Long-term results of laparoscopic gastric sleeve: the importance of follow-up adherence

OBJECTIVE: This study was con-ducted to assess the long-term results of the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) in pa-tients not compliant with follow-up, and in pa-tients who completed a postoperative follow-up program.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data con-cerning LSG patients operated from February 2011 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed basing on a single center database. The patients with complete long-term follow-up were scheduled in Group A, while patients who failed to attend controls for more than two years were scheduled in Group B. Long-term results (weight loss, comorbidity improvement and late complications) were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: The study population consisted of 285 patients. Of these, 101 had a complete fol-low-up with a mean duration of 71 +/- 7.6 months (Group A). The remaining 184 patients (Group B) were not compliant with follow-up and, con-sequently, the mean duration of follow-up was 5.5 +/- 7.3 months (p < 0.00001). A higher number of patients with insufficient weight loss was re-corded in Group B with respect to Group A (78 vs. 23; p = 0.001). The number of patients with results below 25% EWL was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (24 vs. 5; p = 0.04). In the long-term, the rate of patients with symp-tomatic reflux requiring medical treatment was two-fold higher in Group B than in Group A.CONCLUSIONS: The adherence to a long-term follow-up plan after LSG seems to de-crease the number of patients experiencing in-sufficient weight loss and those at risk for devel-oping a gastro-esophageal reflux disease.