One-year mortality after laparoscopic bariatric surgery

Editor's Note

One-year mortality after contemporary laparoscopic bariatric surgery is low at <0.25%, which is much lower than previously reported, this study finds.

Of 158,606 bariatric procedures analyzed between 2008 and 2012, the 30-day and 1-year mortality rates, respectively were:

• 0.13% and 0.23% for laparoscopic Roux-en-Y bypass (LRYGB)
• 0.06% and 0.11% for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Risk factors for 1-year mortality included older age, male gender, higher body mass index, and the presence of a 30-day leak, 30-day pulmonary embolism, and 30-day hemorrhage.

It is important to continually refine techniques to minimize leaks and pulmonary emboli after bariatric surgery, the researchers note.