Significant detrimental intra-operative hemodynamic and respiratory changes occur in the morbidly obese during laparoscopic gastric bypass. Design: Case series. Setting: Tertiary care university hospital. Patients: Thirteen patients, 10 women and 3 men, undergoing uncomplicated laparoscopic gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Interventions: Using a pulmonary artery catheter and an arterial line, we intraoperatively monitored hemodynamic and respiratory parameters. Parameter values were recorded at set points of the procedure, and the changes were statistically analyzed. Results: Significant hemodynamic and respiratory changes, mostly unfavorable, occur in the morbidly obese

While patients with a BMI > or =60 are at higher risk for postoperative complications, they are also at higher risk from continued extreme obesity. In our series, 85% of these patients had an uneventful postoperative course and began shedding excess weight. BMI > or =60 should not be a contraindication for LRYGBP.

LRYGBP was a safe and feasible operation. We believe that our technique is easily reproducible, avoiding the trans-oral route for introducing the anvil. This technique may also decrease operative time and possibly the incidence of wound infections, although we are still in the learning curve and final conclusions cannot be made.

Advanced laparoscopic operations can be performed in patients who have previously undergone laparoscopic gastric bypass, because there are fewer adhesions than after open procedures. Also, revisions of previous laparoscopic gastric bypasses can be done laparoscopically for the same reasons. To demonstrate this, we present a patient who had undergone a laparoscopic gastric bypass. The operation was successful initially. After 10 months, she started to regain some of her lost weight. It was also found that she had developed idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, which was unresponsive to steroids. She underwent a splenectomy and revision of her gastric bypass, both done laparoscopically. This case demonstrates that these advanced laparoscopic procedures can be performed safely, even after previous surgery.