Long-term Follow-up of Patients' Status after Gastric Bypass

Background: We report a long-term (13-15 year) follow-up of a cohort of 100 patients who underwent gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Methods: Sources of information include baseline data collected before surgery and information obtained at follow-up interview including data on weight history, psychosocial functioning, and medical complications. Results: Mean age at follow-up was 56.8 years. The mean weight loss at long-term follow-up was 29.5 kg (range-13.6 to 93.6 kg). Three subjects weighed more at long-term follow-up than before the operation. Overall, 74% of those interviewed indicated that the gastric bypass had benefited them in terms of their physical health. However, 68.8% reported continued problems with vomiting and 42.7% with "plugging". Eight had died. Conclusion: The findings in this study suggest that at long-term follow-up the majority of individuals who have undergone gastric bypass feel that the procedure benefited them, although some complications including difficulties with "plugging" and vomiting were present at long-term follow-up.