Guglielmi V, Campanelli M, Bianciardi E, Benavoli D, Colangeli L, D'Adamo M, Sbraccia P, Gentileschi P. Bariatric surgery for metabolic unhealthy obesity (MUO) during the COVID era: short-term results of a high-volume center.
Eat Weight Disord 2022;
27:3119-3124. [PMID:
35852766 PMCID:
PMC9294774 DOI:
10.1007/s40519-022-01438-y]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE
During the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak, most public hospitals worldwide have been forced to postpone a major part of bariatric surgery (BS) operations with unfavorable consequences for weight and obesity complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic BS on subjects with metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) during COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume Italian center.
METHODS
Between March 2020 and January 2021, all patients with MUO submitted to laparoscopic BS (sleeve gastrectomy [SG], one anastomosis gastric bypass [OAGB] and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass [RYGB]) were enrolled according to the ATP III Guidelines, with a minimum follow-up of 3 months.
RESULTS
In the study period, 210 patients with MUO underwent laparoscopic BS (77 RYGB, 85 SG and 48 OAGB) in our obesity referral center. Postoperative major complications occurred in 4 patients (1.9%) with zero mortality. At 9-month follow-up, a total weight loss (TWL) of 28.2 ± 18.4, 26.1 ± 23.1 and 24.5 ± 11.3% (p = 0.042) was observed in RYGB, OAGB and SG groups, respectively. The rate of comorbidity resolution was very similar for all type of surgeries (p = 0.871). Only two cases of postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection were registered (0.9%) and both cases resolved with medical therapy and observation.
CONCLUSION
Among the patients studied, all surgical techniques were safe and effective for MUO during the COVID era. This group of patients is at high risk for general and SARS-CoV-2-related mortality and therefore should be prioritized for BS.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level III, single-center retrospective cohort study.
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