Introduction: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has gained ground in Eastern Europe in the decade but fewer reports of large series with medium-term follow-up exist. We describe a single-surgeon experience in LSG (the first 101 consecutive cases) in a Balkan emerging bariatric center.
Methods: A prospectively maintained database of the initial 101 consecutive patients submitted to LSG in our clinic between October 2010 and February 2016 was reviewed.
Results: The percentages of mean excess weight loss (%EWL) in the 101 patients (mean age of 42 ± 10.6 years, 77 % female, median preoperative body mass index (BMI) of 44.5 kg/m2) were 51.3 (n = 82 followed-up patients) at 6 months postoperatively, 78.2 (n = 69) at 1 year, and 75.8 (n = 39), 77.1 (n = 20), 67.5 (n = 17), and 52.9 (n = 7) at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively. One year after LSG, all comorbidities showed remission or significant improvement in all 69 followed-up patients; the highest resolution was seen with hypertension (73.3 %). We noted a negative correlation between a decrease in %EWL and both the age of the patient and the initial state weight and BMI. The mortality in our group was nil; we had three cases (2.9 %) of bleeding and no leaks.
Conclusions: LSG is a safe procedure, with low postoperative morbidity rates and excellent short-term %EWL results up to 3 years after surgery, including resolution or improvement of the main obesity-related comorbidities. The results were superior in the category of younger and lower initial BMI obese patients.
Keywords: Eastern Europe; Emerging center; Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; Morbid obesity.