title: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at a new bariatric surgery centre in Canada: 30-day complication rates using the Clavien-Dindo classification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has the highest rate of obesity in Canada, prompting the establishment of a bariatric surgery program at the Health Sciences Centre in NL. This retrospective study examined 30-day complication rates in more than 200 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) between May 2011 and February 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a chart review and collected data on 30-day postoperative complications. Complications were graded and reported using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Grades I and II were defined as minor and grades III and higher were defined as major complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed the charts of the first 209 patients to undergo LSG. The mean body mass index was 49.2, 81% were women and the average age was 43 years. Comorbidities included hypertension (55.0%), obstructive sleep apnea (46.4%), dyslipidemia (42.1%), diabetes (37.3%), osteoarthritis (36.4%) and cardiovascular disease with previous cardiac stents (5.3%). Furthermore, 38.3% of patients reported psychiatric diagnoses, such as depression and anxiety. The overall 30-day complication rate was 15.3%. The complication rate for minor complications was 13.4% and for major complications was 1.9% (2 leaks, 1 stricture and 1 fistula).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the feasibility of safely performing LSG surgery at bariatric centres completing fewer than 125 procedures annually.
authors.affiliation: All authors are from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.affiliation: All authors are from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Twells
authors.affiliation: All authors are from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.affiliation: All authors are from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Raleen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: All authors are from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: All authors are from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Darrell
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.affiliation: All authors are from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pace
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult