Open versus laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a comparative study of over 25,000 open cases and the major laparoscopic bariatric reported series.

Background: Laparoscopic bariatric surgery has experienced a rapid expansion of interest over the past 5 years, with a 470% increase. This rapid expansion has markedly increased overall cost, reducing surgical access. Many surgeons believe that the traditional open approach is a cheaper, safer, equally effective alternative.

Anastomotic leak prophylaxis using a vapor-heated fibrin sealant: report on 738 gastric bypass patients.

Background: Excluding pulmonary embolism, anastomotic leak is the leading cause of death and major morbidity in patients undergoing open or laparoscopic gastric bypass operations. We observed a number of these leaks (11 out of 1,120 Micropouch(SM) gastric bypass [MGB] patients; 0.9%).

Fatal pulmonary embolism after bariatric operations for morbid obesity: a 24-year retrospective analysis.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a leading cause of death following gastric bypass operations for morbid obesity. Although its incidence appears to be stable, the number of bariatric operations performed annually is increasing considerably; hence, the isolated fatal PE is no longer a rare occurrence. The records of patients undergoing bariatric surgical operations since 1979 were reviewed to determine specific factors that increased the risk of developing a fatal PE.