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Safety and feasibility of sleeve gastrectomy in morbidly obese patients following liver transplantation

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Abstract

Background

Obesity, steroid-induced diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and steatohepatitis can occur after liver transplantation and may respond to bariatric surgery. The safety and feasibility of bariatric surgery after liver transplantation is unknown.

Methods

Nine morbidly obese patients with prior liver transplants underwent sleeve gastrectomy in a pilot program. Sleeve gastrectomy was chosen over gastric banding to avoid foreign body implantation, and over gastric bypass to maintain endoscopic access to the biliary system and reduce surgical complexity. We reviewed patient demographics, operative details, 30-day complications, weight loss, postoperative hepatic and renal functions, and resolution of comorbidities.

Results

Sleeve gastrectomy was performed laparoscopically in eight patients and as an open procedure in one patient. The mean operative time was 165 min and mean postoperative length of stay was 5 days. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 36 months. In the first 30 days, there were three complications in three patients: mesh dehiscence after a synchronous incisional hernia repair, bile leak from the liver surface requiring laparoscopic drainage, and postoperative dysphagia that required reoperation. Calcineurin inhibitor levels and hepatic and renal functions remained stable. There were no episodes of graft rejection. At 3 months liver function tests remained stable. Excess weight loss averaged 55.5 % at 6 months.

Conclusion

Sleeve gastrectomy is technically feasible after liver transplantation and resulted in weight loss without adversely affecting graft function and immunosuppression. Early complications may be more frequent as a result of adhesions of the left upper quadrant. Late complications were rare.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Pamela Derish for her editing.

Disclosures

Matthew Y. C. Lin, Ankit Sarin, M. Mehdi Tavakol, Shadee M. Amirikiai, Stanley J. Rogers, Jonathan T. Carter, and Andrew M. Posselt have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Correspondence to Andrew M. Posselt.

Additional information

Presented at the SAGES 2012 Annual Meeting, March 7–March 10, 2012, San Diego, CA.

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Lin, M.Y.C., Tavakol, M.M., Sarin, A. et al. Safety and feasibility of sleeve gastrectomy in morbidly obese patients following liver transplantation. Surg Endosc 27, 81–85 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-012-2410-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-012-2410-5

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