Both bariatric surgery and pharmacotherapy, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), are effective interventions for obesity, yet each has its own advantages and limitations. Drawing on the “bridging” concept from cancer therapy, this commentary explores an innovative obesity management strategy that involves the combined application of GLP-1RA and bariatric surgery during the perioperative period, with the aim of optimizing treatment outcomes. The present analysis focuses specifically on the potential value of this approach: preoperatively, GLP-1RAs serve as a “bridging therapy” to promote weight loss and reduce surgical risks in severely obese patients; postoperatively, they might be used to manage weight rebound or insufficient weight loss. This multimodal integrated strategy is designed to overcome the inherent limitations of single therapies and offer patients more comprehensive treatment options. Emphasizing that future research must urgently focus on optimizing treatment parameters (e.g., timing, dosage), evaluating long-term safety and efficacy, and establishing patient selection criteria for combination therapy. Integrating surgical and pharmacological treatments, this comprehensive strategy based on the oncological “bridging” concept represents a highly promising paradigm shift in obesity management.
ObjectiveTo compare the safety of the incision along the upper umbilical margin (referred to as the “upper incision”) versus the transverse umbilical incision (referred to as the “transverse incision”) for single-port bariatric surgery, and to assess their effects on postoperative scar appearance and patient’s psychological adaptation. MethodsThis study was designed as a multi-center retrospective analysis. The patients who underwent bariatric surgery via the upper incision and transverse incision at the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from December 2024 to April 2025. The incidence of postoperative complications and the pionts of scar appearance (evaluated using the POSAS 3.0 scale) and psychological adaptation (measured with the BODY-Q scale) between the two incision methods were compared. Furthermore, multiple linear regression model was employed to evaluate the impact of different incision methods on points of scar appearance and psychological adaptation. ResultsA total of 194 patients who underwent single-port bariatric surgery were included, with 134 in the transverse incision group and 60 in the upper incision group. There was no statistically significant difference in the total incidence of incision complications between the transverse and upper incision groups [11.9% (16/134) vs. 18.3% (11/60), χ2=0.930, P=0.335]. The transverse incision group showed significantly better outcomes than the upper incision group in the overall points of BODY-Q scale [(39.86±1.02) points vs. (37.63±4.70) points, t=–6.090, P<0.001] and POSAS scale [(17.60±2.35) points vs. (21.25±6.00) points, t=5.239, P<0.001]. After adjusting for potential confounding factors such as history of diabetes mellitus, education level, smoking status, alcohol consumption status, keloid tendency, and use of scar improvement products in the multiple linear regression model, the advantage of the transverse incision remained significant [β(95%CI)=–1.81 (–2.84, –0.78), P<0.001]. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the transverse incision significantly improves the overall appearance of the postoperative scar and enhances patient’s psychological adaptation compared to the upper incision in single-port bariatric surgery. This advantage persists independently after adjusting for multiple confounding factors. Therefore, the transverse incision could be considered a more favorable approach in terms of cosmetic outcomes and patient’s psychological adaptation.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the research progress in the selection of metabolic bariatric procedures, efficacy, safety, complication prevention, and long-term management for elderly patients, so as to provide references for surgical decision-making and perioperative management in future metabolic and bariatric surgery for elderly obese patients. MethodA review of recent domestic and international literature on metabolic and bariatric surgery in elderly patients was conducted. ResultsWith the intensification of societal aging, the incidence of obesity and related metabolic diseases among the elderly population has significantly increased. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has been proven to effectively reduce weight and improve obesity-related metabolic diseases in elderly patients. Current guidelines no longer consider age an absolute contraindication for surgery. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are the most commonly used procedures internationally. SG is superior to RYGB in terms of surgical safety, while RYGB has greater advantages in improving metabolic diseases. Although the postoperative mortality and complications risks in elderly obese patients are higher than those in younger obese patients, strict preoperative assessment and individualized procedure selection can significantly reduce these risks. ConclusionsMetabolic and bariatric surgery can serve as an effective treatment for elderly obese patients, offering comprehensive benefits in weight loss and metabolic improvement. Procedure selection requires individualized assessment, balancing the patient’s baseline condition and metabolic needs. Postoperative success hinges on systematic long-term follow-up and management to ensure sustained benefits and safety. Future efforts should focus on clarifying the definitions or standards of “elderly” and “obesity,” followed by more large-sample, long-term follow-up randomized controlled studies to validate the safety and efficacy of metabolic and bariatric surgery.
Objective To investigate the clinical application value of unsymmetrical four-port laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods The clinical data of 114 patients with obesity who were admitted to Mianyang Central Hospital from June 2021 to May 2022 were retrospective analyzed. All the 114 patients underwent unsymme-trical four-port LSG, and were observed their surgical and postoperative conditions, complications and follow-up the patient’s esthetic satisfaction of wounds at 3 months after surgery. Results All 114 patients underwent unsymmetrical four-port LSG successfully, without conversion to open surgery. The operative time was 68–160 min, average (104.2±26.1) minutes; volume of intraoperative blood loss was 2–50 mL, average (10.7±7.6) mL; the duration of postoperative hospital stay was 3–6 d, average (4.0±0.7) days. Of the 114 patients, 8 patients (7.0%) had fat liquefaction of wounds, 68 patients (59.6%) had postoperative nausea and vomiting in the 24 hours after operation, and all patients had no serious complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, or gastric leakage. One hundred and fourteen patients were followed-up for 3–14 months, with a median follow-up of 6 months. Forty patients (35.1%) had hair loss, 3 patients (2.6%) had mild anemia. Of the 114 patients, 2 (1.8%) were dissatisfied with the cosmetic effects of wounds, 64 (56.1%) were satisfied, and 48 (42.1%) were very satisfied. The satisfaction rate was 98.2% (112/114). Conclusion The unsymmetrical four-port LSG is safe and feasible, it does not affect esthetic satisfaction of wounds.
Objective To review the changes of gut microbiota after bariatric surgery and the related mechanisms of improving metabolism. Method Domestic and international literatures in recent ten years on the changes of gut microbiota in bariatric surgery and the mechanisms of improving metabolism were collated and summarized. Result The common bariatric procedures performed to date were vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The changes of gut microbiota vary in different surgical procedures, which were related to the changes of diet habits, gastrointestinal anatomy, gastrointestinal hormone levels and metabolic complications. The gut microbiota might improve the body metabolism by regulating the levels of short chain fatty acids, branched chain amino acids and bacterial endotoxin in the intestinal lumen. Conclusions Significant changes are found in gut microbiota after bariatric surgery, which may be involved in the improvement of body metabolism by regulating the level of bacterial endotoxin and microbial metabolite. However, more in-depth mechanisms need to be further clarified.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery in metabolic surgery for weight loss.MethodThe literatures about stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery were reviewed by searching domestic and foreign literatures.ResultsIn recent years, stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery had been gradually applied in clinical practice. Compared with other weight-loss surgeries, it had better clinical effects in weight reduction and blood glucose control. It not only provided a new surgical treatment for patients with severe obesity, but also promoted the development of weight-loss metabolic surgery.ConclusionAs a new metabolic surgery, stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery is safe and feasible for weight loss.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of single-incision plus one-port laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SILS+1) for patients with obesity. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on obese patients underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) from January 2023 to November 2024 at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Patients were stratified into two groups: SILS+1 group and conventional multi-port LSG (MPLSG) group. Comparative parameters included operative time, postoperative hospital stay, complications rate, weight loss outcomes, and improvement in metabolic indicators [including hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)]. ResultsA total of 95 patients with obesity were enrolled, including 40 in the SILS+1 group and 55 in the MPLSG group. The SILS+1 group had significantly lower preoperative body mass index (BMI), HbA1c, and TC level compared to the MPLSG group (P<0.05), and a significantly higher proportion of female patients (P<0.05). Other baseline characteristics, such as age, TG and HDL-C levels, showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Operative time was significantly longer in the SILS+1 group than in the MPLSG group [(100.16±17.53) min vs. (93.82±20.83) min, P<0.001]. The proportion of patients requiring drainage tube placement was significantly lower in the SILS+1 group as compared with the MPLSG group [55.0% (22/40) vs. 76.4% (42/55), P=0.049]. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the need for additional trocar sites, change in hemoglobin level from preoperative to postoperative day 1, postoperative hospital stay, or incidence of postoperative (Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ) complications (P>0.05). No 30-day readmissions occurred in either group. One patient in the SILS+1 group required an additional trocar site. Gastrointestinal patency was normal in all patients, with no signs of contrast agent leakage or stricture observed. Both SILS+1 and MPLSG procedures demonstrated equivalent efficacy in weight loss outcomes (P>0.05) and in their effects on HbA1c, TG, and TC levels (P>0.05). The SILS+1 procedure showed a significant advantage in improving HDL-C level (F=6.221, P=0.015), with significantly higher postoperative HDL-C level observed at 6 months postoperatively compared to the MPLSG group (F=2.500, P=0.027). ConclusionsFor selected obese populations, SILS+1 represents a feasible and safe alternative to MPLSG. This technique demonstrates equivalent efficacy to MPLSG in early-stage weight loss and metabolic improvement, serving as a transitional approach toward pure single-incision LSG.
ObjectiveTo summarize the progress of research on the interaction between bariatric surgery and intestinal flora at home and abroad in recent years, in order to provide new ideas for promoting recovery after bariatric surgery. MethodThe domestic and international literature of intestinal flora changes after bariatric surgery was searched and reviewed. ResultsThe main changes of the intestinal flora after bariatric surgery showed that the abundance of thick-walled bacteria was decreased and the numbers of Bacteroides and Aspergillus were increased. Some common complications after bariatric surgery such as anastomotic fistula, nutritional deficiencies, and inflammation were related to the intestinal flora imbalance. Supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, dietary interventions, or fecal microbial transplantation were expected to reduce the incidence of complications after bariatric surgery. ConclusionsBariatric surgery is a durable and effective method for treating obesity and its comorbidities. Changes in individual intestinal flora after bariatric surgery have an impact on both weight loss outcomes and postoperative complications, and it is important to find ways to reduce postoperative complications after bariatric surgery by improving intestinal flora.
Sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition (SG-TB) was a novel bariatric and metabolic surgery that had received preliminary approval for its effectiveness and safety in reducing weight, improving diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. It showed promising prospects in clinical applications. However, SG-TB also faced some challenges including a small number of cases, insufficient clinical evidence, issues with anastomotic stoma and common channel design, bile reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and malnutrition. Further research is needed to enhance the standardization of SG-TB procedures and provides reference for its wider implementation.
This review systematically traces the two-decade evolution of bariatric and metabolic surgery. The high recidivism rate associated with conventional obesity treatments have driven rapid innovation in therapeutic strategies and simultaneously accelerated progress in the surgical management of metabolic diseases. The application of laparoscopic and robotic technologies has not only improved cosmetic outcomes through smaller incisions but also significantly enhanced operational precision, further promoting the adoption and dissemination of surgical interventions. Over time, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass have become the mainstream procedures. Recent research has demonstrated that metabolic surgery mediates its benefits through reprogramming of the neuroendocrine axis, restructuring of the gut microbiota ecosystem, and activation of bile acid signaling pathways. Future efforts should focus on refining long-term complication management protocols and developing individualized prediction models. By utilizing precise phenotyping to optimize procedure selection and implement stratified technical approaches, the field aims to achieve sustained metabolic health.