Hypothesis: Although perceived as a more technically demanding and time-consuming technique, the hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy during laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is associated with fewer complications and lower costs than stapled techniques.
Design: A retrospective medical record review of prospectively collected data.
Setting: University hospital.
Patients: One hundred eight consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic RYGB between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2001.
Intervention: Three techniques were compared: hand-sewn anastomosis (HSA), circular-stapled anastomosis (CSA), and linear-stapled anastomosis (LSA).
Main outcome measures: Operative costs, including the cost of stapling devices, the cost of sutures, and operative times, were compared. Rates of anastomotic strictures, leaks, marginal ulcers, bleeding, and wound infections were determined.
Results: Eighty-seven patients underwent HSA; 13, CSA; and 8, LSA. Supply costs per patient were higher for CSA ($955) and LSA ($435) than for HSA ($2) (P<.001). The mean +/- SEM operative time for laparoscopic RYGB was longer when performing CSA than HSA or LSA (285 +/- 22 vs 215 +/- 8 and 204 +/- 28 minutes, respectively; P<.001). Stricture rates were higher after CSA than HSA and LSA (4 [31%] of 13 patients vs 3 [3%] of 87 patients and 0 of 8 patients, respectively; P<.01). The wound infection rate was higher after CSA than HSA and LSA (3 [23%] of 13 patients vs 1 [1%] of 87 patients and 0 of 8 patients, respectively; P<.001). There was no difference in anastomotic bleeding, and no anastomotic leaks occurred.
Conclusions: In this experience, hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy during laparoscopic RYGB reduced operating room supply costs and was completed faster than stapled techniques. However, these differences may reflect the learning curve because these techniques were used early in our experience. Lower postoperative stricture and wound infection rates seem to be the primary benefits of the HSA technique.