Sleeve gastrectomy versus adjustable gastric band in the surgical management of obesity in an African Single-Institute: Comparative Analysis of mid-term results

Abstract

Background: Practice of bariatric surgery remains marginal in Cameroon. We aimed to compare the results of two bariatric procedures, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and adjustable gastric band (AGB), in terms of mid-term morbidity/mortality and weight loss.
Materials and methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection in the digestive and laparoscopic surgery unit of the National Insurance Fund Health Centre of Essos (Yaoundé). We collected the records of patients who undergone a bariatric surgery from January 1st, 2012 to September 30,2020 in our unit. A follow-up period of 1 year was mandatory.
Results: We have a total of 27 patients among whom 6 (22.2%) were classified in AGB group and 21 (77.8%) in SG group. Three cases of intraoperative complications were recorded in SG group (14.3%) and none in AGB group (p=0.787). No case of postoperative 30-day morbidity was recorded in AGB group and 38.1% in SG group (p=0.035). Between the postoperative 30-day and postoperative 12th month, 66.7% of patients in AGB group presented a complication and none in SG group (p=0.041). No death was recorded. The mean body mass index one year after surgery and the percentage of excess weight loss were significantly higher in SG group compared to AGB group, p= 0.027 and 0.036, respectively.
Conclusion: AGB and SG are safe procedure in our context; However, AGB is related with higher mid-term morbidity and lesser weight loss than SG. In their actual bariatric surgery activity, the authors stopped the practice of AGB and performed only SG.

Keywords: bariatric surgery, obesity, morbidity, mortality, weight loss, Cameroon