Influence of preoperative weight loss on gastric wall thickness—analysis of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy histological material

PURPOSE: The variables possibly enabling the prediction of gastric wall thickness during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy remain undetermined. The aim of the study was to identify preoperative factors affecting gastric wall thickness in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. METHODS: The measurements of the double-wall thickness of gastric specimen excised during sleeve gastrectomy were taken at three locations after 15 s of compression with an applied pressure of 8 g/mm(2). Statistical calculations were used to determine the influence of preoperative weight loss and other perioperative parameters on gastric wall thickness. RESULTS: The study involved one hundred patients (78 female; 22 male). The thickest tissue was observed at the antrum with the mean value 2.55 mm (range 1.77–4.0 mm), followed by the midbody, mean 2.13 mm (range 1.34–3.20 mm), and the fundus, mean 1.69 mm (range 0.99–2.69 mm). Positive relationships were found between gastric wall thickness and both preoperative weight loss and age in all three measured locations; p < 0.05. In a linear regression model, age and preoperative weight loss were found to be statistically significant and positive predictors of higher gastric wall thickness only at the antrum. Male patients were observed to have thicker gastric wall at all three locations as compared to female patients. CONCLUSION: Preoperative weight loss should be considered an important factor influencing gastric wall thickness. Age and gender can also be helpful in predicting the varying tissue thickness. Anatomical region is a key factor determining thickness of the stomach walls.