The Importance of Clinical Indicators for Detecting Postoperative Complications Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The significant drastic complications of performing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in morbidly obese patients are gastric staple line leakage and bleeding. The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of the clinical data for detecting postoperative complications after LSG. METHODS: The study enrolled 150 consecutive patients who underwent LSG from January 2003 to July 2006. When abnormal data (heart rate > or = 10/min, or temperature > or = 7.5degrees C) was detected on postoperative day 1, then laboratory tests (blood, urine, chest X-ray and abdominal sonogram) and water soluble gastrografin UGIS were performed to detect the postoperative complications after LSG (group A). The patients who had normal postoperative clinical data (group B) were compared with group A. RESULTS: Of the 150 patients who underwent LSG, 9 patients (6%) had postoperative complications. Two patients had major complications: 1 case of leakage (0.6%) and 1 case of delayed bleeding (0.6%), and 4 patients had minor complications in group A. But no major complications were detected in group B (P 39degrees C). CONCLUSION: Evidence of tachycardia or a high body temperature may be useful to detect major complications after LSG. We also recommend performing laboratory test and UGIS when clinically indicated.