Safety and Metabolic Outcomes of Three-Port Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Without Liver Retractor: A 2000-Patient Retrospective Study.

Background and

Objectives

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the most commonly performed metabolic bariatric surgery procedures worldwide. However, conventional LSG generally requires liver retraction for adequate visualization of the operative field. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, perioperative safety, and metabolic outcomes of a modified three-port LSG technique performed without the use of a liver retractor. Materials and

Methods

This retrospective single-center cohort study included 2000 consecutive individuals with obesity who underwent three-port laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between January 2020 and December 2023. All procedures were performed without mechanical liver retraction by two experienced bariatric surgeons. Operative outcomes, postoperative complications, weight loss parameters, metabolic variables, and histopathological findings were evaluated during a 12-month follow-up period. All included patients completed the predefined follow-up schedule. Postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system.

Results

The mean operative time, defined as skin-to-skin duration, was 30 ± 15 min, and the median hospital stay was 2.3 days. No conversion to open surgery, additional trocar placement, or rescue liver retractor use was required. The overall complication rate was 9.4%, with most complications classified as Clavien-Dindo grade I-II. Reoperation was required in three patients (0.15%), and no mortality was observed. Significant metabolic improvements were detected following surgery. Mean HbA1c levels decreased from 7.23% preoperatively to 5.67% at 12 months (p < 0.001), while BMI decreased from 42.6 kg/m2 to 28.7 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). Excess weight loss and total weight loss at 12 months reached 82.4% and 34.2%, respectively. Diabetes remission was achieved in 65.4% of patients with baseline type 2 diabetes mellitus. Continuous glucose monitoring findings demonstrated reduced postoperative glycemic variability.

Conclusions

Three-port laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy performed without a liver retractor appears to be a feasible and effective surgical approach when performed by experienced bariatric surgeons. The technique was associated with acceptable perioperative safety and favorable metabolic outcomes. However, because of the retrospective single-center design and absence of a conventional comparison group, definitive conclusions regarding superiority or equivalence to standard techniques cannot be established. Prospective multicenter comparative studies are required to validate these findings.