Effect of Revisional Bariatric Surgery on Weight Loss and Frequency of Complications

Background: The relative risks and effectiveness of primary and revision operations done to produce weight loss are of interest both from a patient care and an economic perspective. The possibility that patients requiring revision surgery comprise a treatment resistant subgroup who are more likely to have post-operative complications is a valid concern. Methods: The records of all patients having bariatric procedures since January of 1970 were evaluated for weight loss and complications. Results: Most revisions were from jejunoileal bypass or a gastric restrictive procedure. Early complications were significantly more common following revision surgery (19%) than after primary procedures (6%), although late and combined early and late complication rates were similar. Operative mortality was lower following primary procedures (2/382) than revisions (1/75). Cholecystectomy was a common sequela following primary procedures but did not occur after revision procedures. Regardless of surgical category, weight loss after revision was equivalent to weight loss after primary procedures. Conclusions: Weight loss following revisional bariatric surgery is equivalent to weight loss following a primary operation of the same type. Although mortality and early complications are more common after revisional bariatric surgery, the frequency of late complications is not different. In all groups wound infections and hernias were relatively common complications and cholecystectomies are rare after revisional bariatric operations.