Midterm Outcome of Early Pregnancy Versus Late Pregnancy After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Background: Controversy regarding the timing of pregnancy and its implications is present in the literature. Objective: To evaluate the midterm outcome of weight loss in women who have undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) followed by pregnancy at two different times. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 53 women who matched the inclusion criteria and included them in the analysis. Demographics and anthropometric measurements were collected. Women who conceived within 12 months of LSG were labeled as early group (EG), and who conceived after 12 months were noted as late group (LG). Results: There were no differences between the groups regarding obesity-associated disease and number of pregnancies before. EG had higher weight (P = 0.0001) and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.002) at LSG. The mean interval time for EG was 6.7 ± 3.2 months, and LG was 20 ± 5.2 months. Gestational weight gain (GWG) was lower in the EG (P = 0.001). There were no differences in the number of small for gestational age (SGA) births or gestational weight. In the first 2 years after LSG, LG had a higher percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) and percentage of body mass index loss (%EBMIL) (P < 0.0001). After 5 years of follow-up, %TWL (P = 0.4) and %EBMIL (P = 0.1) were not statistically significant between both groups. Conclusion: Conception within 12 months from LSG might hinder the weight loss process in the short term but have no significant effect over 5 years of follow-up. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)