Laparoscopic reinforced sleeve gastrectomy: early results and complications.

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) was pioneered as a two-stage intervention for super and super-super obesity to minimize morbidity and mortality; it is employed increasingly as a primary procedure. Early outcomes and integrity of laparoscopic SG (LSG) against leak using a technique incorporating gastric transection-line reinforcement were studied.

Methods: Between 2003 and 2009, 121 patients underwent LSG (16, two-stage; 105, primary).