The Role of Relaparoscopy in the Management of Early Bariatric Surgery Complications and 30-Day Outcome: a Tertiary Centre Experience

The laparoscopic approach for dealing with bariatric complications has become the gold standard of modern practice. The aim of this study is to assess the role of relaparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic approach towards managing complications and improving 30-day outcome.

Materials and methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was conducted in a tertiary bariatric unit. Data were collected on all bariatric surgical procedures performed between March 2013 and March 2019. Any patient who was returned to theatre for a suspected serious complication was identified and their outcome studied.

Results: Over the 5-year study period, the total number of operations performed was 1660 (981 laparoscopic gastric bypass (LRYGB), 612 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and 67 revisional bariatric operations). Early postoperative complications (in hospital or within 30 days of surgery) that lead to reoperation were recorded in 33 patients (1.9%). These complications occurred after LRYGB in 26 patients (2.65%) and LSG in 7 patients (1.14%), respectively. Anastomotic leaks occurred in 1.1% of LRYGB, whilst 0.6% of patients have jejuno-jejunostomy obstruction. Obstruction at the gastro-jejunostomy anastomosis occurred in one patient. Following LSG, one mortality was recorded following bleeding from the staple line (0.06%) and five patients (0.3%) had leaks from the staple line. Thirty-one reoperations were performed laparoscopically, and two were converted to the open approach, whilst 2 operations were planned as open from the outset.

Conclusion: Relaparoscopy is an effective and safe approach to the management of clinically or radiologically suspected early complications after bariatric surgery. Graphical abstract.