Patient Retention Rates in Medium and Long-term Gastric Bypass Outcome Studies

Luis C Zurita MV, MD, Radu Pescarus, MD, Dennis Hong, MD, FRCSC, FACS, Mehran Anvari, MB, BS, PhD, FRCSC, FACS, Scott Gmora, MD, FRCSC

Department of Surgery, Centre of Minimal Access Surgery, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

INTRODUCTION
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the most commonly performed bariatric procedure worldwide. Outcome analysis post bariatric surgery is made difficult by various methodological limitations. One of the most frequently encountered problems is the poor patient retention in modern bariatric outcome studies. The objective of this paper is to review the published patient retention rates among modern Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (vertical transected pouch) studies with a greater than 3 year duration of follow-up.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES
We conducted a systematic review using Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases from 1960 to 2011 on patients that underwent RYGB with a vertically transected pouch and were followed for ≥ 3 years.

RESULTS
We identified a total of 28 studies that described the outcomes and patient retention rates after vertically transected Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with a ≥ 3 year duration of follow-up. Of these, only one article presented a patient retention greater than 70% at 3 years, and this study included only 24 patients.

CONCLUSION
Between 1960 to 2011, there are no medium or long-term bariatric outcome studies in which a high patient retention rate is maintained. Interestingly, only one study presents their patient retention data as a percentage of those followed for each post intervention year. This is arguably the most precise way in which the patient retention data can be presented.

Session: Poster Presentation

Program Number: P443