Gastric bypass surgery in adolescents with morbid obesity.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to review retrospectively all patients undergoing bariatric surgery at a large university medical center.


METHODS
Ten adolescents 17 years or younger underwent gastric bypass surgery; 7 of 10 adolescents had severe obesity-related morbidities. Follow-up >1 year was present in 9 of 10 adolescents.


RESULTS
The average weight before surgery was 148 +/- 37 kg. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in all adolescents; 9 of 10 adolescents had weight loss in excess of 30 kg (mean weight loss was 53.6 +/- 25.6 kg). Obesity related morbidities resolved in all adolescents. Five adolescents had mild iron deficiency anemia, and 3 adolescents had transient folate deficiency. Late complications requiring operative treatment occurred in 4 of the adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric bypass surgery was an effective method for weight reduction in morbidly obese adolescents. The procedure was well tolerated, with few unanticipated side effects. Gastric bypass remains a last resort option for severely obese adolescents for whom other dietary and behavioral approaches to weight loss have been unsuccessful.
Strauss
R S
RS
Department of Pediatrics, St Peter's University Hospital, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903-0019, USA.
Bradley
L J
LJ
Brolin
R E
RE
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss