Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: Correlation of gastric emptying and weight loss

Abstract

Aim: Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) has become a popular technique as a definitive procedure in obesity treatment. It has been linked to an alteration in gastric motility and gastric emptying. The purpose of the study is to analyze the changes in gastric emptying (GE) after LSG produces and its correlation with weight loss after surgery. Methods: The preoperative and postoperative GE was estimated by gastric emptying scintigraphy at 1 month and 18 months in 52 successive patients who underwent LSG surgery. The gastric emptying scintigraphy was conducted after the ingestion of TC99m sulfur colloid labeled solid food. Images were obtained using a gamma camera at 0, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes. Calculations were made to find out the half time gastric emptying (T½) and the retention percentage at 2 and 4 hours. Results: The T½ preoperatively, at 1 month and at 18 months were 101.1 (44) minutes, 88.6 (51.5) minutes and 80.7 (53) minutes, respectively (P<0.05). Before the operation, and at the 1st and 18th months postoperatively, the percentage of retention at 2 hours were 33.4% (17.4), 26.1% (18.5), and 28.6% (15.2), respectively (P<0.05), and that at 4 hours were 5.8% (18.3), 4.5% (16.2), and 2.8% (12.6), respectively (P>0.05). The volume of the gastric reservoir increased from 239.5 (88.7) ml to 280.8 (100.8) ml (P<0.05) at 1 and 18 months after the operation. There was an inverse correlation between GE and the weight loss data at the first postoperative month, which did not remain at the 18th postoperative month. Conclusion: According to our series, LSG with an initial transection at 4 cm from the pylorus affects gastric emptying but is not significantly correlated with weight loss.