Anesthesia and postoperative complications in sleeve gastrectomy operations performed in morbid obesity surgery

Abstract

Objectives: Sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most popular bariatric procedures today. Following laparoscopic interventions, common complications such as bleeding, organ damage, respiratory problems and emboli development are observed. The objective of this study was to evaluate our experiences with anesthesia and postoperative complications in sleeve gastrectomy operations performed in morbid obesity surgery.

Design: Prospective study

Setting: Operation room

Subjects: Sixty adult patients who provided informed consent and who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from November 2015 to January 2019 (N=60).

Intervention: Data collection, sleeve gastrectomy operation

Main outcome measures: Postoperative complications were evaluated under headings: bleeding, respiratory problems, prolonged mechanical ventilation, prolonged hospital stay, emboli development and mortality.

Results: None of the patients had mortality. Mean age was 36.2 (range: 18-59) years. Of the 60 morbid obese patients, 86.6% were female. Mean preoperative body mass index was 48.7 (range: 37-60) kg/m(2). The integrity of the anastomosis was controlled with a 36 French orogastric tube. The mean operating time was 43 minutes (range: 34-72) Two patients (3.3%) were re-intubated due to hypercarbia. Only two patients had bleeding on the postoperative 1st day. Mean length of hospital stay was 4.8 days.

Conclusions: We believe there are fewer risks in the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectemy technique if there is careful preoperative patient preparation and evaluation with a multidisciplinary approach, appropriate perioperative anesthesia management, successful coordination with the surgical team and postoperative care.