Application value of caesarean section scar or bikini line incisional approach in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Objective To investigate the application value of caesarean section scar or bikini line incisional approach in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 162 patients with obesity and metabolic diseases who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between March 2018 and April 2019 were collected. There were 51 males and 111 females, aged (35±8)years, with a range from 12 to 47 years. Of 162 patients, 72 undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy via caesarean section scar or bikini line incisional approach and 90 undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy via traditional incisional approach were respectively allocated into concealed incision group and traditional incision group. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) intraoperative situations; (3) postoperative situations; (4) follow-up. Follow-up using outpatient examination, telephone interview, and WeChat was performed to detect the postoperative complications at 1, 3, 6 months and 1, 2, 5 years postoperatively up to May 2019. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and the t test was used for comparison between groups. Count data were represented as absolute numbers, and were analyzed by the chi-square test or fisher exact probability. Ordinal data were analyzed by the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results (1) Surgical situations: patients in the concealed incision group and traditional incision group underwent successfully laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, without conversion to open surgery, reoperation, or perioperative death. (2) Intraoperative situations: the operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss of the concealed incision group were (102±17)minutes and (11±4)mL, respectively, versus (105±19)minutes and (11±4)mL of the traditional incision group (t=-1.232, -0.676, P>0.05). There were 6 cases and 21 cases with additional surgical ports during operation in the concealed incision group and traditional incision group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (χ2=6.280, P 0.05). There were 19 and 14 patients with gastroesophageal reflux in the concealed incision group and traditional incision group, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (χ2=2.894, P>0.05). There was no postoperative complication such as infection, hemorrhage or anastomotic leakage in either group. (4) Follow-up: 32 of 162 patients were lost to follow-up, including 10 in the concealed incision group and 22 in the traditional incision group; other 130 patients were followed up for 1-14 months, with a median follow-up time of 7 months. During the follow-up, 1 patient in the traditional incision group was hospitalized again at 3 months after surgery due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and was cured after symptomatic supportive treatment. One patient in the concealed incision group was admitted to the local hospital for functional obstruction at 1 month after surgery and was discharged after symptomatic treatment. Other patients had no readmission due to postoperative complications. Conclusion Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy via caesarean section scar or bikini line incision is safe and feasible, with good cosmetic effects. Key words: Obesity; Metabolic diseases; Caesarean section scar incision; Bikini line incision; Concealed incision; Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; Bariatric surgery; Laparoscopy