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Preoperative Weight Loss as a Predictor of Bariatric Surgery Postoperative Weight Loss and Complications

  • Original Article
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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

The association between preoperative weight loss and bariatric surgery outcomes remains unclear. We explored the utility of preoperative weight loss as a predictor of postoperative weight loss success. Additionally, we examined the association of preoperative weight loss with perioperative complication rates.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent primary sleeve gastrectomy or primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for weight loss at a single institution between January 2003 and November 2017. Additional follow-up was obtained by a postoperative standardized patient questionnaire. Statistical analysis consisted of bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Our study included 427 patients. Majority were female (n = 313, 73.3%) and underwent sleeve gastrectomy (n = 261, 61.1%). Average age was 45.6 years, and average follow-up was 6.3 years. Greater preoperative weight loss was associated with decreased length of stay (1.8 vs 1.3 days) in patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that preoperative weight loss was not associated with postoperative weight loss.

Conclusions

Preoperative weight loss is not predictive of postoperative weight loss success after bariatric surgery. Greater preoperative weight loss was associated with a mild decreased in length of stay but was not associated with a reduction in operative time, overall complication rates, ICU admissions, or intraoperative complications. The inconclusive literature and our findings do not support the medical necessity of weight loss prior to bariatric surgery for the purpose of reducing surgical complications or predicting successful postoperative weight loss success.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA

    Jamil S. Samaan

  2. Division of Upper GI & General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 1510 San Pablo St, Suite 51, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Jasmine Zhao, Elaine Qian, Angelica Hernandez, Omar Toubat, Evan T. Alicuben, Yousaf Malik, Kulmeet Sandhu, Adrian Dobrowolsky & Kamran Samakar

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  1. Jamil S. Samaan
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Samaan, J.S., Zhao, J., Qian, E. et al. Preoperative Weight Loss as a Predictor of Bariatric Surgery Postoperative Weight Loss and Complications. J Gastrointest Surg 26, 86–93 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-021-05055-5

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