CLINICAL REPORT Evaluation of the Radiological Gastric Capacity and Evolution of the BMI 2–3 Years After Sleeve Gastrectomy Italo Braghetto & Claudio Cortes & David Herquiñigo & Paula Csendes & Alejandro Rojas & Maher Mushle & Owen Korn & Héctor Valladares & Attila Csendes & Ana Maria Burgos & Karin Papapietro Received: 14 January 2009 / Accepted: 20 May 2009 / Published online: 17 June 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009 Abstract Background Sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure for treatment of obese patients with different body mass index (BMI) and presents good results in termsof a reduction of percentage of excess weight loss and BMI. Thereis no consensus which is the optimaltechnique regarding to the diameter of the gastric tube, but a capacity of 100–120 mlhasbeen suggested. In this prospective study,we comparethegastriccapacity evaluated with barium sulfate or computer-aided tomography (CAT) scan early and 24 monthsafteroperation compared to the changes in body weightand BMI reduction in a small group of15 consecutivepatientssubmitted to sleeve gastrectomy. Methods Fifteen successive obesepatientssubmitted to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were included. They were studied in order to measure the residual gastric capacity with barium sulfate and CAT scan early (3 days) and late (2 years) after surgery. Results The early postoperative gastric volume was 108 ± 25 ml (80–120 ml) and 116.2±78.24 assessed with barium sulfate and CAT scan, respectively. The gastric capacity at the late controlincreasedto 250 ± 85 and 254 ± 56.8 assessed with the sametechniques. However,patients remained stable with a BMI close to 25 without regain of weight at least at the time of observation. Conclusions Gastric capacity can increase late after sleeve gastrectomy even after performing a narrow gastric tubul zation. It is very important to measure objectively residual gastric volume after sleeve gastrectomy and its eventual increase in order to determine the late clinical results and indicate eventual strategy for retreatment. Keywords Obesity . Sleeve gastrectomy . Radiology Introduction As a restrictiveprocedure, sleevegastrectomy (SG) presents successful results in termsof decrease of body mass index (BMI), percentage of loss of excess weight, an improvement of comorbidities [1–3]. Concerningthe diameter of the bougie employed for performing the gastr tube, there is no consensus, but an optimal gastric capaci of 100–120 ml hasbeen suggested [4–6]. There are no availabledataon the literaturereportingthe results regarding the evolution of the size ofthe gastric tube at middle- or long-term follow-up correlated to the regain of weightor re-increase of the BMI. Some case reports have demonstrated increase of gastric size and volume of the stomach 3 years after the operation in which a reoperatio must be indicated for regain of body weight [ 7, 8]. Similar results concerning the percentage of excess weight have been reported independently of the bougie 40F or 60F use while performing sleeve gastrectomy [ 9]. In this prospective study, we present the results after 2– 3 years follow-up evaluating the capacity of the gastric tu OBES SURG (2009) 19:1262–1269 DOI 10.1007/s11695-009-9874-y I. Braghetto (*) : M. Mushle : O. Korn : H. Valladares : A. Csendes : A. Maria Burgos : K. Papapietro Department of Surgery, University Hospital, University of Chile, Santos Dumont 999, Santiago, Chile e-mail: ibraghet@edclinicauchile.cl C. Cortes : D. Herquiñigo : P. Csendes : A. Rojas Department of Radiology, University Hospital, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile