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Summary Background Plasma citrulline is currently used in clinical practice as a marker of small bowel functional mass. Behaviour of plasma citrulline after bariatric surgery and its link with post-operative outcome are still poorly understood. Objective Primary objective was to compare plasma citrulline 12 months after two types of bariatric surgery with pre-operative concentrations. Secondary objectives were to search for correlation between plasma citrulline variation and body weight and fat mass loss. Design This is an ancillary study of the BARIASPERM study. Forty-six adult men (mean age 38.9 ± 7.9 years) who underwent gastric bypass (GB, n = 20) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG, n = 26) were included in this prospective study. Plasma citrulline was measured at baseline, 6 months and 12 months after surgery, as well as total body weight and fat mass measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Results Plasma citrulline increased significantly 12 months after surgery, both after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy (respectively 30.2% [18.3–42.2] and 17.8% [5.8–29.7]). The increase was significantly higher after GB than after SG (p = 0.02) while total body weight and fat mass loss were not significantly different between GB and SG. The increase in plasma citrulline levels tended to be positively correlated with both weight and fat mass loss however the association did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07 and p = 0.06 respectively). Conclusion These results confirm the increase in plasma citrulline after GB published in two previous small studies. Citrulline also significantly increased after SG, and in spite of similar weight loss obtained with both surgery types, citrulline increase was higher after GB than SG. This suggests different modifications of intestinal functional mass after these two different techniques.

Summary Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) are commonly performed, but few studies have shown superiority of one strategy over the other. Objective Simultaneously compare LSG and LRYGB in terms of weight loss and morbimortality over a 36-month follow-up period. Setting University hospital and bariatric surgery centers, France. Methods Prospective, comparative study between LSG and RYGBP. The primary endpoint of this study was a joint hypothesis during the 36-month follow-up: the first primary outcome pertained to the frequency of patients with an excess weight loss (EWL) greater than 50% (% EWL > 50%) after LSG or RYGB; the second primary outcome was defined as a composite endpoint of at least one major complication. Secondary objectives were regression of comorbidities and improvement in quality of life. Results Two hundred and seventy-seven patients were included (91 RYGBP, 186 LSG). The mean age was 41.1 ± 11.1 years, and average preoperative body mass index of 45.3 ± 5.5 kg/m2. After 36 months, the %EWL > 50% was not inferior in the case of LSG (82.2%) relative to LRYGB (82.1%); while major complications rates were significantly higher in LRYGB (15.4%) vs. LSG (5.4%, P = 0.005). After 36 months, all secondary objectives were comparable between groups while only gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) increased in LSG group and decreased in LRYGB group. Conclusions LSG was found non-inferior to LRYGB with respect to weight loss and was associated with lower risk of major complications during a 3-year follow-up. But GERD increased in LSG group and decreased in LRYGB group.