Long-Term Metabolic Outcomes 5 to 20 Years After Biliopancreatic Diversion

Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) is a complex bariatric operation requiring meticulous surveillance which has impeded its broad adoption. Improvements in surgical care and technique, better teaching programs, and stringent norms for follow-up have contributed to increased safety of BPD for patients with BMI <50, achieving better long-term results than other bariatric operations. Here we report 20-year outcomes of 2615 consecutive patients (median 8) having open BPD with duodenal switch (DS) between 1992 and 2010.

Chart of 92 % of patients with complete clinical, biochemical, and physical examinations completed before 2013 was reviewed. The research was conducted at Academic Medical Center, Quebec City.

There was total mortality of 4.7 %, equivalent to that of the general population of Quebec. Incident diabetes (38.8 %) was cured in 93.4 % (blood glucose <6 mmol/l; HbA1c <6.5 %) with 4 % relapse rate after mean 9.6 years with no new cases. Dyslipidemia (24.2 %) was cured in 80 %. Hypertension (60 %) was cured in 64 % and improved in 31 %. Mean weight loss of 55.3 kg (71 % excess weight loss (EWL); 20 BMI units) was maintained for 5 to 20 years. Operative mortality was reduced from 1.3 % in 1992 to 0.2 % during 2005–2010, with cumulated rate surgical mortality of 0.5, revision rate 3, and reoperations in 13 %. Nutritional deficiencies were present in 2 % for calcium, iron, and vitamin A. Side effects were considered minor by the great majority of patients, rating global satisfaction as 4.5/5 (91 % “satisfied”).

BPD deserves more consideration as a primary procedure for eligible patients in experienced centers with sufficient resources for delivering high-quality care and long-term follow-up.