The Effect of Gastric Bypass on Cholesterol, HDL, and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease.
A review of 150 charts revealed that 36 patients had pro-operative serum cholesterol greater than 200 mg% prior to Roux-Y gastric bypass. The average pre-operative weight was 266 lb (121 kg) and at 1 year postoperative 166 lb. (75 kg), or 100 lb. (45 kg) lost (77% excess weight loss). We compared the following pre- and postoperative data and found that: (1) cholesterol was decreased by 24% and triglycerides decreased by 40%; (2) postoperative cholesterol/HDL-C ratio of 3.31 put our patients in the half of average risk category for a clinical pathological coronary event according to the SmithKline Beecham Laboratories risk ratio chart. We conclude that Roux-Y gastric bypass and its ability to produce a significant weight loss and markedly affect cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism will also reduce a patient's risk of myocardial infarction.
Jones
KB
Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Schumpert Medical Center and Physicians and Surgeons Hospital, Shreveport, LA 71101 USA.