The Effect of the Resection Distance from the Pylorus on the Short-Term Outcome of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Abstract Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was recently described as an effective approach for the operative treatment of obesity, but the ideal procedure remains controversial. One of the most debated issues is the resection distance from the pylorus (DP). We conducted this study to elucidate any potential difference in the short-term outcome between 2 cm and 6 cm DP in LSG.Methods: This was an interventional, prospective, randomized study aimed at assessing the effect of the resection DP on the weight loss outcome as expressed by the excess weight loss percentage (%EWL) after LSG carried out from January 2018 to March 2020 in 96 patients with morbid obesity who had LSG performed at the Surgical Department, Suez Canal University. The patients were randomly separated into two equal groups; Group 1 (48 patients) underwent LSG with a 2 cm DP resection distance and Group 2 (48 patients) underwent LSG with a 6 cm DP resection distance. Body weight, body mass index, bariatric quality of life, lipid profile, and comorbidities were evaluated pre- and postoperatively for a duration of 12 months.Results: Statistically, there was no significant difference between the two study groups regarding the %EWL, comorbidity resolution throughout the postoperative follow-up, enhancement of the quality of life score throughout the postoperative follow-up, or incidence of complications (25% in Group 1 vs. 25% in Group 2, p > 0.05).Conclusion: LSG was an effective and safe management for morbid obesity and obesity-related comorbidities with significant short-term weight loss; it also improved weight-related quality of life and had an acceptable complication rate. The DP resection distance did not affect the short-term effects of LSG with regard to %EWL, resolution of comorbidities, change in quality of life, and occurrence of complications.