The less invasive of two common types of gastric-bypass surgery performed to help people lose weight is safer and more effective, an analysis of the procedures has found.
The study, published in the journal Archives of Surgery, found laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass resulted in fewer complications, used fewer resources because of shorter hospital stays and cost less than open Roux-en-Y surgery.
The study, led by researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine, tracked the experiences of more than 155,000 patients who had the procedures from 2005 to 2007.
"The minimally invasive approach … appears to allow greater safety and lower resource use than [open surgery]," said lead researcher Dr. Gaurav Banka. "This large, nationally representative comparison confirms and replicates prior randomized trial evidence supporting the laparoscopic approach, indicating safe dissemination of this technology. For bariatric surgery, patient safety may be further enhanced by appropriate application of the laparoscopic approach."
Researchers noted the surgery is used to treat patients who are morbidly obese, who face greater risks from such health conditions as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and some cancers.