Eligibility criteria and study selection
The present study selected studies with obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery and who had weight relapse after surgery. The inclusion criteria to compose the meta-analysis were randomized controlled trials, prospective, retrospective studies, case series, Consensus Development Conference and Consensus Development Conference (NIH) that presented a low risk of bias, clarity of comparisons, precision, and consistency of the analyzes, as well as studies with statistically well-prepared results and studies published in indexed newspapers and with a significant impact factor. Exclusion criteria were studies of meta-analysis, reviews, systematic, editorial reviews, letters to the editor, and brief comments.
After these literary search criteria, ninety-six (96) studies involving bariatric surgery, widening of the gastrojejunal anastomosis, weight relapse, use of argon plasma, suturing, and surgery were found. Of this total of articles, thirty-four (34) articles were selected to compose the meta-analysis, according to the rules established by the Cochrane instrument and by the quality of the evidence (Figure 1).