Lap band results

September 5, 2002

I subscribe to a service that sends me abstracts on some 30 obesity and

nutrition related medical journals. This just came in on the topic of

long term effects of the adjustable gastric banding operation. As I

read it, the average result was a reduction of the Body Mass Index (BMI)

from 42 to 30. The article calls this a " good " result. That appears to

be a matter of perspective. A BMI of 30 is clinically defined as

" obese. " I am neither for or against the lap band procedure. I am just

passing the information along.

Ray Hooks

For WLS nutrition info, visit

" Obes Surg 2002 Aug;12(4):564-8

" Long-term results of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for the

treatment of morbid obesity.

Belachew M, Belva PH, Desaive C. State University of Liege, Free

University of Brussels, CHR Huy, Belgium.

" BACKGROUND: Since the first laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

(LAGB) operation on September 1, 1993, there have been important

publications related to this procedure. The majority of the articles

reported surgical technique and short-term results. Long-term results

of LAGB are lacking. The authors report long-term data (at least 4

years) from 3 major bariatric centers in Belgium that perform LAGB

routinely. METHODS: The 3 centers applied the same patient selection

criteria, the same standard surgical technique, the same laparoscopic

band (Lap-Band) and the same follow-up program. 763 patients have been

enrolled. Sex ratio was 22% male/78% female. Mean age was 34 years, and

mean preoperative BMI was 42 kg/m2. RESULTS: The follow-up rate was 90%,

and the minimum follow-up time was 4 years. The average BMI after 4

years was 30 kg/m2. Early complications were: gastric perforation 4

(0.5%); large bowel perforation 1 (0.1%); bleeding 1 (0.1%); and

conversion to open 10 (1.3%). Late complications were: erosion 7 (0.9%);

total food intolerance 59 (8%); access port problems 20 (2.5%);

re-operations 80 (11.1%); death 1 (0.1%).

" CONCLUSION: Long-term results of LAGB have been rarely reported,

although publications on the procedure are copious. Our long-term data

found that BMI evolution is good, the complication and re-operation

rates are acceptable and the overall long-term results of the Lap-Band

system are good. "

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