Long-term effect of ileogastrostomy surgery for morbid obesity on diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea

Background: The long-term effects of ileogastrostomy surgery for morbid obesity on diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea were investigated. Methods: All patients who had the ileogastrostomy for morbid obesity at the Bariatric Surgery Clinic of St. Paul's Hospital between 1997 and 2002 were registered in the International Bariatric Surgery Registry (IBSR). In 2005, IBSR follow-up was supplemented with a survey. Results: Of the 592 consecutive patients registered in the IBSR, 311 were available for follow-up. Of the 15 patients who had diabetes mellitus preoperatively, 12 (80%) had cure of their diabetes mellitus and 3 (20%) were improved. Remission or improvement of diabetes occurred early postoperatively. Of the 20 who had sleep apnea preoperatively, 11 (55%) were cured and 6 (30%) were improved. Conclusions: This is the first report of the long-term effect of the ileogastrostomy on diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea. The ileogastrostomy was associated with rapid improvement or normalization of diabetes mellitus, similar to the biliopancreatic diversion and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, but faster than other bariatric operations. Improvement in sleep apnea was slower and was related to weight loss, similar to other bariatric operations.