Weight Loss Ten Years After Bariatric Surgery: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Summary Introduction: Bariatric surgery has amply demonstrated its benefit in the treatment of morbidly obese patients. After surgery, there is a progressive and significant decrease in weight in a high percentage of patients. Most comorbidities resolve, improving quality of life and increasing life expectancy. Methods and Objective: The literature review is based on a 10-year or longer follow-up of patients who underwent various bariatric surgery procedures. The long-term weight loss results and the clinical impact were evaluated. Results: The applied surgical techniques, including Rouxen-Y gastric Bypass (RYBG), Biliopancreatic Diversion, Scopinaro type (BPD), and Duodenal Switch (DS), have contributed to achieving very satisfactory long-term and sustainable weight loss results. According to the reviewed literature, the percentage of excessive BMI Loss (%EBMIL) for the various techniques was 67.9%, 70.7%, and 71.5% for RYGB, BPD, and DS, respectively. Patients undergoing BGYR have lost much more weight than non-surgical patients and can maintain long-term weight loss, reaching a Percentage of Excessive Weight Loss (%EWL) as high as 56.4% in 10 years. Patients who underwent Adjustable Gastric Band (AGB) presented with a %EWL of 45.9% in 10 years, but with very high re-operation rate range (8-78%). There are few studies in the literature on Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, reporting weight loss results over ten years. According to the study carried out by Arman G. A., Himpens J., et al. isolated Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LGS) produced a satisfactory weight loss over ten years, reachingEBMIL of 62.5%. Amending LSG with a new surgical design with malabsorbtive component (in 25% of patients) increased the weight loss, achieving %EBMIL of 81.7%.The Vertical Band Gastroplasty technique resulted in EWL of 38.1 ± 28.8%, as shown by a mean follow-up of 17.3 years, with a high rate of re-operations and conversions.