Background

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) is a common surgical treatment of obesity. During LSG, a bougie guides the resection of the greater curvature of the stomach. This study assesses if the volume of the resected stomach could serve as a predictor of post-operative weight loss.

Methods

162 patients underwent LSG at SIUH between 07/2017 and 11/2020. Specimen pathology reports were used to collect specimen height and depth/diameter. The volume was calculated with the cylinder volumetric formula. The post-operative BMI and %BMI change at 6- and 12-months was calculated. See table for demographic and measurment statistics.

Results

ANOVA was used to compare specimen size versus wight loss. Results showed a trend towards decrease in %BMI at 6-months with increasing specimen size (p-value= 0.060, 95% CI -0.006 - 0.000). For every 100 units of volume increased in the specimen, there was a 0.3% decrease in BMI at 6-months. Results were significant for a decrease in %BMI at 12-months with increasing specimen size (p-value= 0.024, 95% CI -0.008 - (-0.001)). For every 100 units of volume increased, there is a 0.4% decrease in BMI at 12-months.

Conclusions

Size of resected specimen may be predictive of weight loss after LSG. A statistically significant difference between the volume of resected specimen and weight loss at the 12-month evaluation was found in our small population. Additional, more powered studies, should be undertaken to further elucidate this finding.