Outcome of gastric bypass patients

Background: The authors analyzed previously studied outcomes of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), examined pre-surgical factors of post-surgical outcomes, and examined some of the psychosocial benefits. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 138 patients who underwent RYGBP between 1997 and 2000. Pre-surgical BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure, creatinine, number of antidepressant/glycemic drugs, and hemoglobin were recorded. Post-surgical follow-up was reviewed to examine changes. Results: Statistically significant changes were found in BMI, hypertension, cholesterol and glycemic control. Surgery was found to reduce creatinine from a pre-surgery average of 1.14 to 1.01 (n=11, p=.0015). Patients with early post-operative complications (defined as length of stay >6 days or re-hospitalization within 1 month following surgery) had an average BMI of 57.58 (n=23) vs a BMI of 49.9 (n=103) in those who did not experience any complications (p=0.0004). There was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of anti-depressant use following surgery. 49 patients were on antidepressants before surgery vs 38 following surgery (p=.0016). Conclusion: RYGBP significantly improves hypertension, hyperlipidemia and type II diabetes, and may also improve kidney function. Patients with higher pre-surgical BMIs are at greater risk for post-surgical complications. Postoperative antidepressant use appears to decrease.