Omentopexy Can Prevent Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Abstract

Aim:

This study evaluated the effects of omentopexy on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the first 24 h after patients underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Methods:

In this prospectively designed retrospective data analysis study, 200 patients who underwent LSG consecutively in our clinic between August 2023 and December 2023 were assigned to one of two groups: 100 patients with omentopexy and 100 patients without omentopexy. The patients’ demographic data, Apfel scores, and PONV scales were collected prospectively by the service nurses and analyzed retrospectively. LSG was performed using the five-trocar technique with imbrications in all patients.

Results:

Among the 200 patients (100 with omentopexy, 100 without), the mean age was 38.9 ± 10.1 years, the mean body mass index was 41.9 ± 6.4 kg/m², and 86.5% were female gender. The LSG with omentopexy group had a statistically significantly lower nausea score and less vomiting than the LSG without omentopexy group (p < 0.05), even though the LSG with omentopexy group’s Apfel score was statistically higher than that of the other group. Furthermore, the duration of nausea was statistically significantly higher in the LSG without omentopexy group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Omentopexy is commonly preferred by surgeons for diverse purposes, including reinforcement of the stapler line, reducing gastrointestinal symptoms after LSG, and preventing torsion or reflux. In our study, the nausea score, duration of nausea, and vomiting were statistically significantly lower in patients who underwent LSG with omentopexy, indicating that surgeons may use omentopexy to control early PONV after LSG.