Direct visual insertion of primary trocar and avoidance of fascial closure with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Background: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) has been used increasingly more often in the past 10 years. The authors summarize their experience and safety/complications data based on 849 laparoscopic RYGBP procedures. They also evaluate the use of the Endopath trocar in terms of trocar-site hernias, bowel obstruction, and elimination of time-consuming fascial closure. Methods: From July 2000 to December 2003, 849 laparoscopic RYGBP procedures were performed using a bladeless, 12-mm, visual entry trocar. The patients' average body mass index (BMI) was 53.2 kg/m(2). The trocar ports (n = 3,744) were not closed. Perioperative and postoperative assessments were performed. Results: In this study, 74% of the patients were retained for follow-up evaluation (mean, 10 months). Among these patients, no intraoperative bowel or vascular injuries, no mortality, and two trocar-site hernias (0.2%) were found. At 1 year, the mean excess weight loss was 73.4%. Conclusions: The Endopath trocar system shows a trend toward reducing trocar-site hernias, decreasing bowel obstruction, and eliminating the need for time-consuming fascial closure, although further studies are needed to confirm these findings.