Weight Gain After Short- and Long-Limb Gastric Bypass in Patients Followed for Longer Than 10 Years
Abstract
Objective:
To complete a long-term (>10 years) follow-up of patients undergoing isolated roux-en-Y gastric bypass for severe obesity.
Background:
Long-term results of gastric bypass in patients followed for longer than 10 years is not reported in the literature.
Methods:
Accurate
weights were recorded on 228 of 272 (83.8%) of patients at a mean of
11.4 years (range, 4.7–14.9 years) after surgery. Results were
documented on an individual basis for both long- and short-limb gastric
bypass and compared with results at the nadir BMI and % excess weight
loss (%EWL) at 5 years and >10 years post surgery.
Results:
There was a significant (P < 0.0001) increase in BMI in both morbidly obese (BMI < 50 kg/m2) and super obese patients (BMI > 50 kg/m2)
from the nadir to 5 years and from 5 to 10 years. The super obese lost
more rapidly from time zero and gained more rapidly after reaching the
lowest weight at approximately 2 years than the morbidly obese patients.
There was no difference in results between the long- and short-limb
operations. There was a significant increase in failures and decrease in
excellent results at 10 years when compared with 5 years. The failure
rate when all patients are followed for at least 10 years was 20.4% for
morbidly obese patients and 34.9% for super obese patients.
Conclusions:
The
gastric bypass limb length does not impact long-term weight loss.
Significant weight gain occurs continuously in patients after reaching
the nadir weight following gastric bypass. Despite this weight gain, the
long-term mortality remains low at 3.1%.
In
the past, we reported the results of gastric bypass in 274 patients
consecutively operated upon, who were followed for a mean of 5.5 ± 1.5
years (range, 3–8.4 years).
1,2
We were concerned with weight loss and how this was influenced by
preoperative weight, time to follow-up, and the presence of a long- or
short-limb bypass. We emphasized clinical classification of all patients
as excellent, good, or failure on the basis of final body mass indices.
3 We also compared our results of gastric bypass to those reported by Marceau et al
4
with biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch because they,
uniquely, in the literature provided data on the above-mentioned
variables with a similar follow-up time.
It is the
purpose of the present study to report follow-up on the same patients
after a mean of 11.4 years (range, 4.7–14.9 years) and again to compare
the results to those achieved with biliopancreatic diversion and
duodenal switch with follow-up of all patients greater than 10 years.
5
METHODS
Patient Follow-up
This
is a retrospective study in which patients were contacted by a
questionnaire and invited to return to our outpatient department for
examination, or provide the name of a local doctor to supply that
information, or depended on a phone conversation with the patient. The
study was conducted in accord with the ethical standards of the
Committee on Human Experimentation of the McGill University Health
Center. In the questionnaire, patients were asked to report on their
preoperative and postoperative health status and if they suffered from
any comorbidities of obesity or postoperative complications of gastric
bypass. The provincial health insurance system provided the addresses on
all patients, which is necessary to maintain a Medicare card (universal
health care system). In the cases where questionnaires were not
returned, addresses were cross referenced in a telephone directory
available on the Internet (
http://www.canada411.ca),
after which patients were invited to our outpatient clinic or, if this
was not possible, were asked to provide information over the phone.
Weights obtained by questionnaire or telephone were compared with
weights revealed at the time of clinic visits. Deaths, time of death,
and cause were documented.
Operative Technique
All operations were performed by open laparotomy using a previously reported technique.
1,2
Briefly, a small 4-cm-long pouch on the lesser curvature of the stomach
was created adjacent to a 28 or 30 Maloney bougie with a V. Mueller
PI-90 stapler (MMM Company, St. Paul, MN) using 4.8-mm staples. This
stapler is used to make 2 double rows of stables with an interval of
free tissue in between that permits division by sharp dissection or
cautery. The staple line of the pouch was oversewn with PDS sutures and
the staple line of the excluded gastric body was inverted. Omentum was
sutured between the staple lines. A proximal loop of jejunum was divided
10 cm from the ligament of Treitz and the distal end was advanced in a
retrocolic, retrogastric position to create a 40 cm Roux-en-Y limb,
which was anastomosed to the small gastric pouch. This was the operation
designated as the short-limb procedure ().
The long-limb operation was created by dividing the jejunum 100 cm
distal to the ligament of Treitz and making the Roux-en-Y limb also100
cm ().
The anastomosis had always enlarged to the diameter of the adjacent
jejunum when measured at endoscopy after 6 months to 1 year. This
enlargement occurred whether absorbable or nonabsorbable suture material
was used.
FIGURE 1.
A, Standard short-limbed gastric bypass with 10-cm afferent limb and
40-cm Roux-en-Y limb and a 15- to 20-mL gastric pouch. B, Long-limb
gastric bypass with 100-cm afferent limb and 100-cm Roux-en-Y limb and a
15- to 20-mL gastric pouch. (Reprinted ...
Outcomes Reporting
We used a modification of the Reinhold classification
3 to evaluate our outcomes based on the body mass index (BMI) attained after 10 or more years of follow-up. (). An excellent or good result (BMI ≤ 35 kg/m
2) was considered a success. We have also used the method of Biron et al
5 to classify results after 10 years whereby success is achieved for morbidly obese patients if the BMI is <35 kg/m
2 and for super obese <40 kg/m
2.
We compared the results of the patients classified before surgery as
either morbidly obese or super obese over time and the influence during
that time of a long- or short-limb bypass.
TABLE 1. Basis for Evaluation of Results (Reinhold Classification)
Statistics
All
statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 12.0 for windows. All
mean BMIs in both morbid and super obese groups were tested for
significance using a one-way analysis of variance with posthoc testing
of the various means using Scheffé's test. The individual results at 5
and 10 years were tested for significance using the Pearson χ2
test. Change in BMI and estimated weight loss (%EWL) (preoperative
minus postoperative BMI or %EWL) was used to assess the magnitude of
weight loss between groups with different limb lengths using the
independent sample t test.
RESULTS
Of
the 272 consecutive patients in this series, 228 (83.8%) were followed
up. Of these, 76% were seen in our outpatient department or by their
local doctor and 24% provided information via questionnaire or a
telephone conversation. We asked 41 patients to provide us with their
weight by telephone prior to coming to the clinic in the next 2 to 3
days for complete follow-up including accurate weight measurements. We
found that 36 patients underestimated their actual weight by 5.8 ± 1.1
kg and 5 overestimated their actual weight by 3.8 ± 1.2 kg. Because of
this variability, we elected not to apply any correction factor to the
weight data reported by phone or questionnaire alone. A total of 161
patients were followed longer then 10 years, 60 patients were followed
for at least 5 years, 43 were lost to follow-up, 1 patient died within
30 days of surgery, and 7 patients died during the long term follow-up
period. The distribution of BMIs was as follows: 35 to 39, 6.3%; 40 to
49, 57%; 50 to 59, 29.8%; and >60, 7%.
One patient
died of pulmonary embolus on the second postoperative day for a 0.36%
30-day operative mortality. Seven patients died post surgery at: 4.8
years of suicide, 5.7 years of suicide, 6.6 years of liver failure, 8
years of unknown cause, 8.8 years of pulmonary embolus, 8.8 years of
cardiac failure, and at 13 years of cerebrovascular accident, for a 3.2%
long term post operative mortality.
Of the 272 patients in the study, 172 (63.2%) were morbidly obese (BMI < 50 kg/m2) and 100 (36.8%) were super obese (BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2).
A total of 189 (69.5%) had a short-limb operation and 83 (30.5%) had
the long-limb operation. We performed the short-limb operation up to the
end of 1993 and begun using the long-limb operation after that time
based on the popularity of adding more “malabsorption” to the short-limb
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Because of the numbers of patients operated
upon, the ratios of short- versus long-limb bypass remained relatively
consistent between the subgroups. Of the 172 morbidly obese patients,
119 (69%) had the short-limb operation and 53 (31%) had the long-limb
operation. Of the 100 super obese patients, 70 (70%) had the short-limb
operation and 30 (30%) had the long-limb operation.
The cumulative weight loss and characteristics of the patient population appear in .
The lowest BMI of the morbidly obese patients we were able to follow
was 26.4 and occurred at 1.9 years after surgery. This increased to 31.0
at final analysis 11.4 years after surgery. The lowest BMI for the
super obese patients we were able to follow was 31.4 and occurred at 2.2
years following operation. This increased to 38.3 at final evaluation
11.6 years after surgery. A similar pattern was seen with the %EWL.
TABLE 2. Demographics and Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass
shows the raw BMI data of all 228 patients at their last follow-up time
point. The mean follow-up period was 11.4 years. A number of patients
have BMI values above 35 and the majority are super obese patients with
starting BMI >50. The change in mean BMI over time for 161 patients
followed for more than 10 years appears in . There is significant weight gain (P
< 0.0001) from the lowest BMI at approximately 2 years compared with
5 years after surgery and from 5 to 10 years after surgery in all
patients or when the patients are separated into morbidly obese (BMI
< 50) and super obese (BMI ≥ 50). Additionally, there is a
significant difference (P < 0.0001) between morbid obese and
super obese curves. The super obese lose more rapidly from the
preoperative BMI to the lowest BMI and gain more rapidly than the morbid
obese patients thereafter (P < 0.0001). Similar trends in
weight regain when patients are followed more then 10 years are shown
when the %EWL is examined ().
The best %EWL was 89%, observed at about 2.5 years post surgery and
decreased significantly to 68.1% at about 12.3 years post surgery (P < 0.001).
FIGURE 2.
Plot of raw BMI values of 228 patients post RY gastric bypass at the
last follow-up period (11.4 ± 2.8 years, mean ± SD) stratified by BMI
into morbid obesity (BMI < 50) and superobesity (BMI ≥ 50).
FIGURE 3.
Plot of decrease of BMI against time for the 161 patients followed for
more then 10 years (up to 15). The points represent the mean ± SD. Point
0 is the preoperative BMI. The nadir or lowest BMI occurred at 2.2 ±
1.9 years. The ...
FIGURE 4.
Plot of % excess weight loss against time for the 161 patients followed
for more then 10 years (up to 15). A significant weight regain occurs
following the best weight loss at about 2.5 ± 2.1 years compared with
longer follow-up periods ...
The individual results based on the Reinhold classification appear in .
There is a significant decrease in excellent results and increase in
failures from the results obtained within the first 5 years of follow-up
compared with those obtained after more then 10 years of follow-up in
all patients or when stratified by BMI into morbid obesity or super
obesity.
TABLE 3.
Gastric Bypass Results for Severe Obesity According to the Reinhold
Classification for Patients That Were Followed for 10 or More Years
(Maximum 15 Years)
While the long-limb bypass appears to improve the results slightly at 5 years in the super obese patients (),
this difference was not significant. Furthermore, this apparent benefit
was no longer seen at 10 years of follow-up. In patients who had a BMI
over 60 kg/m2, who might be benefited by the long-limb
operation the most, the final BMI was 37.8 ± 4.4 in long-limb patients
and 42.9 ± 9.6 (mean ± SD) in the short-limb group, but this difference
is not significant (P = 0.133).
shows the detailed analysis of the effect of limb length on long-term
weight in morbidly obese or superobese patients. Because of the
sequential study design, the follow-up was significantly shorter in the
long-limb group. However, neither change in BMI nor final BMI was
different between the short- and long-limb groups, even when the
patients are stratified by BMI to morbidly obese and super obese groups.
FIGURE 5. The effect of limb length on long-term weight loss in morbidly obese (MO) and super (MO) obese patients.
TABLE 4. Results of Long and Short Limb Bypass in Morbidly Obese and Super Obese Patients
A comparison of failure rates in the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch operation reported by Biron et al
5 and the gastric bypass as performed at our center appears in . All patients in both groups were followed over 10 years after surgery. We compared failure rates based on final BMI ≥35 kg/m
2 for morbidly obese and BMI ≥40 kg/m
2
for super obese patients. The 2 different operations produce comparable
failure rates in patients who are followed for more then 10 years post
surgery according to their criteria.
TABLE 5. Failure Rate Is Based on Final BMI ≥35 kg/m2 for Morbidly Obese and BMI ≥40 kg/m2 for Super Obese
DISCUSSION
Significant
weight gain after gastric bypass just like the results reported after
biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch is a prominent feature of
this retrospective study. The modest lengthening of the Roux and
afferent limbs in the gastric bypass operation did not improve weight
loss when comparisons are made after 10 years of follow-up. One could
dispute the definition of success herein defined. We agree with Biron et
al
5 that patient satisfaction is low when morbidly obese patients have a final BMI >35 kg/m
2 and when super obese patients have a final BMI >40 kg/m
2 many years after their operation.
Other long-term studies (>10-year follow-up) do not confirm the late failure rates herein reported. Hess et al
6
were able to follow 167 of 182 patients (92%) more than 10 years after
biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. They found 87 (52%) had
lost at least 80% of excess weight. Only 6% lost less than 50% of excess
weight.
6
We found that 55 of 161 (34%) of our patients had lost at least 80% of
excess weight after more than 10 years follow-up. Hess et al report a
mean initial excess weight loss of 75% (no SD reported) for patients
followed for more then 10 years.
6 This compares with 68.6% ± 21.4% (mean ± SD) reported by Biron et al
5 and 67.6% ± 25.1% (mean ± SD) reported herein for the gastric bypass operation.
Scopinaro et al
7
have reported excess weight loss of 74% ± 15% (mean ± SD) at 10 years,
75% ± 16% at 12 years, 75% ± 16% at 14 years, and 77% ± 18% at 18 years
with no difference between morbid obese and super obese patients. At 10
years, 90% of the patients had a reduction of the initial excess weight
>50%. In our case, 80% of our patients had a reduction of the initial
excess weight >50%.
Fobi et al
8
using the transected banded gastric bypass followed 22 of 51 patients
for 10 years and reported a mean of 72% excess weight loss, but no range
(eg, mean ± SD) of results or stratification based on preoperative
weight was supplied. Their data are similar to ours with 67.6% excess
weight loss at >10 years follow-up.
Pories et al
9
showed a remarkable stability of postoperative weight after gastric
bypass for up to 14 years. Their study of 608 patients with a 97%
follow-up showed a 58% loss of excess weight after 5 years and a BMI of
33.7. After 10 years, the excess weight loss was 55% and the BMI was
34.7 (range, 22.5–64.7). At 14 years (10 patients), the EWL was 49% and
the BMI 34.9 (range, 25.9–54.6). Since only 158 of the 608 patients in
this series were followed for 10 years, late weight gain may be missed.
Others have noticed weight gain from the nadir weight after gastric bypass. Ponce and Dixon
10
found a decrease in excess weight loss at 5 to 7 years after gastric
bypass so that there was an overlap of this value between lap band
operations and gastric bypass.
The stratification of
severely obese patients into morbidly obese if the BMI is less then 50
and super obese when the BMI is greater or equal to 50 has not shown any
advantage in interpreting our outcome results after 10 years of
follow-up and the effect of limb length on this outcome. Up to the end
of 1994, which is the closing date for this study, 9.9% of patients had
BMI >60 with a maximum BMI = 80 (range, 35–80). The mean BMI of
patients that we see today has increased by at least 5 points and 15.4%
of the patients have BMI >60 with a maximum BMI = 105.5 (range,
35–105.5). Setting a BMI cutoff of 50 to stratify patients as super
obese ignores this trend and nullifies any recommendations. A better
stratification might be to report BMI centiles (10 BMI units) and use
this stratification to bring out the challenges of achieving weight loss
in these massive patients. Other variables such as race (eg, blacks
demonstrate less weight loss with bariatric surgery compared with
whites) or perhaps genetic profiles may also have to be considered.
Despite
significant weight gain, which does impact on quality of life as judged
by the patients, the mortality rate has remained very low at 3.1% and
comorbidities have remained extremely low as judged by assessing the
medications the patients are currently taking. A larger study with
longer follow-up will be necessary to establish the impact of late
weight gain on recurrence of comorbidities.
Satiety is a
prominent feature of weight loss after gastric bypass and persists in
those patients with an excellent result. Patients who regain large
amounts of weight say they are eating almost as much as before the
operation. This increase in intake takes place over several years and
does not occur suddenly as with staple line dehiscence.
In
the past, we found that excellent weight loss occurred with a wide open
gastrojejunal anastomosis. We also did not show increase in pouch size
over a 5-year period using upper gastrointestinal x-ray examinations.
How satiety is controlled is not apparent from this study, but it is
quite clear that significant weight gain can occur in cooperative,
well-motivated patients who have experienced substantial improvement in
quality of life after surgery before late weight gain.
It
is equally puzzling that a malabsorptive procedure, the biliopancreatic
diversion with duodenal switch, should have a similar reported late
failure rate as a restrictive operation, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. A
prospective randomized trial comparing the 2 techniques with
appropriate follow-up periods (>10 years) is needed to confirm the
findings suggested by these retrospective studies.
Footnotes
Supported in part from an unrestricted education grant from Johnson & Johnson and by the LD MacLean Scholarship Fund.
Reprints:
Nicolas V. Christou, MD, PhD, Section of Bariatric Surgery, McGill
University Health Center, 687 Pine Ave. W., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A
1A1. E-mail:
Nicolas.Christou@MUHC.McGill.ca.
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