Direct visual insertion of primary trocar and avoidance of fascial closure with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
BACKGROUND
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) has been used increasingly more often in the past 10 years. The authors summarize their experience and safety/complications data based on 849 laparoscopic RYGBP procedures. They also evaluate the use of the Endopath trocar in terms of trocar-site hernias, bowel obstruction, and elimination of time-consuming fascial closure.


METHODS
From July 2000 to December 2003, 849 laparoscopic RYGBP procedures were performed using a bladeless, 12-mm, visual entry trocar. The patients' average body mass index (BMI) was 53.2 kg/m2. The trocar ports (n = 3,744) were not closed. Perioperative and postoperative assessments were performed.


RESULTS
In this study, 74% of the patients were retained for follow-up evaluation (mean, 10 months). Among these patients, no intraoperative bowel or vascular injuries, no mortality, and two trocar-site hernias (0.2%) were found. At 1 year, the mean excess weight loss was 73.4%.


CONCLUSIONS
The Endopath trocar system shows a trend toward reducing trocar-site hernias, decreasing bowel obstruction, and eliminating the need for time-consuming fascial closure, although further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Rosenthal
R J
RJ
Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery and The Bariatric Institute, Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Boulevard, Weston, FL 33331, USA. rosentr@ccf.org
Szomstein
S
S
Kennedy
C I
CI
Zundel
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005205:Fascia; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006547:Hernia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing