Laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass in the super obese

Bariatric surgery in super obese patients presents technical, metabolic and risk related challenges. Moreover, there is concern that weight loss and health outcomes of surgery, including gastric bypass, may be lesser than in non super obese (morbidly obese) patients. This may drive clinicians toward more aggressive forms of surgery at the risk of greater morbidity. This review examines outcomes pertaining to laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in the super obese and determines the role of such surgery in the current day. Whilst a minor increase in morbidity and mortality risk exists, weight loss outcomes when measured as percentage total body weight loss are equivalent to non super obese patients. Final BMI is not an appropriate indicator of benefit in such patients and may lead to escalation surgery inappropriately. Surgeons employing the use of LRYGB in the super obese should have adequate training and expertise in the technique and operating upon super obese patients should be avoided during the learning curve phase to minimise morbidity risk.