Efficacy of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) as a Stand-Alone Technique for Children with Morbid Obesity

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is basically unknown as a stand-alone technique for bariatric surgery in children and adolescents. It may be advantageous for this age group though, since it requires neither foreign body placement nor life-long malabsorption. We present the first report about the efficacy of LSG in a small pediatric series.

All patients (n = 4, female) had been in a multi-modal weight loss program for several years without long-term success. At referral, the mean age was 14.5 years (range 8–17), mean body mass index (BMI in kg/m²) was 48.4 (range 40.6–56.3). All suffered from various features of a metabolic-vascular syndrome like diabetes, dislipidemia, cholecystolithiasis, arterial hypertension. The 8-year-old girl was diagnosed Prader–Willi Syndrome at the age of 2. The decision for bariatric surgery was taken unanimously by the parents, patient, and the obesity team. LSG was performed in a five-trocar technique. With a gastroscope (size 40-F) protecting the lesser curvature, the stomach was resected from the proximal antrum to the angle of His using an ENDO-GIA stapler. The stapler line was secured by a continuous suture 3–0 vicryl.

There were no intra- or postoperative complications. Contrast studies confirmed a J-like gastric remnant (mean volume 76 ml) and ruled out leaks in all cases. After a mean follow-up time of 12 months (range 6–19 months), all the patients had reduced weight (mean BMI to 37.2). The girl with the longest postoperative period went from 121 to 83 kg (BMI from 40.6 to 28.4). Laboratory studies ruled out malnutrition or vitamin deficiency. Monitoring of metabolic parameters showed gradual improvement or even resolution for most features.

At a 1-year follow-up, LSG proved a safe and effective option for bariatric surgery in children, achieving moderate weight loss and improvement of comorbidities. Thus, it may be considered as stand-alone technique. Long-term studies however must compare these results with time-tested procedures like gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.