Timing of Gestation After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG): Does It Influence Obstetrical and Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnancies?

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the effect of pregnancy timing after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: Women with LSG were stratified into two groups with surgery-to-conception intervals of ≤ 18 months (early group) or > 18 months (late group). Only the first delivery after LSG was included in this study. We compared maternal characteristics, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes and adherence to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) recommendations for gestational weight gain (GWG) in the two groups. Results: Fifteen patients conceived ≤ 18 months after surgery, with a mean surgery-to-conception interval of 5.6 ± 4.12 months, and 29 women conceived > 18 months following LSG, with a mean surgery-to-conception interval of 32.31 ± 11.38 months, p < 0.05. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding birth weight, gestational age, cesarean deliveries (CD), preterm birth, whether their child was small or large for their gestational age, or in the need of neonatal intensive care. There was no correlation between mean weight loss from operation till conception, mean weight gain during pregnancy, and mean body mass index (BMI) at conception between birth weight in either study group. Inadequate and normal GWG was significantly higher in the early group, whereas excessive GWG was significantly higher in the late group (X, 20.780; p = < 0.001). Conclusion: The interval between LSG and conception did not impact maternal and neonatal outcomes. Pregnancy after LSG was overall safe and well-tolerated.