Re: anyone know....

[Guest guest]

the new adjustable lap band?

new in the usa since the fda only approved it about a year or so ago?

at the ASBS conf. last week the stats on the band were very discouraging.

the surgery itself is considered easier with less complications but monthly

and even weekly follow ups must be made for 3yr. and the weight lost is only

50% of excess in three yrs. [vs.78% in 1.5yr. for RNY] it is a constant

tedious process of adjusting the band and the thought by the surgeons was

that here in the usa the docs just are not able to see patients often enough

to do these adjustments. surgeons are more of a cut and run breed and not

into all this followup for years to come.

sue

[Guest guest]

I've heard that it's much more successful in Europe. Maybe that's

way.

in NJ

*********************

> the new adjustable lap band?

> new in the usa since the fda only approved it about a year or so

ago?

> at the ASBS conf. last week the stats on the band were very

discouraging. the surgery itself is considered easier with less

complications but monthly and even weekly follow ups must be made for

3yr. and the weight lost is only 50% of excess in three yrs. [vs.78%

in 1.5yr. for RNY] it is a constant tedious process of adjusting the

band and the thought by the surgeons was that here in the usa the

docs just are not able to see patients often enough to do these

adjustments. surgeons are more of a cut and run breed and not into

all this followup for years to come.

>

> sue

[Guest guest]

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

nutrition related medical journals. The excerpts below 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. One article calls this a " good " result. That

appears to be a matter of perspective. A BMI of 30 is clinically

defined as " obese. "

" 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. "

" Obes Surg 2002 Aug;12(4):569-72

Experience with Lap-band System up to 7 years.

Vertruyen M.

Department of Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery, Europe

St-Michel Clinic, Brussels, Belgium. marcvertruyen@...

" BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity occurs in 2-5% of the population of Western

countries. Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding was designed

to be a minimally invasive, adjustable and reversible procedure for the

treatment of morbid obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Lap-band System

was evaluated retrospectively in a series of 543 patients. Data on

preoperative aspects and postoperative outcome and weight loss patterns

at up to 7 years follow-up (median follow-up 36 months) are presented.

RESULTS: The most important late complication was total and irreversible

food intolerance due to proximal pouch dilatation, which occurred in 24

patients (4.6%). 20 of these patients (3.8%) had had a proximal pouch

calibration with 25 cc; 4 patients were calibrated with 15 cc. The mean

BMI had fallen from 44 kg/m2 to 33.2 kg/m2 and was stable after a

follow-up of up to 86 months (median 36 months). CONCLUSION: The

Lap-band System is an effective procedure for achieving appreciable and

stable weight loss at up to 7 years of follow-up (median 36 months). The

minimally invasive approach was associated with a short hospital stay

and a low rate of complications. Preoperative patient selection,

detailed information and availability of the multidisciplinary team

permitted us to achieve good long standing results. "

Here's a link to the BioEnterics Corporation -- they are the folks who

developed and produce the LAP-Band device.

http://www.inamed.com/products/obesity/us/patient/patient.html

This is what they say in the Obesity, Its Health Risks, and Common

Weight-Loss Methods section:

" How Much Weight Can You Lose with the BioEnterics® LAP-BAND® System?

" The amount of weight you may lose depends on several things. The

average weight loss in the United States clinical study was

approximately 36-38% of excess weight, 2 and 3 years after surgery. It

is important to remember that the BioEnterics® LAP-BAND® System is an

aid to support you in achieving lasting results by limiting food intake,

reducing appetite and slowing digestion. However, for the ultimate

success of the operation it is very important that you play an active

part in the effort to lose weight and keep it off by adopting a

different lifestyle and eating pattern for the rest of your life. "

With the RNY, the odds of losing a larger percentage of your excess

weight is much higher -- something like 75% of people lose 65 - 85% of

their excess weight. I personally have lost about 100% of my excess

weight so far.

Ray Hooks

For WLS nutrition info, visit

http://www.bariatricsupplementsystem.com

jillyohmy3@... wrote:

>

> hello friends, i am looking into the band surgery for my

> daughter... anyone have it, what do you think?

>

> also does anyone know a marc bessler at columbia

> presbyterian hosptal...

>

> appreciate any advice,

>

> warmly,

>

> jilly

>

>