Background
Obesity control in Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS) is notoriously difficult. The role of bariatric surgery in PWS remains controversial as long‐term data are lacking.
Objectives
To evaluate the 10‐year outcomes of bariatric surgery in PWS.
Methods
This was a prospective observational study on PWS patients who received bariatric surgery and multidisciplinary follow‐up programmes for obesity control. Outcomes on weight reduction and comorbidity resolution were evaluated.
Results
Between 2008 and 2013, five PWS patients (two males, mean age 19.2 ± 3.0 years) with body mass index of 47.3 ± 6.9 kg m−2 received sleeve gastrectomy (n = 2), one anastomosis gastric bypass (n = 2), and Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (n = 1) after failing all non‐operative weight loss programmes. The median follow‐up was 8.4 ± 2.2 years. The best mean percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) was achieved at 2 years (24.7%). %TWL dropped to 23.3% at 3 years, 11.9% at 5 years, 4.1% at 8 years, and 0% at 10 years. Each patient had at least three comorbidities preoperatively, but none of them had resolution of any one of the comorbidities at the last follow‐up.
Conclusions
Bariatric surgery could not produce sustainable long‐term weight loss or comorbidity resolution in PWS. This study suggests that bariatric surgery cannot be recommended to PWS patients as a standard treatment.