Abstract
BACKGROUND: Insufficient weight loss or weight regain has been reported in up to 30% of patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Approximately 4.5% of patients who undergo LSG need revisional surgery for a dilated sleeve. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial compared the outcomes between banded (BLSG) and non-banded re-LSG (NBLSG) after weight regain. Percentage excess body weight loss (%EWL), percentage total weight loss (%TWL), associated medical problems, gastric volume measurement, and endoscopy were measured preoperatively and 1 and 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Both groups (25 patients each) achieved similar % EWL and %TWL at six months, one year, and two years postoperatively (%EWL 46.9 vs. 43.6, 83.7 vs. 86.3, and 85.7 vs. 83.9) (p= > 0.151) (%TWL 23.9 vs. 21.8, 43.1 vs .43.3, 44.2 vs. 42.2) (p=>0.342), respectively. However, the body mass index was significantly lower with BLSG (24.9 vs. NBLSG, 26.9). Both groups showed a significant reduction in stomach volume after two years (BLSG -248.4 mL vs. NBLSG -215.8 mL). Food tolerance (FT) scores were significantly reduced in both groups, whereby BSLG had significantly lower FT with an average of -1.1 point. No significant differences were observed regarding improvement of the associated medical problems after the first and two years after revisional LSG or the postoperative complications between both groups. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic re-LSG is feasible and safe with satisfactory outcomes in patients with weight regain after LSG who have gastric dilatation without reflux esophagitis. Both groups had comparable significant weight loss effects and improvement of associated medical problems. The BLSG tends to have a more stable weight loss after two years with a significantly lower BMI, lower stomach volume, and less weight regain. Food tolerance decreased in both groups but reduced more in the BLSG group. After a 2-year follow-up, we may regard both procedures are safe, with no significant differences in the occurrence of complications and nutritional deficits.