The outcome of staple-line oversewing using V-Loc Suture during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a simple procedure; however, postprocedural hemorrhage and/or leak remain the most troublesome outcomes. To prevent these serious complications, some surgeons have recommended the necessity to support the staple-line (SL). The target of the existing work was to estimate the occurrence rate of SL leak or hemorrhage after LSG with using and without using V-Loc running sutures to support the SL.
Patients and methods: This work was carried out in the General Surgery Department, Al-Hussein Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University between January 2017 and January 2020. A sum of forty cases suffering from morbid obesity prepared for LSG. Patients were separated randomly into 2 groups; Group-I; 20 cases; prepared for LSG without suturing of SL, and Group-II; 20 cases; prepared for LSG with suturing of the SL by v-lock suture.
Results: The average procedure duration in Group-I was 75 min and in Group-II was 92 min. The duration of hospital admission was around 3 days in group-I and 2 in group-II. Postoperative hemorrhage was more in Group-I; 4 patients (20%) versus one patient (5%) in Group-II. The postoperative leak was more in Group-I; 2 patients (10%) while in Group-II; no patients (0%) had it.
Conclusion: Strengthening the SL is a simple technique to prevent postoperative hemorrhage and/or leak. Although sewing the complete SL is time-consuming together with additional cost, but it decreases the procedure complications rate.