Original article
Early results of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in patients with morbid obesity

Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is one of the methods in surgical treatment of morbid obesity. In patients with morbid obesity treated with this operation weight loss is achieved by combined restriction and malabsorption. Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the early results of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in patients with morbid obesity. Methods: Between January 2002 and July 2005, 38 patients (20 females and 18 males) with morbid obesity underwent RYGB. Patients’ average age was 37.6±9.3 years, average body weight was 147.0±28.8 kg and average body mass index (BMI) was 49.2±7.0. Dyslipidaemia was diagnosed in 23 patients, with average plasma levels of lipid fractions: total cholesterol (TC) 4.9±0.8 mmol/l, triglycerides (TG) 1.9±0.7 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol (HDL) 1.1±0.3 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol (LDL) 2.9±0.8 mmol/l. Arterial hypertension was found in 21, type 2 diabetes mellitus in 7, coronary artery disease in 4, sleep apnoea in 9 and cholelithiasis in 4. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Follow-up was at least 12 months. Results: Six months after the operation average body weight was 112.3±23.1 kg, BMI 37.5±23.1, TC 4.5±0.7 mmol/l, TG 1.4±0.6 mmol/l, HDL 1.3±0.3 mmol/l, LDL 2.6±0.7 mmol/l. Twelve months after the operation average body weight was 99.4±17.7 kg, BMI 33.3±4.1, TC 4.3±0.7 mmol/l, TG 1.2±0.5 mmol/l, HDL 1.4±0.3 mmol/l, LDL 2.3±06 mmol/l. In the postoperative period the symptoms of concomitant diseases alleviated and the patients required medications in reduced doses. There was one case of bleeding from gastrojejunostomy that required reoperation, 2 cases of wound infection, and one case of incisional hernia. Conclusions: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in patients with morbid obesity is a safe and effective treatment method that results in a decrease in body weight and improvement in concomitant diseases.