title: Postoperative complications are not increased in super-super obese patients who undergo laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that super-super obesity (body mass index [BMI] > or =60 kg/m2) increases the risk of complications after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LapRYGB). We hypothesized that a higher BMI does not increase risk the morbidity or mortality rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complication rates for patients with a BMI > or =60 kg/m2 were compared to those for patients with a BMI <60 kg/m2 who underwent LapRYGB during the same time period. Differences between the groups were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, t-tests, and analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five patients with a BMI > or =60 kg/m2 and 640 patients with a BMI <60 kg/m2 underwent LapRYGB. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the complication or mortality rates. Excess weight loss was less, but actual weight lost was greater in the BMI > or =60 kg/m2 group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The complication and mortality rates are not increased in super-super obese patients who undergo LapRYGB. Acceptable weight loss can be achieved safely in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 956 Court Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. dtichans@utmem.edu
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Tichansky
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: DeMaria
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kellum
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Meador
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sugerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome