ABSTRACT
To evaluate laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy[LSG], a relatively new procedure of bariatirc surgery, 21 patients [11 male, 10 female] aged from 28 to 51 years were studied who underwent the operation in Qatar between January 2006 and September 2007. None required conversion to open surgery. None died. One post-operative complication, gastric stenosis, was managed by endoscopic dilatation; another, gastro-cutaneous fistulae, required corrective surgery. The mean hospital stay was 8.7 days. The average weight loss and BMI loss six months post-operatively were 32kg and 12 kg/m[2] respectively. It is concluded that the main indication for LSG is for super obese patients or those with failed adjustable gastric banding and that it can be safely integrated into a bariatric surgical program with good results in terms of weight loss although major complications should not be ignored. Further studies should have longer periods of follow-up and include the quality of life using BAROS charting [Bariatric analysis and reporting outcome system]