PREGNANCIES IN AN 18-YEAR FOLLOW-UP AFTER BILIOPANCREATIC DIVERSION

Background: 239 pregnancies occurred In 1136 women who had undergone b iliopancreatic diversion (BPD). Methods: There were 73 abortions, and 14 pregnancies are presently in their course. The 152 term pregnancies (six twins) occurred in 129 women 2-173 months (mean 42.7) after BPD. Mean age and current excess weight were 31.4 years (20-42) and 29.1%( -6.9-78.2), and mean excess weight loss was 72.9%(30.4-110.5). Results : Mean weight gain during pregnancy was 6.2 kg (-21-25). In 32 patient s (21%), parenteral nutritional support was needed, In all the other p atients (79%), the usual supplementations were given. Of the newborns, 122 were delivered at term (84.7%) with a mean weight of 2842.4 g (17 60-4600 g) and a mean length of 48.5 cm (43-59 cm), while the 22 prete rm babies (15.3%) weighed 2151.1 g (1400-3850 g) and had a length of 4 4.6 cm (33-56 cm), Forty infants (27.8%) were snell for gestational ag e but 17 of them weighed more than 2500 g, Eleven twins (one abortion at 26th week) were also delivered, with a mean weight of 2088.6 g (120 0-3100 g) and a mean length of 45.6 cm (35-50 cm). Delivery was sponta neous in 85 instances (56%), while vacuum extractor was used in one, a nd 66 cesarean sections were performed, There were two birth malformat ions, one infant died after surgery for meconium obstruction and two d ied from unknown causes, Of the 129 women, 35 had been infertile befor e BPD. Conclusions: Disappearance of infertility and decrease of pregn ancy risk are to be considered among the beneficial effects of weight reduction following BPD.