Weight Loss Outcome After Silastic Ring Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: 8 Years of Follow-up

Background An underlying major aim of bariatric surgery is weight loss and its long-term maintenance. In spite of this, most studies regarding weight loss after surgical treatment of morbid obesity show 3-year follow-up results. We evaluated the effectiveness of silastic ring Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (SR-RYGBP) in promoting significant weight loss after an 8-year follow-up at the Londrina State University Hospital. Methods From May 1999 to December 2000, 211 morbidly obese patients were submitted to SR-RYGBP by the same surgical team. The study's design was longitudinal, prospective, and descriptive. The analysis of postoperative weight decrease was based on excess weight loss in percentage (%EWL) and the calculation of body mass index. Therapeutic failure was considered when patients lost < 50% of excess weight. Results Patients lost to follow-up were 36.5%; therefore, 134 patients were included in this study. The average global EWL was 67.6 +/- 14.9% on the first postoperative year, 72.6 +/- 14.9% on the second year, 69.7 +/- 15.1% on the fifth postoperative year, and 66.8 +/- 7.6% on the eight postoperative year. Surgical treatment failure occurred in 15 patients (7.1%) over 8 years. Conclusions SR-RYGBP was effective in promoting and maintaining weight loss in the long term with a low failure rate.