Experiencia de 18 Años de Cirugía de Obesidad en la Universidad Católica de Chile

Resumen

RESULTS OF BARIATRIC SURGERY. EXPERIENCE OVER 18 YEARS

Background: Bariatric surgery is the gold-standard treatment for morbid obesity because it has low morbidity rates in high-volume centers and generates long term sustained weight loss. Aim: To describe our experience in bariatric surgery since the creation of our bariatric program in 1992. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients subjected to bariatric surgery from 1992 to December 2010. Data was obtained from the electronic institutional registry. The Procedures performed were open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ((BPGA y BPGL, respectively), laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (BGAL) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (GML). Results: A total of 4943 procedures were performed, 768 (16%) BPGA, 2558 (52%) BPGL, 199 (4%) BGAL and 1418 (29%) GML. The surgical volume progressively increased, from 100 cases in 2000 to over 700 cases in 2008. Proportion of females and preoperative mean body mass index fluctuated between 69 and 79% and 35 and 43 kg/m², respectively, among the different procedures. Early and late complications fluctuated between 0 and 1% (higher on BPGA) and 3 and 32.7% (higher on BGAL), respectively. The excess weight lost at five years was 76.1% in BPGA, 92.5% in BPGL and 53.7% in BGAL. The figure for GML at three years was 73.7%. Conclusions: The complication rates of this series of patients are similar to those reported in large series abroad. BPGL is still the most effective procedure; however GML is an attractive alternative for less obese patients.