Five-year results of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in Korean patients with lower body mass index (30-35 kg/m²).

Background: In Asia, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is the leading weight loss procedure for treating morbid obesity. However, long-term results of isolated LSG performed in patients with lower body mass index (BMI) (30-35 kg/m(2)) are scarce.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 75 patients with BMI of 30-35 kg/m(2) who underwent LSG from January 2003 to January 2013. Seventy-one of these patients who had more than 6 months of follow-up were included in this report. LSG was performed laparoscopically using a linear stapler over a 48-French bougie from 2003 to 2006. Since 2007, 36-French bougie was used for resection, and a continuous seromuscular suture at the resection margin was added.

Results: Mean age at the time of surgery was 33.7 ± 10.3 years in our patients. Mean weight was 85.7 ± 9.0 kg and mean BMI was 32.4 ± 1.6 kg/m(2) preoperatively. The percentage of excess BMI loss (%EBL) in the postoperative first, third, and fifth year was 84.1 ± 25.5, 79.8 ± 31.0, and 78.5 ± 28.5%, respectively. Follow-up rate at the first, third, and fifth year was 90.0, 71.9, and 42.9%. There were no 30-day perioperative mortality and major complications including bleeding and leakage.

Conclusions: These findings show that LSG is a safe and effective weight loss option for Korean patients with lower BMI. Randomized prospective control studies between gastric banding, or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and LSG are needed to confirm long-term weight loss effect and safety of LSG in this group of patients.