Long-term outcomes are similar after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) for patients with severe obesity, according to a study published in JAMA Surgery. Paulina Salminen, MD, PhD, and colleagues compared 10-year outcomes of weight loss and remission of obesity-related comorbidities, as well as the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, endoscopic esophagitis, and Barrett’s esophagus (BE) after LSG and LRYGB. The analysis included 240 patients aged 18-60 who were randomly assigned to LSG or LRYGB. The median percentages of excess weight loss were 43.5% after LSG and 50.7% after LRYGB, with the mean estimate percentage excess weight loss higher with LRYGB (8.4%). There was no statistically significant difference between the procedures for type 2 diabetes remission, dyslipidemia, or obstructive sleep apnea. Hypertension remission was superior with LRYGB. After LSG, esophagitis was more prevalent, but there were no significant differences for BE. The reoperation rate was similar between the groups. “Both procedures resulted in good and sustainable weight loss at 10 years,” Dr. Salminen and colleagues wrote.
