High-rate of long-term revision surgery due to weight regain after Laparoscopic Gastric Greater Curvature Plication (LGGCP)

Abstract

Purpose: To present the long-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic gastric greater curvature plication (LGGCP) in terms of weight loss and revision surgery rate. Material and methods: This single-center study involved a retrospective analysis of patients that underwent revision surgery after LGGCP due to weight regain. Demographic and anthropometric data, comorbidities, operation time, hospital stays, mortalities, and immediate and long-term postoperative complications were analyzed. Postoperative Body Mass Index (BMI), %total weight loss (TWL), and complications were collected during follow-up. Results: Of the 75 patients that underwent LGGCP at our hospital from March 2013 to February 2016, 13 (13/75, 17.3%) underwent revision surgery. All patients except one opted for sleeve gastrectomy. The mean interval between LGGCP and revision surgery was 71.0 ± 12.0 months (range, 54.8–93.6), and mean body weight, BMI, and TWL at revision were 89.2 ± 11.3 kg, 33.9 ± 4.2 kg/m2, and 4.7 ± 9.3%, respectively. The main reason for revision was weight regain. Additional problems were chronic intermittent GERD (4/13, 30.8%), dyspepsia (4/13,30.8%), and chronic relapsing melena (1/13, 7.7%). Two patients experienced immediate postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo II and III). At one year after revision surgery, the mean body weight, BMI, and additional %TWL from revision surgery were 63.0 ± 5.3 kg, 24.0 ± 2.9 kg/m2, and 28.7 ± 8.0%, respectively. One of four patients (1/4, 25%) that complained of GERD before revision surgery, was still on PPI medication at 1 year after revision surgery. Conclusion: Although LGGCP showed initial acceptable weight loss outcomes, long term (>5 years) follow-up showed that LGGCP is associated with a high rate of revision surgery (17.3%) due to weight regain.