Comparisons of Metabolic Effect of Sleeve Gastrectomy With Duodenojejunal Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy (MEDUSA): A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Most Asian patients undergoing metabolic surgery for the treatment of T2DM have BMI as low as 30-35 kg/m2. If SG is performed for the treatment of T2DM in these patients, weight may decrease after the surgery; however, T2DM may recur after 6 months to 1 year. Therefore, it is difficult to find clinical studies on SG for metabolic surgery in Asians, and gastric bypass may be more appropriate as metabolic surgery. However, gastroscopy for the remnant stomach after gastric bypass is practically impossible. Therefore, gastric bypass may be a fatal drawback for East Asian patients with a high incidence of gastric cancer. In recent years, modified duodenal switch (SG with duodenojejunal bypass [DJB], which is defined as the procedure that makes jejunal bypass shorter than the traditional duodenal switch) is often performed as metabolic surgery, and studies on this surgical technique are being actively conducted in Japan.

SG with DJB has both effects of stomach restriction and foregut bypass. However, SG with DJB is more disadvantageous compared to SG alone in nutrient absorption after surgery. This is a natural result of bypassing the duodenum and proximal jejunum. Therefore, SG with DJB should not be performed when it is unnecessary, and it should be performed in patients who are expected to show significant improvement in T2DM. However, there is no existing guideline on which patients can receive SG with DJB or SG alone, and there are also no clinical studies on these aspects.

Inclusion criteria

• Age over 18 years
• BMI equal to or greater than 27.5 kg/m2
• T2DM duration ≤ 10 years
• Using insulin, or HbA1c ≥ 7.0% while taking diabetes medication
• C-peptide level higher than 1.0 ng/mL
• Presence of type 2 diabetes fulfilling the following criteria
• Consent to not become pregnant for at least 1 year after surgery
• Willingness to provide voluntary informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of uncontrolled severe gastroesophageal reflux (LA classification C or more in esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
• History of previous metabolic surgery for T2DM
• History of gastrointestinal surgery, such as gastrectomy or anti-reflux surgery, which may affect the result of metabolic surgery
• Therapy regimen of more than 3 psychiatric drugs owing to poorly controlled psychiatric disorders
• Suicidal attempts within the last 12 months
• Treatment for alcohol and drug abuse within the last 12 months
• Vulnerability factors (lacking mental capacity, pregnancy or planning of pregnancy, lactation)
• Unsuitability as per the discretion of the researcher