Purpose: One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is a novel laparoscopic approach. The anastomosis of OAGB can be sewn either with a stapler or manually. The aim of this study is to determine the outcome of hand-sewn OAGB.
Materials and methods: A total of 805 consecutive patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Data collection included change in weight, body mass index (BMI), symptoms, and complications before surgery and continued during annual follow-up visits up to 5 years. Inclusion criteria were patients with a BMI of higher than 40 kg/m2 or higher than 35 kg/m2 with one severe comorbidity. Patients with BMI > 50 kg/m2 were referred to dieticians.
Results: The follow-up rate ranged from 93 to 50% at the 1-year and 5-year visits after surgery, respectively. Mean weight and BMI of patients before surgery were 121.93 kg (± 22.92) and 44.79 kg/m2 (± 6.07), respectively. Mean of annual BMI in 5 years of follow-up were 27.83, 27.26, 28.90, 29.45, and 29.56 kg/m2. Excess weight loss (EWL) in 5 years of follow-up were 85.7%, 89.5%, 78.9%, 77.7%, and 76.0%. Reflux was present in 202 patients (25.1%) before surgery and resolved in 153 cases (75.7%) 1 year after surgery. Procedure-specific early complication was an anastomosis leak in one patient, which led to death. Two cases of malnutrition necessitating reversal and two severe reflux disorders leading to Roux-en-Y bypass surgery were remarkable late complications.
Conclusion: Hand-sewn anastomosis could represent an efficient and safe technique in the management of patients undergoing OAGB surgery with acceptable outcomes and rare adverse complications.
Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Follow-up study; Mini-gastric bypass; Morbid obesity; One-anastomosis gastric bypass; Postoperative complications; Revision.