Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy as an Isolated Bariatric Procedure: Intermediate-Term Results from a Large Series in Three Austrian Centers

BACKGROUND: Gastric sleeve resection was initially planned as the first step of bilio-pancreatic diversion with duodenal switch but it continues to emerge as a restrictive bariatric procedure on its own. We describe intermediate results in a series of 126 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (LSG) compiled from three bariatric centers in eastern Austria. METHODS: The stomach was laparoscopically reduced to a "sleeve" along the lesser curvature over a 48-Fr bougie. Special attention was placed on complete resection of the gastric fundus. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 19.1 months, patients had lost between 2.3 and 27 kg/m(2) or between 6.7% and 130% of their excessive weight. Sixty four percent of the patients lost >50% of their excess weight within an average of 20 months. Seven percent of the patients had an excess weight loss <25% and were therefore considered as failures. The only major surgical complication was leakage of the staple-line needing revision (three times). There were no operative mortalities. CONCLUSION: The final place of LSG in bariatric surgery is still unclear, but our results and those of others show that LSG can be a viable alternative to established procedures.