Converting a Sleeve Gastrectomy to a Gastric Bypass for Weight Loss Failure—Is It Worth It?

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is gaining popularity and has become the procedure of choice for many bariatric surgeons. Long-term weight loss failure is not uncommon. The preferred revisional procedure for these patients is still under debate. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic gastric bypass as a revisional surgery for sleeve gastrectomy patients with weight loss failure. Setting: The study was done at a bariatric surgery center in a university hospital. Methods: We reviewed our prospectively collected database and identified all patients who underwent conversion of a sleeve gastrectomy to a gastric bypass for weight loss failure. Data on patient demographics, baseline characteristics, and outcomes of bariatric surgery were retrieved. Results: Twenty-three patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 41.6 kg/m2 (range 34.1–50.1 kg/m2) underwent conversion to a gastric bypass. Four patients underwent a gastric band prior to the sleeve gastrectomy, and two patients underwent a re-sleeve gastrectomy prior to conversion to a gastric bypass. At a mean follow-up of 24 months (range 9–46 months), the average body mass index (BMI) decreased to 33.8 kg/m2 and the excess body mass index loss (EBMIL) was 42.6%. Diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea resolved or improved in 44.4, 45.5, 50, and 50% of the patients, respectively. Three patients developed early postop complications (13%), while late complications occurred in four patients (17%). Conclusion: Converting a sleeve gastrectomy to a gastric bypass for weight loss failure is safe, yet weight loss benefit is limited.