Choosing the Right Weight-Loss Surgery: Bypass vs. Sleeve? New Study Offers Answers. For people struggling with severe obesity, weight-loss surgery can be a life-changing option.
But with two main procedures available – gastric bypass and gastric sleeve – choosing the right one can be daunting.
A new Swedish study, published in JAMA Network Open, offers some clarity, revealing that both methods are surprisingly safe in the short-term.
This large-scale study, involving over 1,700 patients, randomly assigned them to either gastric bypass or gastric sleeve.
The researchers then meticulously tracked their progress for 90 days after surgery.
The results? Both procedures boasted impressive safety profiles. While gastric bypass took slightly longer (averaging 68 minutes compared to 47 minutes for sleeve), both surgeries typically required only a one-day hospital stay.
At the 30-day follow-up, both groups reported minimal complications like bleeding, leakage, blood clots, or infections.
Remarkably, no deaths occurred during the entire 90-day period.
“For both surgical procedures, the risk of complications is very low,” says Suzanne Hedberg, the lead author. “This means that patients and doctors can choose their surgical method based on individual preferences and long-term considerations, without worrying about significant short-term risks.”
This study is a significant step towards empowering patients and their healthcare providers to make informed decisions about weight-loss surgery.
While the long-term outcomes, including weight loss and complications, are still under investigation, the initial findings offer reassurance and pave the way for further research.
Key points:
- Both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve have very low short-term complication rates.
- No significant differences in safety were observed between the two procedures.
- Patients can choose their surgery based on individual preferences and long-term goals, without worrying about immediate risks.
- The study is ongoing, and further research will shed light on long-term outcomes.