BACKGROUND: Optimal results of bariatric surgery are achieved when it is performed within a multidisciplinary team. Within this team, the dietician plays a key role before and after surgery in patient education and behaviour change. With long-term follow-up, the number of patients per surgeon increases exponentially. This study evaluated the outcomes of a dietician-only led management program for patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric banding in our unit. METHODS: Between April 2003 and November 2007, 1,335 patients underwent laparoscopic gastric banding in two hospitals by the same surgical team. Weight loss outcomes were compared for patients in a dietician-led management program against a surgeon/nurse specialist follow-up program with more frequent patient visits. For the dietician-led group, a standard protocol of six postoperative visits and two to three fluoroscopic adjustments was developed from referral until 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: There were 316 patients followed up in a dietician-led program. They were compared with the remaining patients who were followed up in a surgeon/ nurse specialist led program. The mean preoperative weight and body mass index (BMI) for the dietetic-led subset was significantly higher (weight: 147.4 +/- 30.2; BMI: 52.8 +/- 8.9) compared with the remaining group (weight: 113.8 +/- 18.7; BMI: 41.6 +/- 5.2; p < 0.001: Mann-Whitney test). Percent BMI loss was initially lower in the dietician-led group, but this difference disappeared at the end of 24 months (p = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: A patient management program led by specialist dieticians is an effective way to manage large numbers of patients after laparoscopic gastric banding while maintaining comparable weight loss to surgeon/nurse-led series.
BACKGROUND: Optimal results of bariatric surgery are achieved when it is performed within a multidisciplinary team. Within this team, the dietician plays a key role before and after surgery in patient education and behaviour change. With long-term follow-up, the number of patients per surgeon increases exponentially. This study evaluated the outcomes of a dietician-only led management program for patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric banding in our unit. METHODS: Between April 2003 and November 2007, 1,335 patients underwent laparoscopic gastric banding in two hospitals by the same surgical team. Weight loss outcomes were compared for patients in a dietician-led management program against a surgeon/nurse specialist follow-up program with more frequent patient visits. For the dietician-led group, a standard protocol of six postoperative visits and two to three fluoroscopic adjustments was developed from referral until 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: There were 316 patients followed up in a dietician-led program. They were compared with the remaining patients who were followed up in a surgeon/ nurse specialist led program. The mean preoperative weight and body mass index (BMI) for the dietetic-led subset was significantly higher (weight: 147.4 +/- 30.2; BMI: 52.8 +/- 8.9) compared with the remaining group (weight: 113.8 +/- 18.7; BMI: 41.6 +/- 5.2; p < 0.001: Mann-Whitney test). Percent BMI loss was initially lower in the dietician-led group, but this difference disappeared at the end of 24 months (p = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: A patient management program led by specialist dieticians is an effective way to manage large numbers of patients after laparoscopic gastric banding while maintaining comparable weight loss to surgeon/nurse-led series.
Authors: Jeffrey I Mechanick; Robert F Kushner; Harvey J Sugerman; J Michael Gonzalez-Campoy; Maria L Collazo-Clavell; Safak Guven; Adam F Spitz; Caroline M Apovian; Edward H Livingston; Robert Brolin; David B Sarwer; Wendy A Anderson; John Dixon Journal: Surg Obes Relat Dis Date: 2008-08-19 Impact factor: 4.734
Authors: Gerd R Silberhumer; Karl Miller; Stefan Kriwanek; Kurt Widhalm; Antonia Pump; Gerhard Prager Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2006-08 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: A Alhamdani; M Wilson; T Jones; L Taqvi; P Gonsalves; M Boyle; K Mahawar; S Balupuri; P K Small Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2012-07 Impact factor: 4.129