Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectorny:: Surgical technique, indications and clinical results

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been introduced as a multipurpose restrictive procedure for obese patients. Variations of the surgical technique may be important for the late results. Methods: 50 patients submitted to LSG from January 2005 to December 2006 were studied. Mean age was 38.2 years, preoperative weight was 103.4 +/- 14.1 kg (78 to 146 kg), and preoperative BMI was 37.9 +/- 3.4 (32.9 to 46.8). Important co-morbidities were present in 39 patients (78%). Results: Operative time was 110 +/- 15 min. Intraoperative difficulties were observed in 7 patients. Volume of the resected specimen was 760 55 ml and capacity of the gastric remnant was 108.5 +/- 25 ml. There was no conversion to open surgery. Histology of the resected stomach was normal in 8 patients, while chronic gastritis was found in 42 patients. At 6 and 12 months postoperatively, weight loss was 28.0 +/- 6.4 kg and 32.6 +/- 6.8 kg respectively. In the 18 patients who have reached 1 year follow-up, % excess BMI loss reached 85 +/- 0.7%. Most of the medical diseases associated with the obesity resolved after 6 to 12 months. Conclusion: LSG may be an acceptable operation. It is easy to perform, safe, and has a lower complication rate than other bariatric operations. Further studies are necessary for the clinical results at long-term follow-up.