title: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity: experience with 50 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is currently considered the gold standard surgical option for the treatment of morbid obesity. Open RYGB is associated with a high risk of complications. Laparoscopic RYGB has been shown to reduce perioperative morbidity and improve recovery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review our experience with laparoscopic RYGB during a 19 month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected prospectively. The study group comprised all patients who underwent laparoscopic RYGB for treatment of morbid obesity as their primary operation between February 2006 and July 2007. The reported outcome included surgical results, weight loss, and improved status of co-morbidities, with follow-up of up to 19 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 50 patients was 36.7 years. Mean body mass index was 44.7 kg/m2 (range 35-76 kg/m2); mean duration of surgery was 171 minutes. There was no conversion to open surgery. The mean length of stay was 4 days (range 2-7 days). Five patients (10%) developed a complication, but none of them required early reoperation and there were no deaths. Mean follow-up was 7 months (range 40 days-19 months). The excess body weight loss was 55% and 61% at 6 and 12 months respectively. Diabetes resolved completely or significantly improved in all five patients with this condition, as did hypertension in eight patients out of nine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic RYGB is feasible and safe. The results in terms of weight loss and correction of co-morbidities are comparable to other previously published studies. However, only surgeons with experience in advanced laparoscopic as well as bariatric surgery should attempt this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Abed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalaileh
authors.forename: Idit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matot
authors.forename: Chaya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schweiger
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Appelbaum
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elazary
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keidar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss