• Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) is considered a combination of restriction-malabsorption procedure and one of the most common operative procedures implemented.
• Over the last years increasing evidence suggests that the beneficial effects of bariatric operations might be related to the suppression of appetite caused by the release of the anorectic gut hormones such as peptide-YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)by the L cells of the distal gut and the suppression of the orexigenic hormone ghrelin released by the stomach.Obese people have a blunted rise in PYY and GLP-1 after a meal, possibly resulting in impaired satiety and hence greater food intake.
• In the present study the investigators sought to evaluate the effects of the resection of the gastric fundus, the main source of ghrelin production, on the secretion of ghrelin, PYY, GLP-1 and insulin and in addition on glucose levels, appetite and weight loss, in morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Twenty four patients were included prospectively in the study. After randomization, 12 patients underwent LRYGBP and 12 LRYGBP plus gastric fundus resection (LRYGBP+FR).

All human studies were performed according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The local Research and Ethics Commitee at the University Hospital of Patras approved the study. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

All the operations were performed by the same surgeon laparoscopically. The RYGBP procedures were performed creating a small isolated lesser curve-based gastric pouch (20 ± 5 ml) and a 150cm Roux limb. The gastroenteroanastomosis was conducted with a 25 mm circular stapler. The dissection of the fundus of the stomach in the (LRYGBP+FR) group was done with the use of EndoGia No 60.

The subjects were studied before and at 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation. All the patients underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with 75 g glucose, preoperatively. In addition, venous blood was collected after an overnight 12 hour fast and 30, 60 and 120 min after the administration of a 300 kcal mixed meal.The meal was consumed in ten minutes and consisted of 18% protein, 55% carbohydrate and 27% fat (Resource energy drink, Nestle Nutrition, France). Plasma levels of PYY, GLP-1, ghrelin and insulin were determined at every time point of the study. All patients underwent complete clinical evaluation during follow-up including nutritional, behavioral and anthropometric parameters. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to measure hunger, nausea, fullness and aversion to food, before and 30, 60 and 120 min after the consumption of the meal. Weight loss evaluation was based on postope¬rative body weight, body mass index (BMI) and % excess weight loss (EWL %).

Insulin resistance was approximated using the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA IR). The following formula was used in its calculation:

HOMA IR = (fasting glucose [mmole] /lt X fasting insulin [μU/ml])/22.5). The insulinogenic index, a commonly used indicator of pancreatic β-cell function, was calculated as the ratio of increment of insulin concentrations to that of glucose concentrations at 30 minutes after meal ingestion (Δ [ins30 - ins0] / Δ [Glu30 -Glu0]).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body mass index higher than 40 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy
• diabetes mellitus
• substance abuse
• chronic medical or psychiatric illness
• previous gastrointestinal surgery