Postoperative complications are not increased in super-super obese patients who undergo laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Abstract

It has been suggested that super-super obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥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. Complication rates for patients with a BMI ≥60 kg/m² were compared to those for patients with a BMI 2 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. Forty-five patients with a BMI ≥60 kg/m² and 640 patients with a BMI 2 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 ≥60 kg/m² group. 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.