Efficacy of Oversewing Versus Surgical Ligation Clips for Staple Line Reinforcement of the Gastric Pouch to Reduce Post Operative Bleeding in Laparoscopic One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass

Obesity is a disease related to reduced life expectancy, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. In recent years, bariatric surgery has become an increasingly widespread form of treatment for severe obesity and its associated diseases . The increased spread of bariatric surgery is associated with its long-term reliability and also its high cost-benefit ratio.

According to the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) registry (calendar years 2014-2018), there are three main surgical procedures in common use: sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and laparoscopic one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) . OAGB, introduced by Rutledge in 1997 is a restrictive and malabsorptive bariatric surgical procedure and is the fourth most performed bariatric technique in Europe and in the Asia/Pacific area, with an increasing trend .

In the last 15 years, several authors have demonstrated the effectiveness of this surgical technique in terms of both weight loss and the resolution of comorbidities, especially type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Despite the described advantages, LSG still conveys some risks. Early staple line complications, such as bleeding and leaks, may occur, and their incidence may vary from 1 to 6% . Such complications can be devastating and life-threatening. Besides, they entail additional healthcare-related costs. It has been proposed that staple line complications can be reduced by staple line reinforcement (SLR).

Staple line reinforcement (SLR) has been proposed to decrease the risk of these complications by several options: oversewing the staple line with a running absorbable suture, buttressing it with specific materials or roofing the staple line. Although it has been postulated that there are fewer complications, SLR remains controversial and its effectiveness is still unclear . Some surgeons still have concerns about SLR, either because of Uncertainty about its benefits and/or its financial costs. Moreover, it has been argued that oversewing itself could carry additional risks. The potential for leakage and bleeding could increase due to tearing at the suture penetration point, and the running suture may lead to sleeve stricture and tissue ischemia.

Two common techniques for this purpose are oversewing and the use of surgical ligation clips. Oversewing involves suturing over the staple line, which has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of staple line bleeding, with rates dropping from 9-13.7% to as low as 1.4-2%, While effective and cost-efficient.

Oversewing can increase operative time due to the additional suturing required .

On the other hand, surgical ligation clips provide a rapid method for achieving hemostasis and reinforcing the staple line. Research indicates that ligation clips are effective in controlling bleeding, with low complication rates (e.g., only 1.7% episodes of melena reported).

Both techniques demonstrate comparable efficacy in preventing complications, and the choice between them may depend on clinical context, surgeon preference, and resource availability. Further studies comparing long-term outcomes would enhance understanding of their relative effectiveness.

• Operative Time [Срок оценки: Intraoperative (recorded during procedure)]