Weight loss outcome after silastic ring Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: five years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: An underlying major aim of bariatric surgery is weight loss and its long-term maintainance. In spite of this, most studies regarding weight loss after surgical treatment of morbid obesity, show 3-year follow-up results. We evaluated the effectiveness of Silastic ring Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (SR-RYGBP) in promoting significant weight loss after a 5-year follow-up at the Londrina State University Hospital. METHODS: From May 1999 to December 2000, 211 morbidly obese patients were submitted to SR-RYGBP, by the same surgical team. The study's design was longitudinal, prospective and descriptive. The analysis of postoperative ponderal decrease was based on excess weight loss in percentage (%EWL) and the calculation of the BMI. Therapeutic failure was considered when patients lost <50% of excess weight at 2-years follow-up. RESULTS: Patient loss to follow-up loss was 13%; therefore 183 patients were included in this study. The average global EWL was: 67.6% +/- 14.9 at the first postoperative year; 72.6% +/- 14.9 at the second year; and 69.7% +/- 15.1 in the fifth postoperative year. Surgical treatment failure occurred in 12 patients (6.5%) during the 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SR-RYGBP was effective in promoting and maintaining weight loss in the long-term, with a low failure rate.