Five-year outcomes for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from a single center in Turkey

BACKGROUND: There are no long-term results for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) from Turkey. OBJECTIVES: Assess the outcomes of LSG at 5 years. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Training and research hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included patients with LSG performed from August 2012 to December 2013. The data was prospectively collected with the aim of providing 5-year outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in percentage excessive weight loss (%EWI) and BMI. Changes in the pharmacological treatment status of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. SAMPLE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS: 120 patients (89 female) completed follow up; mean age 37 years (range, 19-63 years), mean preoperative BMI 48.3 kg/m(2) (range 40-80.4 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: After a mean 5.6-year follow-up, the mean (SD) postoperative weight loss was 43.5 (11.8) kg and the mean (SD) BMI loss was 16.1 (4.4). The mean %EWL value was 62.9% (range, 30-101%). Most patients (87.5%, n=105) achieved satisfactory %EWL values. The major complication rate was 6.6%. After surgery, 74.2% of patients taking medication for hypertension were able to stop treatment, while 12.9% reduced the dose, of patients that took medication for diabetes, all had a dosage reduction. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that LSG is an acceptable bariatric procedure, but in the long-term there may be weight gain and frequent reflux symptoms. We think renewed weight gain can be partially prevented by close clinical follow-up. There is a need for long-term randomized controlled studies with long-term follow-up to clearly define the indications for LSG. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective, incomplete clinical visits, GERD symptoms not objectively assessed. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.