Port Site Closure versus Non-Closure in Morbidly Obese Patients who Underwent Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery.

Introduction: Laparoscopic bariatric surgery (LBS) has established itself as the premier method for handlingmorbid obesity, but optimal management of port sites remains debated. This study aimed to compareoutcomes between port site closure and non-closure approaches in morbidly obese people undergoing LBS.Patients and methods: One hundred individuals aged 18-65 years who had LBS were included in this retrospectiveanalysis. Patients were divided into two equal groups: Group C (port site closure using absorbable sutures) andgroup N (only skin closure).Results: Operative time and average pain scores in 1st 24 hours were significantly higher in Group C (89.4±20.69vs 80.7±19.06 minutes, p=0.031 and median 3 vs 2, p<0.001, respectively). Wound healing and recovery timewere significantly faster in Group C (1.44±0.5 vs 2.02±0.94 weeks, p<0.001 and 3.06±0.79 vs 3.54±1.13 weeks,p=0.061, respectively). Complications were comparable between groups, with no conversions in either group.Conclusion: Port site closure in morbidly obese people undergoing LBS increases operative time and immediatepostoperative pain but significantly enhances wound healing and accelerates recovery without raising complicationrates.