Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy combined with Rossetti fundoplication (R-Sleeve) for treatment of morbid obesity and gastroesophageal reflux

Background Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) can be considered an obesity-related disease. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is considered the gold standard for its therapeutic effects on acid reflux. Objectives The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the effectiveness of combined laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and Rossetti antireflux fundoplication for the treatment of morbidly obese patients with GERD. Setting A private academic hospital in Italy. Methods Forty obese patients with GERD underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy–Rossetti laparoscopic fundoplication from January 1 to October 31, 2015. A specific informed consent was obtained. Minimum follow-up was 12 months. No cases were lost to follow-up. Results Mean body mass index was 44.4 ± 4.7 kg/m2; all patients had GERD. Mean operative time was 38 ± 6 minutes. The mortality rate was 0%. No intraoperative or medium- or long-term complications were reported. Excess weight loss percent at 1, 3, 6, 12 months was 25.6 ± 6.1, 41.9 ± 12.5, 56.7 ± 13.0, 61.7 ± 13.6, respectively. Excess body mass index loss percent at 1, 3, 6, 12 months was 29.3 ± 3.4, 47.2 ± 5.2, 64.0 ± 8.6, 73.3 ± 9.9, respectively. At the 12-month follow-up visit, 95% of the patients reported a good sense of repletion without episodes of vomiting, nausea, or dysphagia. Conclusions Rossetti laparoscopic fundoplication is well tolerated, feasible, and safe in obese patients with GERD, with good postoperative weight results. Following this evidence, 2 monocentric prospective and randomized studies will start to analyze and confirm the reported data.