Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a very effective bariatric procedure indicated in the treatment
of morbid obesity.
Methods: Between July 2015 to November 2017, 58 adolescents with morbid obesity (42 female and 16 male) underwent LSG. The mean preoperative weight was 126.4 ± 26.7 (range 90-210) Kg. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 45.1 ± 7.9 (range 36.2-59.5) Kg/m2.
Results: The mean operative time was 35 (range 33-68) minutes. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.2 (range
1-3) days. There were no intraoperative complications. The %EWL (excess body weight loss) was 50.2% ± 19.3% and
73.3% ± 20.1% at six months and 1 year respectively. The mean postoperative BMI was 33.8 ± 6.8 Kg/m2 and 27.6
± 5.1 Kg/m2 at six months and 1 year respectively. The overall complication rate was 10.3% (6 patients). Two patients (3.4%) had postoperative bleeding and managed conservatively. Three patients (5.2%) suffered from port site infection. One of them had persistent vomiting and upper abdominal pain for 3 days after operation. Vomiting and pain improved after drainage of an abscess at the site of the 15 mm trocar. The other two improved with antibiotics. Finally, one patient was readmitted 4 days after surgery for persistent severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. This patient resolved with inpatient medical treatment. There were no postoperative mortalities.
Conclusion: LSG can be regarded as a simple, safe, effective bariatric procedure in adolescents.