BACKGROUND: To perform laparoscopic gastric bypass in public university hospital has been difficult due to the high cost of the surgical staplers. This fact induced to look for different technical options, with low cost, maintaining the efficacy. AIM: To present the viability of a new method with the use of a low number of stapler devices. METHODS: Sixty three patients were operated in two university hospitals, 12 men and 51 women (81%), with mean age of 33.5y and average BMI of 43. The surgical technique used followed this sequence: loop section with electrical scalpel 50 cm of the duodenojejunal angle; termino-lateral anastomosis; retrogastric-retrocolic passage of the Roux limb; construction of the lateral wall of the pouch using 1 blue load of 45 and other of 60 mm after horizontal section with electrical scalpel; suture of the excluded stomach and gastrojejunal anastomosis. The anastomoses were hand-sewn made and a single-layer continuous absorble suture was performed. RESULTS: The average surgical time was 5.5 hours. The early complications were: fistula in the esophago-gastric angle (1.6%), stenosis (1.6%); fistula in the gastro-jejunal anastomosis (1.6%); obstruction of the intestinal anastomosis (1.6%). The stenosis was treated by endoscopic dilation. The remaining complications, with 3 re-operations (2 with laparoscopic and 1 with laparotomic approaches). The length of hospital stay was in average 4 days. CONCLUSION: This method is viable with low cost; however, it is complex and requires ability mainly in laparoscopic handsewn sutures.
Bariatric surgery; Laparoscopic gastric bypass; Stapler; Cost saving
