Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for high-risk patients: weight loss and comorbidity improvement--short-term results.

BACKGROUND: The obesity surgery mortality risk score (OS-MRS) is a five-point scoring system stratifying the risk of post-operative mortality. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 60 may also carry an increased risk of peri-operative complications. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as an initial procedure could reduce weight and associated comorbidity allowing a safer, definitive second procedure. We investigated weight loss and risk reduction in patients having LSG as part of a planned two-stage definitive bariatric procedure. METHODS: Patients with a high OS-MRS (4-5), males with BMI > 60 or females with BMI > 65, who underwent LSG were identified from a prospective database. Data were analysed by means of the Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared test. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients underwent LSG. LSG reduced median BMI at 12 months (68 versus 54, P < 0.001) and the OS-MRS (3 versus 2, P = 0.005). An increase in patients considered low risk (OS-MRS, 0-1) was seen following LSG (35% versus 14%, P = 0.006). The proportion of patients with BMI < 50 increased from 0% to 30% (P < 0.001). Improvement or resolution of diabetes and hypertension was seen in 23% and 25% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LSG achieves good weight loss, reduces the OS-MRS and improves obesity-related comorbidity in high-risk surgical patients.

Extended thromboprophylaxis reduces incidence of postoperative venous thromboembolism in laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) after laparoscopic bariatric surgery is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The objective of the present study was to study the incidence of symptomatic VTE in extended thromboprophylaxis regimens using dalteparin at an independent hospital in England, United Kingdom. METHODS: A prospective database of all patients undergoing bariatric surgery was retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent VTE prophylaxis regimen using perioperative and extended postoperative low-molecular-weight heparin (dalteparin 2500 IU preoperatively, followed by 5000 IU daily postoperatively). The treatment period was 1 week for laparoscopic gastric banding or 3 weeks for all other procedures. Inferior vena cava filters were used in selected patients with thrombophilia, a history of pulmonary embolism, or >1 episode of deep vein thrombosis. The endpoint was the incidence of symptomatic VTE. RESULTS: A total of 735 patients underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery, all of whom received dalteparin. The postoperative VTE incidence was 0%. The 30-day and 90-day all-cause mortality rate was 0%. A total of 3 adverse bleeding events occurred. CONCLUSION: An extended VTE prophylaxis regimen using low-molecular-weight heparin is simple and effective and was associated with a low incidence of bleeding complications.