Initial Experience with Bariatric Surgery in Korea: 120 Cases (LRYGB and LAGB)

Park, In Soo; Lee, Hong Chan; Lee, Sang Kuon; Kim, Eung Kook

Abstract

PURPOSE
Obesity has become a global epidemic disease, and bariatric surgery is now being increasingly performed in Korea as well as in western countries. Bariatric surgery has been performed in Korea since 2003. However, there is no data on cases of Korean bariatric surgery regarding the weight loss as well as the factors associated with the surgical outcome.
METHODS
120 total cases of bariatric surgery [LRYGB=48, LAGB=72] were done at St. Mary's Hospital. We retrospectively reviewed the series of bariatric cases and we analyzed the surgical outcome, the complications and the clinical factors associated with the surgical outcomes.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in age, BMI and pre-existing comorbidities for both procedures. The percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) of the LRYGB at 6, 12 and 24 months was 63.8%, 73.7% and 87.5%, respectively, and the %EWL of the LAGB was 33.4%, 44.7% and 43.8%, respectively. Factors such age and gender were not associated with the surgical outcome. Yet the initial BMI tended to affect the surgical outcome.
CONCLUSION
The results of our study indicate that LRYGB and LAGB are technically feasible and safe procedures. Both are quite satisfactory and promising procedures for loosing a significant amount of weight.