Initial Experience of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Morbidly Obese Patients

Purpose: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is rapidly gaining ground as one of the surgical procedures in bariatric surgery with emerging long-term follow-up data. The aim of the present study was to report our initial experience of LSG in morbidly obese patients. Methods: Sixty-four consecutive patients underwent LSG from April 2009 to July 2010 at our bariatric surgery center. Patients eligible for LSG were those with a body mass index (BMI) of > 37 kg/m(2), and > 32 kg/m(2) with co-morbidities. LSG was performed using 5 trocars and endo-staplers with guidance of 34 Fr bougie. Perioperative management was standardized. The clinical data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 64 patients, 19 were male and 45 were female, mean age was 35 years (range 20 similar to 57), mean preoperative BMI was 38.8 kg/m(2) (range 32 similar to 57), and mean preoperative body weight was 108 kg (range 75 similar to 164). Mean operative time was 118 minutes (range 65 similar to 340) and mean length of hospital stay was 3.4 days (range 1 similar to 82). Staple line leak occurred in 1 patient, kinking of the gastric tube occurred in 2 patients. There was no open conversion and no postoperative mortality. After 170 days of follow-up, 24.4 kg of body weight loss and 52.7% of excess weight loss (%EWL), on average, was noted. Conclusion: Though long-term follow-up is needed, our early operative outcome was satisfactory in terms of %EWL and safety of the procedure. LSG was a safe and effective treatment strategy for morbidly obese patients. (J Korean Surg Soc 2010;79:460-466)