Gastric bypass and laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with manual anastomosis: results in 250 morbidly obese patients

Gastrojejunostomy anastomosis after a gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion can be performed by staples or hand-sewn technique. The aim of this study is to analyze totally hand-sewn anastomosis by laparoscopy. Morbid obese patients treated consecutively with a gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion in which the main anastomosis was performed with a totally hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy by laparoscopy at Hospital Universitario de Getafe from March-01 to November-07. 250 patients were included: 232 were gastric bypass and the remaining 18, biliopancreatic diversion. Mean BMI was 46 +/- 4. There was only one case of digestive bleeding for a marginal ulcer during immediate postoperative period (6th day). Later, there were 2 cases of complicated ulcers: due to bleeding and perforation. There were no anastomotic leaks from the hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy. A patient was re-operated on 48 hours after bypass due to a leak secondary to a thermal perforation at the lesser curvature. Radiological or endoscopic dilatation were required in 11 stenosis (4.4%) at gastrojejunostomy and none in the biliopancreatic diversion group. Mean surgical time for the anastomosis was 40+/-15 minutes. There were no deaths, sepsis, abdominal abscess, deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Average hospital stay was 5.1+/-2.4 days. Even though most surgeons believe that staples anastomosis is easier, hand-sewn technique can be reproducible by surgeons with laparoscopic sutures experience. This technique has a longer operation time but continuous training provides advanced laparoscopic skills and significantly reduces operation time.