Preoperative weight loss before bariatric surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Preoperative weight loss reduces the frequency of surgical complications in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.


METHODS
Review of records of patients undergoing open or laparoscopic gastric bypass.


METHODS
A comprehensive, multidisciplinary obesity treatment center at a tertiary referral center that serves central Pennsylvania.


METHODS
A total of 881 patients undergoing open or laparoscopic gastric bypass from May 31, 2002, through February 24, 2006.


METHODS
All preoperative patients completed a 6-month multidisciplinary program that encouraged a 10% preoperative weight loss.


METHODS
Loss of excess body weight (EBW) and total and major complication rates.


RESULTS
Of the 881 patients, 592 (67.2%) lost 5% or more EBW and 423 (48.0%) lost more than 10% EBW. Patients referred for open gastric bypass (n = 466) were generally older (P < .001), had a higher body mass index (P < .001), and were more often men (P < .001) than those undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass (n = 415). Total and major complication rates were higher in patients undergoing open gastric bypass (P < .001 and P = .03, respectively). Univariate analysis revealed that increasing preoperative weight loss is associated with reduced complication frequencies for the entire group for total complications (P =.004) and most likely for major complications (P = .06). Controlling for age, sex, baseline body mass index, and type of surgery in a multiple logistic regression model, increased preoperative weight loss was a predictor of reduced complications for any (P =.004) and major (P = .03) complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative weight loss is associated with fewer complications after gastric bypass surgery.
Benotti
Peter N
PN
Department of Surgery, Saint Francis Medical Center, Trenton, New Jersey, USA. pbenotti@stfrancismedical.org
Still
Christopher D
CD
Wood
G Craig
GC
Akmal
Yasir
Y
King
Heather
H
El Arousy
Hazem
H
Dancea
Horatiu
H
Gerhard
Glenn S
GS
Petrick
Anthony
A
Strodel
William
W
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss