Title : Readmission to Hospital following minimally invasive bariatric surgery: A systematic review
Abstract:
Introduction: The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) reported over 2 million bariatric surgeries performed worldwide since the inception of its global registry. The latest 2021 report indicates 507,298 of these procedures were performed that year. Despite the popularity of bariatric surgery, particularly minimally invasive techniques, readmission patterns remain underexplored. Understanding readmission rates and causes is essential for enhancing patient care following bariatric surgery.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted using relevant databases to identify studies on readmission rates after minimally invasive bariatric surgery. This review focused on procedure types, readmission rates and reasons, and surgical and preoperative factors. Primary keywords included 'bariatric surgery,' 'weight loss surgery,' 'patient,' and 'readmission'.
Results: Most studies were retrospective, with no randomized controlled trials found. Across eleven studies, a total of 228,122 (91.7%) laparoscopic and 20,734 (8.3%) robotic-assisted procedures were analyzed. Two studies reported a mean operative time of 101.7 minutes for laparoscopic procedures (130,778 patients), while one study indicated a mean of 114.3 minutes for robotic-assisted procedures (52 patients). Readmission rates were available for all eleven studies, with ten reporting 30-day readmissions. Among these, 11,516 (4.7%) patients were readmitted out of 247,081, with Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass showing the highest readmission rates (5.3% laparoscopic, 6.8% robotic). Common reasons for readmission included nausea/vomiting (34.8%), pain (13.5%), and obstruction (7.5%).
Conclusion: Prospective data and randomized trials are needed to better identify factors contributing to readmission patterns following bariatric surgery.
