Background: The laparoscopic gastric plication (LGP) is a relative new bariatric procedure that has gained popularity over the last few years, but no real consensus exists and the evidence is unclear, especially in its real efficacy, safety, and durability.
Methods: Retrospective study analyzing the records patients submitted to LGP between 2009 and 2010. The primary objective was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients submitted to revisional surgery. Baseline data and evolution were obtained and analyzed. Surgical analysis included revision cause, perioperative outcome, type of surgery, complications, and weight loss after 18 months. A comparison between gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy was performed.
Results: One hundred LGP were performed. After a mean time of 13.5 months, 42 patients presented an overall excess weight loss (EWL) <50 % and 38 had severe symptoms. Thirty patients accepted revisional surgery with BMI before conversion of 38.6 ± 4.2 kg/m2. There were 17 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and 13 laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) with comparable preoperative characteristics. The LSG group had lower pneumoperitoneum time and less hospital stay. At 18 months, the LGBP group had lower BMI (24.1 ± 1.1 vs. 25.8 ± 1.3 kg/m2 for the LSG; p = 0.006) and higher %EWL (75.7 ± 16.1 vs. 61.4 ± 14.5 % for the LSG; p = 0.008).
Conclusion: In our series, LGP presented a high failure rate and an increased number of symptomatic patients. Revisional surgery proved to be safe and effective. Revision to LSG was faster and had less hospital stay. Revision to LGBP showed better %EWL at 18 months.
Keywords: Conversion surgery; Laparoscopic gastric bypass; Laparoscopic gastric plication; Laparoscopic greater curve plication; Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; Revisional surgery; Surgical failure.