Perioperative risk among morbid obese patients subjected to gastric bypass

Background. Bariatric surgery is a complex procedure not exempt of complications. Aim. To assess mortality and complications of excisional gastric bypass among morbidly obese subjects. Material and methods. Prospective analysis of 684 morbid obese patients (age range 14 - 70 years, 525 females) subjected to an excisional gastric bypass. Major postoperative complications and mortality were registered. Results. Mean body mass index (BMI) of the subjects was 43.7 kg/m(2). One hundred sixty two patients had a BMI between 35 and 39.9 kg/m(2), 419 bad a BMI between 40 and 49,9 kg/m(2) and 103 bad a BMI over 50 kg/m(2). Two patients with a BMI of 52 and 56 kg/m(2) respectively, died in the postoperative period (0.3%). Thirty six patients bad major complications. Anastomotic fistula was the most common complication in 12 patients (1.7%). Fourteen patients required a new operation due to complications. None of these died. The mean operative volume of the surgical team was 124 patients per year Conclusions: Excisional gastric bypass has a low rate of mortality and complications, if the surgical team operates a large volume of patients (Rev Med Cbile 2006; 134: 849-54).