The impact of using polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE)-made band in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on the short- and mid-term outcomes of weight loss, a prospective cohort study

Background Enlarged gastric sleeve size has been closely linked to weight recidivism after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Following the same concept of applying a band on the gastric pouch in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, banded LSG might come out with similar satisfactory mid-term outcomes in maintaining weight loss. Objective This study aims to investigate the effect of polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE)-made band on weight loss and maintenance following LSG. Patients and methods This prospective study included 99 patients who underwent LSG between January 2015 and January 2018 at Ain Shams University Hospitals. Patients are divided into two groups: group I (N=50) underwent traditional LSG and group II (N=49) underwent laparoscopic banded sleeve gastrectomy (LBSG) using PTFE ring. Follow-up of the percentage of excess weight loss was done, which was our primary outcome. Moreover, assessments of the degree of improvement of preoperative comorbidities, weight regain, as well as detection of postoperative complication whether early or late were done. Results Of 99 patients, 80 (81%) patients had completed 1 year, 68 (69%) patients had completed 2 years, and 60 (60%) patients had completed 3 years of follow-up. The percentage of excess weight loss in the LBSG group was higher than in the LSG group and had a statistically significant difference at each given time point after 1 and 3 years. The LBSG group had less weight regain (2%) at the 3-year follow-up visit compared with the LSG group (16%) (P=0.015). Conclusion LBSG using PTFE is superior to LSG in promoting and maintaining short-term and mid-term weight loss without adding extra burden in terms of postoperative complications.