Short-term Results of Transit Bipartition to Promote Weight Loss After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Markus Reiser; Vasiliki Christogianni; Fabian Nehls; Radostina Dukovska; Marlon de la Cruz; Martin Büsing

doi:10.1097/AS9.0000000000000102

Short-term Results of Transit Bipartition to Promote Weight Loss After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Ann Surg Open. 2021 Oct 1;2(4):e102. doi: 10.1097/AS9.0000000000000102. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Authors

Markus Reiser¹, Vasiliki Christogianni², Fabian Nehls², Radostina Dukovska², Marlon de la Cruz², Martin Büsing²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Klinikum-Vest GmbH, Paracelsus-klinik Marl, Marl, Germany.
² Department of Surgery, Klinikum Vest GmbH, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Recklinghausen, Recklinghausen, Germany.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate (1) the efficacy of transit bipartition (TB) as revisional bariatric surgery (RBS) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG); (2) the impact of the length of the common channel (CC) on weight loss.

Background: LSG in combination with TB has been shown to be highly efficacious for treating morbid obesity. The role of TB as RBS to address the problem of primary failure or weight recidivism after LSG is less well defined.

Methods: Observational study of outcomes in 100 morbidly obese patients who received a TB following LSG. Follow-up examinations (FE) were performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Variables analyzed included BMI, percent excess weight loss (%EWL), total body weight loss (%TBWL), effect on obesity-related conditions and complications.

Results: The mean BMI before LSG was 49.9 ± 8.5 kg/m². A nadir of 32.7 ± 6.1 kg/m² was reached 22.1 ± 16.9 months after LSG (%EWL 70.0 ± 14.5). The time interval between LSG and TB was 52.2 ± 26.6 months at which the BMI had increased to 37.6 ± 7.1 kg/m² and %EWL decreased to 49.4 ± 19.7. Following TB, the BMI decreased continuously to 31.4 ± 5.7 kg/m² after 12 months with a parallel increase in %EWL to 74.7 ± 20.3 and %TWL reaching 36.3 ± 10.5. Weight loss was significantly higher for CC length of 250 versus 300 cm after 12 months (BMI 29.4 ± 5.3/33 ± 5.3 kg/m², P = 0.002; %EWL 79.8 ± 26.6/70.4 ± 17; P = 0.009). Improvement of comorbidities was observed in a high proportion of patients. Major early complications occurred in 3% of the patients.

Conclusion: TB is an effective second-step procedure to address insufficient weight loss or weight recidivism after LSG. CC length of 250 versus 300 cm had a significant impact. While most improvements of obesity-related comorbidities are likely linked to weight loss, amelioration of GERD is largely mediated by accelerated gastric emptying. Major complications were observed in 3% of patients and managed without fatalities.

Keywords: gastro-esophageal reflux disease; hypoabsorptive surgery; laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; revisional bariatric surgery; single anastomosis sleeve-ileal bypass; transit bipartition; weight recidivism; weight regain.