Comparison of size of proximal gastric pouch and short-term weight loss following routine upper gastrointestinal contrast study after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Background: The authors investigated whether there is any correlation between gastric pouch size measured by routine upper gastrointestinal contrast study (UGI) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) and short-term weight loss. Methods: The study group consisted of 82 patients (66F, 16M) who underwent LRYGBP. Body mass index before surgery ranged from 35.4 to 71.7 kg/m², with a mean of 47.4 kg/m². UGI was performed 1 day after LRYGBP in all patients. Proximal gastric pouch size was estimated by multiplying maximal transverse and longitudinal diameters on AP spot image or film. Percent excess weight loss (%EWL) obtained at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery was used as an indicator of short-term results. According to the presence of contrast passage through the gastrojejunostomy, each patient was classified into 2 groups: Group A, negative; Group B, positive. Results: There was no correlation between proximal gastric pouch size and %EWL at any point of time (P>0.05). The correlation coefficients calculated for 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery were 0.038, 0.110, 0.015 and 0.042, respectively (Pearson correlation test). The gastric pouch size of Group A was larger than that of Group B (Student t-test, P<0.001). There was no difference in %EWL between Groups A and B at 3 and 6 months after surgery (P>0.05). Conclusion: Pouch size area, measured by routine UGI study on the first postoperative day, does not influence short-term postoperative weight loss.