Continued Excellent Results with the Mini-Gastric Bypass: Six-Year Study in 2,410 Patients

Background: There is a growing body of evidence showing that the Mini-Gastric Bypass (MGB) is a safe and effective alternative to other bariatric surgical operations. This study reports on the results of a consecutive cohort of patients undergoing the MGB. Methods: A prospective database was used to continuously assess the results in 2,410 MGB patients treated from September 1997 to February 2004. Results:The average operative time was 37.5 minutes, and the median length of stay was 1 day. The 30-day mortality and complication rates were 0.08% and 5.9% respectively. The leak rate was 1.08%. Average weight loss at 1 year was 59 kg (80% of excess body weight). The most frequent long-term complications were dyspepsia and ulcers (5.6%) and iron deficiency anemia (4.9%.) Excessive weight loss with malnutrition occurred in 1.1%. Weight loss was well maintained over 5 years, with <5% patients regaining more than 10 kg. Conclusions: Overall, the MGB is very safe initially and in the long-term. It has reliable weight loss and complications similar to other forms of gastric bypass.