Long-Term Outcomes of Revisional Malabsorptive Bariatric Surgery: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risk?

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of revisional malabsorptive bariatric surgery.

Materials and methods: Malabsorptive bariatric procedures are increasingly performed in the revisional setting. We collated and analysed prospectively recorded data for all patients who underwent a revisional Biliopancreatic diversion + / - duodenal switch (BPD + / - DS) over a 17-year period.

Results: We identified 102 patients who underwent a revisional BPD + / - DS. Median follow-up was 7 years (range 1-17). There were 21 (20.6%) patients permanently lost to follow-up at a median of 5 years postoperatively. Mean total weight loss since the revisional procedure of 22.7% (SD 13.4), 20.1% (SD 10.5) and 17.6% (SD 5.5) was recorded at 5, 10 and 15 years respectively. At the time of revisional surgery, 23 (22.5%) patients had diabetes and 16 (15.7%) had hypercholesterolaemia with remission of these occurring in 20 (87%) and 7 (44%) patients respectively. Nutritional deficiencies occurred in 82 (80.4%) patients, with 10 (9.8%) patients having severe deficiencies requiring periods of parenteral nutrition. Seven (6.9%) patients required limb lengthening or reversal procedures. There were 16 (15.7%) patients who experienced a complication within 30 days, including 3 (2.9%) anastomotic leaks. Surgery was required in 42 (41.2%) patients for late complications.

Conclusion: Revisional malabsorptive bariatric surgery induces significant long-term weight loss and comorbidity resolution. High rates of temporary and permanent attrition from follow-up are of major concern, given the high prevalence of nutritional deficiencies. These data question the long-term safety of malabsorptive bariatric procedures due to the inability to ensure compliance with nutritional supplementation and long-term follow-up requirements.

Key points: • Revisional bariatric surgery workload is increasing • Revisional malabsorptive surgery is efficacious for weight loss and comorbidity resolution • Revisional malabsorptive surgery is associated with high rates of nutritional deficiencies • Attrition from follow-up in this specific cohort of patients is of particular concern due to the risk of undiagnosed and untreated nutritional deficiencies.