Pregnancy After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Time Matters?

Obes Surg. 2022 Sep;32(9):2938-2944. doi: 10.1007/s11695-022-06149-y. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Abstract

Purpose: Obesity has an especial implication for women of childbearing age because of a higher risk of adverse outcomes during pregnancy and labor. This report aimed to analyze complications of pregnancy after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) concerning the time after surgery.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive-analytical study was conducted including women of childbearing age who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) from 2006 to 2017. Patients were divided into two groups regarding the time elapsed from SG to pregnancy: less than and greater than one year (group A /group B, respectively).

Results: During the studied time, 51 pregnancies with complete clinical records were found. The mean weight and gestational age (GA) of the newborn (NB) were normal. The mean time from surgery to pregnancy was 30.4 ± 21 months. Patients from Group A and B presented 28.6% and 16.7% respectively of preterm NB (p = 0.5). Group A registered no low birth weight (LBW) babies (3.0 ± 0.4 kg) with a GA of 37.2 ± 2.1 weeks, while in Group B, 8.6% of NB were at LBW 2.1 ± 0.1 kg and GA of 33.3 ± 3.8 weeks (p = NS).

Conclusion: After SG, no differences in terms of maternal and neonatal complications were found concerning the time between surgery and pregnancy.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Obesity; Perinatal outcomes; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Sleeve gastrectomy.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Gastrectomy / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Obesity, Morbid* / surgery
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications* / etiology
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Retrospective Studies