The Effects of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Obesity-Related Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis

Background

Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) is a significant clinical problem and is characterized by high recurrence rate compared with non-HTG-AP. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on obesity-related HTG-AP.

Methods

Twenty-nine patients with obesity-related HTG-AP were admitted to our hospital and treated with the conventional therapy or LSG surgery according to the wishes of patients. Clinical data and the recurrence rate of AP were collected at baseline and at four different time points (3, 6, 9, and 12 months) after the treatments for all patients.

Results

Of the 29 patients, 28 patients (19 patients with conventional therapy and 9 patients with LSG surgery) completed the 12-month follow-up. Clinical data and the severity scores of AP were comparable at baseline when the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. The LSG group experienced a large weight loss (percent total weight loss, 26.87?±?1.44%; percent excess weight loss, 79.56?±?1.37%) and triglyceride reduction (from 15.77?±?1.02 to 1.36?±?0.09 mmol/L), and no recurrence was observed at 12 months after the surgery. In the conventional treatment group, however, body weight was not changed although triglyceride was significantly decreased (from 17.34?±?1.29 to 8.25?±?1.12 mmol/L), and more importantly, 47.4% of the patients had at least one recurrence of AP in 12 months after the treatment.

Conclusions

LSG might be an effective way to cure obesity-related HTG-induced AP since it prevents the recurrence of this disease. Further randomized studies will be needed to standardize this way of treatment.