GALLBLADDER DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH LAPAROSCOPIC SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY IN JORDAN, PILOT STUDY

Background: Gallbladder diseases occurring in morbid obese patients, who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), are of scarce reports and not well established in the Middle East especially in Jordan. Introduction: Gallstones commonly develop after bariatric surgery; but the incidence of gallstone development after SG has not been adequately studied. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of collected database of 325 patients that underwent LSG in King Hussein Medical Centre and Prince Rashid Military Hospital was reviewed during the period of 1-1-2014 till 1-6-2017. Follow-up abdominal ultrasonography was performed once the patients achieved ¼th of their weight loss, or if develop symptoms related to gallbladder problems, or after 6 months post-surgery. We analyzed all patients who involved in this study since the last 3 1/2 years. A statistically significant increase in % excess weight loss was observed in patients with gallstones (40.4%). Percentage of gallbladder problems in the first year postoperatively was 12% (50 patients) which is much higher than that occurring during the remaining 2 ½ years in 8 %( 20 patients) only in the remaining observed study period. Results: Preoperatively, gallbladder disease was identified in (46 patients) 14% of the patients .Postoperatively (65 patients) 26% had gall bladder disease. Conclusion: Risk of gallstone formation during the first year post laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was much higher than the remaining 2 ½ years in the study duration.