Gastrojejunal anastomotic reduction for weight regain in roux-en-y gastric bypass patients: physiological, behavioral, and anatomical effects of endoscopic suturing and sclerotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Weight regain is common after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the mechanisms of weight loss after 2 gastrojejunal anastomotic reduction (GJAR) procedures to treat weight regain.

SETTING: University hospital, United States.

METHODS: Forty-three Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients with weight regain were prospectively enrolled. Weight, ghrelin levels, responses to the 21-item three-factor eating questionnaire, and gastrojejunal anastomotic diameter were assessed. Nine patients underwent endoscopic suturing and 34 patients underwent sclerotherapy. At 3 months, weight, ghrelin levels, eating behavior, and outlet diameter were reassessed.

RESULTS: Patients were aged 47±10 years and regained 43%±26% of maximal lost weight. Ghrelin levels were 123±106 ng/mL and outlet diameter was 21±6.3 mm. At 3 months, the entire cohort lost 4.1%±5.9% of total weight (TBW) and showed improvement in cognitive eating habits (P<.01). Endoscopic suturing and sclerotherapy patients lost 10.4%±2.2% TBW and 2.7%±5.5% TBW (P<.01), respectively. Suturing and sclerotherapy reduced the outlet diameter by 15.0±6.7 mm and 2.6±5.7 mm (P<.01). Ghrelin levels increased after suturing by 46±55 ng/mL and decreased by 37±110 ng/mL after sclerotherapy (P = .02). Suturing resulted in greater improvement in cognitive eating behavior than sclerotherapy (P = .03). Reduction in outlet size and changes in cognitive and emotional eating behaviors were predictors of weight loss after GJAR on a univariate analysis. On a multivariate analysis, the only predictor of weight loss was a reduction in outlet size (P< .01).

CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic suturing resulted in greater reduction in outlet size, improvement in eating behavior, and weight loss than sclerotherapy. Reduction of anastomosis size was a significant predictor of weight loss after GJAR.