Effects of surgically induced weight loss on urinary bladder pressure, sagittal abdominal diameter and obesity co-morbidity

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effects of surgically induced weight loss on intra-abdominal pressure at one year, reflected in urinary bladder pressure, central obesity, measured by sagittal abdominal diameter and obesity co-morbidity. DESIGN: Prospective, non-randomized trial. SETTING: University Hospital, Operating Room, In-patient, Outpatient Clinics. SUBJECTS: Gastric bypass in 15 severely obese patients. MEASUREMENTS: Patients underwent pre-operative assessment of weight, body mass index (BMI), co-morbid history, urinary bladder pressure and sagittal abdominal diameter. Patients were reassessed one year after gastric bypass with repeat measurement of weight, bladder pressure, and sagittal abdominal diameter and assessment of co-morbidity. RESULTS: There were significant (P < 0.001) decreases in weight (140 +/- 8-87 +/- 6kg), BMI (52 +/- 3-33 +/- 2kg/m(2)), sagittal abdominal diameter (32 +/- 1-20 +/- 2 cm), urinary bladder pressure (17 +/- 2-10 +/- 1 cm H2O) and obesity related problems per patient (2.9 +/- 0.4-1 +/- 0.2) one year after gastric bypass, with 69 +/- 4% loss of excess weight. CONCLUSIONS: Increased sagittal abdominal diameter is associated with increased intra abdominal pressure which contributes to obesity related co-morbidity. Weight loss following gastric bypass decreases abdominal pressure, sagittal abdominal diameter and obesity co-morbidity.