Gastric pouch resizing for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass failure in patients with a dilated pouch

BackgroundInsufficient weight loss or weight regain a few years after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is becoming a serious problem given the large diffusion of this procedure. In the present study, we analyzed the feasibility and safety of pouch resizing for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass failure in a consecutive series of 20 patients at a university hospital.MethodsA prospectively maintained database was queried regarding patient demographics, the indication for revision morbidity, the percentage of excess weight loss, and the evolution of co-morbidities.ResultsA total of 20 patients, 18 women and 2 men, with a mean age of 44 years and mean body mass index of 45.8 kg/m², underwent pouch resizing. No patients died; 6 patients (30%) developed complications, including acute abdomen due to volvulus of the small bowel in 1, intra-abdominal abscess in 3, and pulmonary embolus in 2. At a mean follow-up of 20 months, the percentage of excess weight loss was an average of 69.1% and persistent co-morbidities had improved or resolved.ConclusionPouch resizing has been shown to be a valuable option in the short term for weight loss failure or regain in patients who have undergone laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and have a dilated gastric pouch. However, the long-term efficacy of this procedure needs to be determined.