Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass as a Revision Procedure After Transoral Gastroplasty

Background Transoral gastroplasty (TOGA) has been offered as an investigational alternative restrictive procedure in our hospital for the last 3 years. Since laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) can be performed as a revisional surgery after failure of a restrictive surgery, this study reports on the feasibility of conversion of TOGA into a LRYGBP in case of failure of the endoscopic procedure. Methods Since 2006, 71 TOGA procedures were performed in morbidly obese patients. Four patients underwent an LRYGBP after TOGA procedure for unsatisfactory results after 1-year observation. All of them had undergone a second procedure in which additional TOGA restrictions were placed to attempt to tighten the pouch before being referred for LRYGBP. The surgical outcome of these patients was analysed. Results All four patients were easily converted to a LRYGBP with no major complication and no mortality. The operative results (operating time, morbidities, follow-up) of all LRYGBP post TOGA were similar to primary LRYGBP performed by the same operator. Conclusion LRYGBP post-TOGA apparently can be done without any trouble. The performance of TOGA does not seem to interfere with the short-term results of the LRYGBP.