1. Bariatric Surgery Among Obese Veterans: a Retrospective Review of Complications and Intermediate Term Results from a Single Institution.
- Author
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Vitello DJ, Beach-Bachmann J, and Vitello JM
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Bariatric Surgery methods, Bariatric Surgery trends, Female, Hospitals, Veterans, Humans, Illinois, Laparoscopy methods, Laparoscopy trends, Length of Stay, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Morbid mortality, Postoperative Complications, Retrospective Studies, Weight Loss, Bariatric Surgery statistics & numerical data, Laparoscopy statistics & numerical data, Obesity, Morbid surgery, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Veterans statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the results and complications among obese veterans undergoing sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass at a low-volume center., Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of bariatric procedures performed by a single surgeon from 2009-2013. Outcomes of interest were mortality, complications, and length of stay. Weight loss and comorbidity resolution were compared between sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-y gastric bypass (RYGB). Length of stay and distance traveled to receive services were analyzed. Distributed groups were compared with Student's t test. Welch's correction was used where variances were unequal via ANOVA. Complications were compared using Fisher's exact test., Results: Eighty-five patients (SG = 51, RYGB = 34) were analyzed. Postoperatively, patients were seen in clinic, contacted by phone or email, and their electronic health care records were reviewed. Average length of follow-up was 114.3 weeks. Mortality was 0 %. Complication rates were comparable between groups. The percent total weight loss was 22.6 % for the SG and 27.5 % for the RYGB (p = 0.02). The percent excess weight loss was 49 % for SG and 55 % for RYGB (p = 0.149). Percent excess body mass index (BMI) loss was 54 and 61 % (p = 0.197) for SG and RYGB, respectively. Comorbidity resolution was similar between groups except for diabetes which was superior for RYGB (p = 0.03). Veterans lived an average of 141.3 miles from our VA, and all 85 patients were able to be contacted for follow-up., Conclusions: Despite long travel distances for high-risk veterans, bariatric surgery can be performed safely even at a low-volume VA hospital with acceptable morbidity and mortality and excellent follow-up. There was no difference in morbidity or mortality between patients undergoing SG vs RYGB.
- Published
- 2016
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