Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Among Morbidly Obese Adolescents

Aslam Ejaz, MD, Pankti Patel, MD, Robert Kanard, MD, Raquel Gonzalez-Heredia, MD, PhD, Pablo Quadri, MD, Lisa Sanchez-Johnsen, PhD, Enrique Elli, MD, FACS. UIC

Background: The increasing prevalence of obesity has led to an increase in the use of bariatric surgery in the adolescent population.  However, outcomes following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) among adolescents have not been well-studied.  The aim of this study was to examine % excess weight loss and perioperative and postoperative outcomes following LSG in patients under 21 years of age.  

Methods: All patients who underwent LSG as a primary surgical option for morbid obesity were identified at our institution between January 2006 and December 2014. Patient demographics, pre-surgical comorbidities, perioperative outcomes, post-operative complications, operating time, length of hospitalization, and percent excess weight loss (% EWL) were recorded.

Results: Eighteen patients (13 females, 5 males) underwent LSG.  Mean patient age was 17.8 ± 1.7 years.  Mean BMI among all patients was 48.6 ± 7.2 kg/m2 and did not differ by sex (p=0.68).  Median length of hospitalization following LSG was 3 days (IQR: 2, 3). One patient (5.6%) experienced a 30-day perioperative complication (pulmonary embolism).  Two patients (11.1%) were readmitted within 30 days due to feeding intolerance that resolved without invasive intervention.  At a median follow-up of 9.5 (range: 0-38) months, percent excess weight loss (%EWL) among all patients was 34.1%.  Among patients with at least 2 years follow-up (n=3), %EWL was 50.2%.  

Conclusions: This initial data suggests that among adolescents, LSG was associated with a 34.1% EWL at a median follow-up of 9.5 months. Future studies with larger samples of adolescent patients as well as a longer follow-up period post LSG are warranted.