Obesity is considered a worldwide health problem of epidemic proportions. Bariatric surgery remains the most effective treatment for patients with severe obesity, resulting in improved obesity-related co-morbidities and increased overall life expectancy. However, weight recidivism has been observed in a subset of patients post-bariatric surgery. Weight recidivism has significant medical, societal and economic ramifications. Unfortunately, there is a very limited understanding of how to predict which bariatric surgical patients are more likely to regain weight following surgery and how to appropriately treat patients who have regained weight. The objective of this paper is to systematically review the existing literature to assess the incidence and causative factors associated with weight regain following bariatric surgery. An electronic literature search was performed of the Medline, Embase and Cochrane library databases along with the PubMed US national library from January 1950 to December 2012 to identify relevant articles. Following an initial screen of 2,204 titles, 1,437 abstracts were reviewed and 1,421 met exclusion criteria. Sixteen studies were included in this analysis: seven case series, five surveys and four non-randomized controlled trials, with a total of 4,864 patients for analysis. Weight regain in these patients appeared to be multi-factorial and overlapping. Aetiologies were categorized as patient specific (psychiatric, physical inactivity, endocrinopathies/metabolic and dietary non-compliance) and operation specific. Weight regain following bariatric surgery varies according to duration of follow-up and the bariatric surgical procedure performed. The underlying causes leading to weight regain are multi-factorial and related to patient- and procedure-specific factors. Addressing post-surgical weight regain requires a systematic approach to patient assessment focusing on contributory dietary, psychologic, medical and surgical factors.

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Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an innovative approach to the surgical management of morbid obesity. Weight loss may be achieved by restrictive and endocrine mechanisms. Early data suggest LSG is efficacious in the management of morbid obesity and may have an important role either as a staged or definitive procedure. A systematic review of the literature analyzing the clinical and operational outcomes of LSG was completed to further define the status of LSG as an emerging treatment modality for morbid obesity. Data from LSG were compared to benchmark clinical data and local operational data from laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) and laparoscopic gastric bypass (LRYGB). Fifteen studies (940 patients) were identified following systematic review. The percent excessive weight loss (%EWL) for LSG varied from 33% to 90% and appeared to be sustained up to 3 years. The mortality rate was 0-3.3% and major complications ranged from 0% to 29% (average 12.1%). Operative time ranged from 49 to 143 min (average 100.4 min). Hospital stay varied from 1.9 to 8 days (average 4.4 days). The operational impact of LSG has not been described in the literature. According to data from the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the estimated total cost of LSG was $10,317 CAD as compared to LAGB ($7,536 CAD) and LRYGB ($11,666 CAD). These costs did not include further surgical interventions which may be required for an undefined group of patients after LSG. Early, non-randomized data suggest that LSG is efficacious in the surgical management of morbid obesity. However, it is not clear if weight loss following LSG is sustainable in the long term and therefore it is not possible to determine what percent of patients may require further revisional surgery following LSG. The operational impact of LSG as a staged or definitive procedure is poorly defined and must be analyzed further in order to establish its overall health care costs and operational impact. Although LSG is a promising treatment option for patients with morbid obesity, its role remains undefined and it should be considered an investigational procedure that may require revision in a subset of patients.

SummaryThe clinical efficacy and safety of bariatric surgery trials were systematically reviewed. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL were searched to February 2009. A basic PubCrawler alert was run until March 2010. Trial registries, HTA websites and systematic reviews were searched. Manufacturers were contacted. Randomized trials comparing bariatric surgeries and/or standard care were selected. Evidence-based items potentially indicating risk of bias were assessed. Network meta-analysis was performed using Bayesian techniques. Of 1838 citations, 31 RCTs involving 2619 patients (mean age 30-48 y; mean BMI levels 42-58 kg/m 2 ) met eligibility criteria. As compared with standard care, differences in BMI levels from baseline at year 1 (15 trials; 1103 participants) were as follows: jejunoileal bypass [MD: -11.4 kg/m 2 ], mini-gastric bypass [-11.3 . Bariatric surgery appears efficacious compared to standard care in reducing BMI. Weight losses are greatest with diversionary procedures, intermediate with diversionary/restrictive procedures, and lowest with those that are purely restrictive. Compared with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding has lower weight loss efficacy, but also leads to fewer serious adverse effects.

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There is a strong relationship between obesity and the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Respectively, bariatric surgery is often touted as the most effective option for treating obesity and its comorbidities, including OSA. Nevertheless, there remains paucity of data in the literature of the comparison of all the specific types of bariatric surgery themselves. In an effort to answer this question, a systematic review was performed, to determine, of the available bariatric procedures [Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, or biliopancreatic diversion (BPD)], which procedures were the most efficacious in the treatment of OSA. A total of 69 studies with 13,900 patients were included. All the procedures achieved profound effects on OSA, as over 75 % of patients saw at least an improvement in their sleep apnea. BPD was the most successful procedure in improving or resolving OSA, with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding being the least. In conclusion, bariatric surgery is a definitive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, regardless of the specific type.

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