Weight Regain After Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Look at the Benefits of Re-sleeve

Introduction Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become one of the most commonly performed weight loss procedures due to its simpler technique and lower complication rate as compared to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and duodenal switch. However, weight regain is seen in patients with a large gastric fundus. In these cases, a revision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (reLSG) aiming at resecting the excess pouch is a promising option for correction. Methods From April 2013 to March 2016, six patients underwent a reLSG for a failure of weight loss after the demonstration of a large gastric fundus on the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series. Results One patient out of six (16.7%) suffered from a gastric leak and was lost to subsequent follow-up. The rest (83.3%) had a smooth recovery and were followed up for a mean of 18 months. Mean excess weight loss (EWL) was 68%, with a minimum of 48% and a maximum of 75%. Conclusion reLSG is a promising option for failed weight loss after LSG in patients who demonstrate the presence of a large gastric pouch. It carries a higher complication rate than the initial procedure. Further trials and meta-analyses are needed to prove the efficacy of this procedure.