Prospective evaluation of laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass in patients with clinically severe obesity.

AIM: To evaluate and present our experience with laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in a selected patient population. METHODS: A cohort of 130 patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 35 and 50 kg/m2 were evaluated in relation to postoperative morbidity, weight loss and resolution of co-morbidities for a period of 4 years following laparoscopic RYGB. RESULTS: Early morbidity was 10.0%, including 1 patient with peritonitis who was admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 1 conversion to open RYGB early in the series. There was no early or late mortality. Maximum weight loss was achieved at 12 mo postoperatively, with mean BMI 30 kg/m2, mean percentage of excess weight loss (EWL%) 66.4% and mean percentage of initial weight loss (IWL%) 34.3% throughout the follow-up period. The majority of preexisting comorbidities were resolved after weight loss and no major metabolic disturbances or nutritional deficiencies were observed. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic RYGB appears to be a safe and effective procedure for patients with BMI 35-50 kg/m2 with results that are comparable to previously published data mostly from the USA but from Europe as well.