Bariatric Surgery and Endoluminal Procedures: IFSO Worldwide Survey 2014

1All bariatric procedures currently available are actually considered effective in the treatment of morbid obesity and its related comorbidities compared to non-surgical interventions. The choice of one bariatric procedure over another is generally influenced by a number of factors such as literature results, specific local conditions, and the experience of the surgical staff in each country. Several bariatric surgery worldwide surveys have been previously published to illustrate the evolution of bariatric surgery around the world in the last decades. Recently, we have published a global overview describing the number and type of each performed procedure of worldwide bariatric surgery in 2013, together with the trends for the most important procedures during the 2003–2013 decade. Our data showed that sleeve gastrectomy (SG) had a steep increase all around the world, although Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) still represented the most performed procedure, while adjustable gastric banding (AGB) declined.

2During the last years, different endoluminal procedures (Orbera/BIB, Obalon, Spatz adjustable balloon system, heliosphere bag, primary obesity surgery endolumenal (POSE), stomaphix, Apollo, overstiches, endobarrier) have gained popularity among bariatric surgeons in the attempt to fill the gap between medical and surgical treatment for borderline patients.

3Our aim in this survey is to report an updated overview of all bariatric procedures performed in the nations of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) in 2014. For the first time, in the 2014 IFSO survey, a special section on endoluminal techniques was added. Moreover, we chose the definition “mini-gastric bypass/one anastomosis gastric bypass (MGB/OAGB)”, as suggested by other authors, in an attempt to reduce the heterogeneity in definitions that could generate a loss of accuracy in the reported data.

4The IFSO Secretariat asked the national societies to provide data on the surgical techniques utilized by filling-out the 2014 survey form (Table 1). Each national society returned the data collected from its members, in some cases asking for information from each member of the society, and, in other cases, providing the information directly from a national registry.

5The relative prevalence of specific procedures is provided as weighted averages to account for the wide ranges in the number of procedures performed by the different IFSO member nations or national groupings. These data were used to estimate the annual percentage changes from 2013.

6Sixty national bariatric societies or groups were contacted; among them 56 (93.3%) answered and provided a response form. Twenty had a national registry. Figure 1 depicts the completeness of data that each responding society declared, expressed as percentages.

7The total number of bariatric/metabolic procedures performed in 2014 consisted of 579,517 (97.6%) surgical operations and 14,725 (2.4%) endoluminal procedures. Tables 2 and 3 show the total number of each bariatric/metabolic surgical procedure together with the percentage of the most commonly performed such as sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), adjustable gastric banding (AGB), mini-gastric bypass/one anastomosis gastric bypass (MGB/OAGB), biliopancreatic diversion/ duodenal switch (BPD/DS), and the total number of each endoluminal procedure.

8Overall total population of the 56 IFSO nations or national groupings in 2014 was estimated as 3,264,082,824, so the 579,517-bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures performed account for 0.02% of the total population.

9Table 4 showed the bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures and the endoluminal procedures performed in the four IFSO regions of the world: USA/Canada, Europe, Latin/South America, and Asia/Pacific.

10Nine nations or national grouping reported more than 10,000 bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures: USA (n = 191.920), Brazil (n = 97.480), France (n = 46.960), Argentina (n = 36.668), Saudi Arabia (n = 15.571), Australia—New Zeeland (n = 14.966), Colombia (n = 12.700), Belgium (n = 12.000) and India (n = 11.336). Kuwait’s total population has the world’s highest rate of bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures (0.28%) (Table 5). Kuwait also reported the highest number of endoluminal procedures of the Asia/Pacific Chapter (n = 1356). Among the nations of the European Chapter, the highest number of endoluminal interventions was performed in Egypt (n = 1200), while in Latin/South America, the largest number was reported by Brazil (n = 8600). USA/Canada did not report any endoluminal procedures (Table 4).

11The annual percentage changes from 2013 of the worldwide bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures revealed that SG had the largest average annual percentage increase of approximately 9%; RYGB and AGB decreased, approximately 5 and 2.6%, respectively. MGB/OAGB and BPD/DS plateaued. Figure 2 presents the short-term trend in the world’s main bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures (SG, RYGB, AGB, MGB/OAGB, and BPD/DS) expressed as the relative proportion at the fixed intervals 2011–2013–2014.

12Previous surveys did not report any data on endoluminal procedures, so the annual percentage changes or the time trend for these procedures were not calculated.

13The annual percentage changes from 2013 in USA/Canada revealed a further increase in the number of SG (+15.3%) that was consistent with the previous survey and the slight decrease of RYGB (−3.9%). AGB and BPD/DS plateaued. Data on MGB/OAGB were not reported. Figure 3 shows the short-term trend of the main bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures (SG, RYGB, AGB, and BPD/DS) in USA/Canada expressed as the relative proportion at the fixed intervals 2011–2013–2014.

14The annual percentage changes from 2013 in Europe revealed a steep increase in SG (+10.7%) and a slight decrease of RYGB (−3%). Also AGB, MGB/OAGB, and BPD/DS decreased (−7.5, −1.8, and −0.7%, respectively). Figure 4 shows the short-term trend of the main bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures (SG, RYGB, AGB, MGB/OAGB, and BPD/DS) in Europe expressed as the relative proportion at the fixed intervals 2011–2013–2014.

15The annual percentage changes from 2013 in Latin/South America revealed that the RYGB plateaued and represented the most frequently performed procedure; SG decreased, approximately 2.9%. AGB, MGB/OAGB and BPD/DS showed a plateauing. Figure 5 shows the short-term trend of the main bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures (SG, RYGB, AGB, MGB/OAGB, and BPD/DS) in Latin/South America expressed as the relative proportion at the fixed intervals 2011–2013–2014.

16The annual percentage changes from 2013 in Asia/Pacific revealed an increase of SG and MGB/OAGB, approximately 11 and 2.7%, respectively; RYGB and AGB decreased (−11.2 and 4.7%, respectively). BPD/DS plateaued. Figure 6 shows the short-term trend of the main bariatric/metabolic surgical procedures (SG, RYGB, AGB, MGB/OAGB, and BPD/DS) in Asia/Pacific expressed as the relative proportion at the fixed intervals 2011–2013–2014.

17This survey gives an updated description of bariatric procedures performed worldwide in 2014 and, for the first time, shows the worldwide incidence of endoluminal procedures such as Orbera/BIB, Obalon, Spatz adjustable balloon system, heliosphere bag, POSE, stomaphix, Apollo overstiches, and endobarrier.

18This collected data reveal a further worldwide increase in the total number of bariatric/metabolic procedures in 2014 and demonstrate that SG in 2014 became the commonest bariatric procedure performed in the world. The strength of this survey compared to the previous one performed in 2013 was the higher response rate (93.3 vs 90.7%) that demonstrated a further increase of the bariatric/metabolic procedures declared in 2014 (+23%). Even more interestingly, SG has become the most frequently performed procedure in the world and has overtaken RYGB, which remains the most performed bariatric/metabolic procedure only in Latin/South America. As we have already hypothesized in our previous survey the simpler surgical technique of SG compared to RYGB, together with the promising long-term weight loss outcomes, could explain this result.

19This survey also shows the short-term trend, from 2011 to 2014, of MGB/OAGB. Rutledge published the first experience on MGB/OAGB in 2001; it was subsequently performed around the world and several studies supported its efficacy and safety. However, the worldwide MGB/OAGB trend reveals plateauing, with the exception of Asia/Pacific, the only region where MGB/OAGB increased. The current report on the number of MGB/OAGB could be underestimated considering that USA/Canada did not provide any data. Remarkably, the MGB/OAGB prevalence has not been reported not even in the last published estimation of bariatric procedures in the USA carried out by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

20Another strength of this survey is that we describe for the first time the endoluminal procedures performed in the world. The endoluminal interventions have gained popularity among bariatric surgeons and may be an appealing alternative to a wide group of patients who refuse bariatric surgery because of concerns about potential risks and complications or who were not eligible for bariatric surgery according to the current guidelines. On the other hand, for most of these new technologies, there are currently limited literature data, often based on small series and there are no clinical guidelines. According to our data collection, 14,275 endoluminal procedures have been performed during 2014, but the real number is probably higher. Unfortunately many national databases are still lacking with information on endoluminal procedures. Therefore, we strongly recommend each society to endeavor to report as accurate data as possible.

21In an attempt to improve the accuracy of our data, we contacted the manufacturers of the endoluminal devices. They declared a higher number of utilized devices compared to that reported by the IFSO nations. In fact, during 2014, Allergan BioEnterics stated that they have sold 25,043 Orbera/BIB, 953 Apollo endosurgery overstitch, 2935 medical implant helioscopie heliosphere, 5500 POSE, respectively. GI dynamics was not able to provide any data, however, they answered that 2900 endobarriers have been distributed since 2009. Obalon was removed from the market in 2014. Thus, the number of endoluminal procedures performed in 2014 is higher compared to those reported by IFSO nations and we believe that also the number of total bariatric procedures actually performed in the world is greater. Furthermore, the endoscopic and surgical procedures executed in private healthcare were not usually reported.

22Therefore the accuracy of provided data is the major point of weakness of this survey. Only 35% of national societies had a national registry and most of the data were estimated. This flaw regards the entire database but may be more critical for the endoluminal therapies.

23There have been five previous reports of the status of bariatric surgery worldwide. All of them, as well as the current survey, were limited by the management and report of the data by the IFSO nations. The analysis of these data can never reach the accuracy and precision of a planned experiment or a clinical trial. However, this is the best achievable analysis of worldwide reported data. Despite these limits, worldwide surveys have always been a scientific landmark. The bariatric surgery community could not progress without a periodic collection and report of worldwide data. Results regarding the techniques of endoluminal bariatric surgery are extremely useful in the current scenario of modern bariatric armamentarium. The reported lack of response aims to be provocative. Data should absolutely be collected at national level by the IFSO societies.

24In conclusion, national and international registries should be implemented and regularly updated taking into account all new endoscopic procedures that are continually evolving and will gain increasing importance in the near future. Moreover, further studies on large series of patients are mandatory to increase our knowledge of endoluminal procedures and to encourage the creation of specific international guidelines.