OBJECTIVETo evaluate the outcomes and factors related to weight loss after laparoscopic gastric bypass(LGBP) in obese patients.

METHODSForty-one obese patients who underwent LGBP from May 2010 to December 2011 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were followed up. The operative time, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, preoperative body mass index(BMI), postoperative BMI, and excess weight loss rate(EWL) were determined and their correlation with efficacy were analyzed.

RESULTSAll the surgeries were successful without conversions or perioperative deaths. The average operative time was (229±96)min, intraoperative blood loss was(15±3) ml, postoperative hospital stay was(5.7±1.7) d. Patients were followed up for 3-12 months. The average EWL at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after operation was 24.2%, 45.6%, 60.1%, 66.5% and 69.0%. The EWL was negatively correlated with preoperative BMI(P<0.01), but not correlated with age, gender, and waist-hip ratio(all P>0.05). Postoperative short-term EWL did not differ between central obesity patients and peripheral obesity patients, and before and after standardized treatment(both P>0.05). After standardization, however, operative time and postoperative hospital stay were significantly reduced(P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLGBP is an effective and feasible treatment for obesity patients. Short-term efficacy after surgery is negatively correlated with preoperative BMI. Standardization may reduce operative time and postoperative hospital stay, but not associated with improved short-term outcomes.