Effectiveness And Safety Of Sleeve Gastrectomy In Elderly Patients Above 60 Years

Abstract

Background: As the obesity is pandemic, the requisite for bariatric treatment and novel interventions has surged substantially. Among various bariatric strategies to cope with the obesity challenge, sleeve gastrectomy has proved to be the most effective. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss in morbidly obese elderly Saudi patients (60 years). Methodology: A prospective cohort study on 205 patients undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) was carried out from January 2013 to August 2016, with a follow up time of 6 months and then 1 year. The study included patients of >60 years of age who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of >40 kg/m2. The primary objective of this study includes the percent Excess Weight Loss (%EWL), Length of Stay (LOS), 30-days and 1-year mortality and morbidity rates. Results: The mean age of patients was 65 years, of which 60% were females. The Mean weight before the surgery was 120 Kg with a pre-operative BMI of 44 kg/m2. Patients underwent vertical sleeve gastrectomy laparoscopically with a mean LOS of 2 days. Follow-up was performed twice, within 6 months and then 1 year after the operation, which showed statistically significant reduction in the average weight and BMI (P-value= <0.001). Percent EWL was 48% and 59% at the 6 and 12 months follow ups, respectively. In all patients, the 30-days and 1-year mortality and morbidity rate was 0%. Conclusion: laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is effective and safe surgery for significant %EWL in morbidly obese elderly patients in Saudi Arabia.