Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on Weight Loss in Patients With Morbid Obesity: The SM-BOSS Randomized Clinical Trial

Resolution of metabolic syndrome and related metabolic disorders after bariatric surgery: comparison of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass

BACKGROUND

The effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) on metabolic syndrome (MS) in morbidly obese patients have not been well studied.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of LSG and LRYGB in Chinese morbidly obese patients with MS.

SETTING

University Hospital, China.

METHODS

Patients who underwent LRYGB or LSG surgery and had completed at least 1 year of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Bariatric and metabolic outcomes in the 2 groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the predictors of MS remission.

RESULTS

Of the 176 patients enrolled in this study, 79 underwent LSG and 97 underwent LRYGB. Eighty-three met 3 of the International Diabetes Federation criteria for diagnosis of MS, 69 met 4 of the criteria, and 24 met 5 of the criteria. At 1 year after bariatric surgery, 79% of patients achieved remission of MS. In both LSG and LRYGB groups, the number of MS criteria met by patients decreased significantly after surgery. The MS remission rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups (74.7% in LSG versus 82.5% in LGB; P = .21). In LSG patients, there was no significant decrease in blood pressure or increase in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 1 year. On logistic regression analysis, younger age, lower body mass index, and lower homeostatic model of assessment-insulin resistance were independently associated with MS remission at 1 year after surgery. Both groups showed satisfactory and comparable weight loss (percentage of excess weight loss: 71.7% in LSG versus 74.4% in LRYGB). No surgery-related mortality occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Both LSG and LRYGB are feasible, safe, and effective in Chinese obese patients with MS. LSG seems to be inferior to LRYGB with regard to control of hypertension and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Do patients with higher baseline BMI have improved weight loss with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy?

BACKGROUND

As sleeve gastrectomy (SG) becomes the most common bariatric procedure, it remains unclear for which patients laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) may be advantageous. Some contend that patients with higher initial body mass index (BMI) achieve better weight loss with LRYGB.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluates weight loss in SG versus LRYGB patients based on preoperative BMI.

SETTING

Community teaching hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.

METHODS

A convenience cohort of 4935 individuals, undergoing bariatric surgery from 2001 to 2015, was studied to examine 5-year postsurgical trends in weight loss stratified by baseline BMI and procedure. Student t tests compared mean weight loss of baseline BMI groups (<45 versus ≥45; <50 versus ≥50; and <55 versus ≥55) and line graphs and plotted 95% confidence intervals of mean weight loss by year were examined to discern differences in percent excess weight loss (%EWL) by procedure type.

RESULTS

All patients were more likely to be female (79%) and Caucasian (62.5%). Nearly twice as many patients underwent LRYGB (N = 3236) compared with SG (N = 1699). In patients in the BMI <45, 50, and 55 kg/m² categories, there was no significant difference in %EWL based on procedure. However, in those patients in the BMI ≥45 and 55 kg/m² categories, there is significantly higher %EWL in the LRYGB group over SG.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, patients with lower baseline BMI had improved %EWL regardless of procedure, but those patients with higher baseline BMI who underwent LRYGB did have higher %EWL than those undergoing SG at 2 years follow-up. BMI is one of many key factors when selecting a procedure for an individual patient.

Surgical treatment of obesity

Obesity prevalence continues to increase worldwide, as do the numerous chronic diseases associated with obesity, including diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The prevalence of bariatric surgery also continues to increase and remains the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity. Over the last several years, numerous prospective and longitudinal studies have demonstrated the benefits of bariatric surgery on weight loss, mortality, and other chronic diseases. Even though the mechanisms underlying many of these beneficial effects remain poorly understood, surgical management of obesity continues to increase given its unmatched efficacy. In this commentary, we discuss recent clinical advancements as well as several areas needed for future research, including indications for bariatric and metabolic surgery, determination of responders and non-responders, metabolic surgery in non-obese individuals, and the evolving role of bariatric surgery in adolescents.

Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on Weight Loss at 5 Years Among Patients With Morbid Obesity: The SLEEVEPASS Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for treatment of morbid obesity has increased substantially despite the lack of long-term results compared with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Objective

To determine whether laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are equivalent for weight loss at 5 years in patients with morbid obesity.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The Sleeve vs Bypass (SLEEVEPASS) multicenter, multisurgeon, open-label, randomized clinical equivalence trial was conducted from March 2008 until June 2010 in Finland. The trial enrolled 240 morbidly obese patients aged 18 to 60 years, who were randomly assigned to sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass with a 5-year follow-up period (last follow-up, October 14, 2015).

Interventions

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (n = 121) or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n = 119).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was weight loss evaluated by percentage excess weight loss. Prespecified equivalence margins for the clinical significance of weight loss differences between gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy were -9% to +9% excess weight loss. Secondary end points included resolution of comorbidities, improvement of quality of life (QOL), all adverse events (overall morbidity), and mortality.

Results

Among 240 patients randomized (mean age, 48 [SD, 9] years; mean baseline body mass index, 45.9, [SD, 6.0]; 69.6% women), 80.4% completed the 5-year follow-up. At baseline, 42.1% had type 2 diabetes, 34.6% dyslipidemia, and 70.8% hypertension. The estimated mean percentage excess weight loss at 5 years was 49% (95% CI, 45%-52%) after sleeve gastrectomy and 57% (95% CI, 53%-61%) after gastric bypass (difference, 8.2 percentage units [95% CI, 3.2%-13.2%], higher in the gastric bypass group) and did not meet criteria for equivalence. Complete or partial remission of type 2 diabetes was seen in 37% (n = 15/41) after sleeve gastrectomy and in 45% (n = 18/40) after gastric bypass (P > .99). Medication for dyslipidemia was discontinued in 47% (n = 14/30) after sleeve gastrectomy and 60% (n = 24/40) after gastric bypass (P = .15) and for hypertension in 29% (n = 20/68) and 51% (n = 37/73) (P = .02), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in QOL between groups (P = .85) and no treatment-related mortality. At 5 years the overall morbidity rate was 19% (n = 23) for sleeve gastrectomy and 26% (n = 31) for gastric bypass (P = .19).

Conclusions and Relevance

Among patients with morbid obesity, use of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy compared with use of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass did not meet criteria for equivalence in terms of percentage excess weight loss at 5 years. Although gastric bypass compared with sleeve gastrectomy was associated with greater percentage excess weight loss at 5 years, the difference was not statistically significant, based on the prespecified equivalence margins.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00793143.

Obesity management in Prader-Willi syndrome: current perspectives

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex multisystem disorder due to the absent expression of the paternally active genes in the PWS critical region on chromosome 15 (15q11.2-q13). The syndrome is considered the most common genetic cause of obesity, occurring in 1:10,000-1:30,000 live births. Its main characteristics include neonatal hypotonia, poor feeding, and lack of appetite in infancy, followed by weight gain, lack of satiety, and uncontrolled appetite, frequently after the age of 2-3 years. The clinical picture includes short stature, multiple endocrine abnormalities (hypogonadism, growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I axis dysfunction, hypothyroidism, central adrenal insufficiency), dysmorphic features, scoliosis, osteoporosis, mental retardation, and behavioral and psychiatric problems. Subjects with PWS will become severely obese unless their food intake is strictly controlled. Constant and obsessive food seeking behavior can make life very difficult for both the family and caretakers. Prevention of obesity is mandatory in these patients from the first years of life, because once obesity develops it is difficult to maintain the control of food intake. In fact, PWS subjects die prematurely from complications conventionally related to obesity, including diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, respiratory insufficiency, and cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms underlying hyperphagia in PWS are not completely known, and to date no drugs have proven their efficacy in controlling appetite. Consequently, dietary restriction, physical activity, and behavior management are fundamental in the prevention and management of obesity in PWS. In spite of all available therapeutic tools, however, successful weight loss and maintenance are hardly accomplished. In this context, clinical trials with new drugs have been initiated in order to find new possibilities of a therapy for obesity in these patients. The preliminary results of these studies seem to be encouraging. On the other hand, until well-proven medical treatments are available, bariatric surgery can be taken into consideration, especially in PWS patients with life-threatening comorbidities.