Laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP) for treatment of morbid obesity in a series of 244 patients.

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP) is a new metabolic/bariatric surgical procedure that requires no resection, bypass, or implantable device. We report LGCP outcomes in 244 morbidly obese patients.

METHODS

Between 2010 and 2011, patients underwent LGCP. Body mass index (BMI, kilogram per square meter) evolution, excess BMI loss (%EBMIL), excess weight loss (%EWL), complications, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) changes were recorded. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess weight change at 6, 12, and 18 months. Subgroup analyses were conducted to provide benchmark outcomes at 6 months. Logistic regression was used to identify characteristics predictive of suboptimal weight loss.

RESULTS

Mean baseline BMI (±SD) was 41.4 ± 5.5 (80.7 % women, mean age 46.1 ± 11.0 years, 68 [27.9 %] patients had T2DM). Mean operative time was 70.6 min; mean hospitalization, 36 h (24-72). Sixty-eight patients (27.9 %) experienced postoperative nausea and/or vomiting that was controlled within 36 h. There was no mortality. Major complication rate was 1.2 % (n = 3). Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated significant weight loss across time points (p < 0.001). At 6 months (n = 105), BMI, %EBMIL, and %EWL were 36.1 ± 4.7, 34.8 ± 17.3, and 31.8 ± 15.9. Preoperative BMI was the only predictor of weight loss. Patients with BMI <40 lost more weight than those ≥40, although by 9 months, differences were no longer significant. In patients with preoperative BMI <40, 18-month %EWL approached 50 % and %EBMIL exceeded 50 %. At 6 months, 96.9 % of patients' T2DM was significantly improved/resolved.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the short term, LGCP results in effective weight loss and significant T2DM reduction with a very low rate of complications.