, BMI, and %EWL in patients with super obesity 3 years after surgery. In some categories, RYGB was better than SG. Nevertheless, the decision between the two methods remains a matter of the surgeon’s experience and the patient's general condition.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mr. Hukauf for his contributions to the statistical analysis of our data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Marien Hospital Herne, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Hölkeskampring 40, 44625, Herne, Germany

    Omar Thaher

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Municipal Hospital, Straße des Friedens 122, 07548, Gera, Germany

    Wael Tallak

  3. StatConsult Society for Clinical and Health Services Research mbH, Am Fuchsberg 11, 39112, Magdeburg, Germany

    Martin Hukauf

  4. Department of Obesity and Metabolic Surgery, SRH Municipal Hospital, Straße des Friedens 122, 07548, Gera, Germany

    Christine Stroh

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  1. Omar Thaher
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Correspondence to Christine Stroh.

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For this type of study formal consent is not required. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Key Points

• No significant difference was found between SG and RYGB in terms of perioperative and postoperative complications.

• SG and RYGB can be considered adequate bariatric procedures in patients with super obesity

• The impact on comorbidities was different between SG and RYGB.

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Thaher, O., Tallak, W., Hukauf, M. et al. Outcome of Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Patients with Super Obesity (Body Mass Index > 50 kg/m2). OBES SURG 32, 1546–1555 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05965-6

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