BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is considered a safe and effective treatment for severe obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. We sought to examine the outcome of LAGB delivered through a Canadian publicly funded obesity program. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the cases of patients who underwent LAGB within a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, publically funded obesity program. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients underwent LAGB. Mean percentage total body weight loss at 1, 2 and 3 years was 15.8%, 20.7% and 20.3%, respectively. The most common short-term complication was postoperative nausea (19%). The medium-term complications included band migration (5.6%) and port site complications, band leakage and incisional hernia at 1% each. The reoperation rate was 4.5%. The mean surgery duration was 56 minutes and the mean length of stay was 1.4 days. The average numbers of clinic visits and band adjustments were highest in the first year. The most common investigation for postoperative symptoms was fluoroscopy (86%). An outcome comparison between the 2 generations of the REALIZE gastric band was inconclusive, requiring further data collection. CONCLUSION: Publicly funded LAGB results in effective weight loss and acceptable safety over the short term. Our patients may represent a distinct population that differs from that in the private system. Long-term data are necessary to determine the cost-effectiveness of this important surgical option for severe obesity.
BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is considered a safe and effective treatment for severe obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. We sought to examine the outcome of LAGB delivered through a Canadian publicly funded obesity program. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the cases of patients who underwent LAGB within a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, publically funded obesity program. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients underwent LAGB. Mean percentage total body weight loss at 1, 2 and 3 years was 15.8%, 20.7% and 20.3%, respectively. The most common short-term complication was postoperative nausea (19%). The medium-term complications included band migration (5.6%) and port site complications, band leakage and incisional hernia at 1% each. The reoperation rate was 4.5%. The mean surgery duration was 56 minutes and the mean length of stay was 1.4 days. The average numbers of clinic visits and band adjustments were highest in the first year. The most common investigation for postoperative symptoms was fluoroscopy (86%). An outcome comparison between the 2 generations of the REALIZE gastric band was inconclusive, requiring further data collection. CONCLUSION: Publicly funded LAGB results in effective weight loss and acceptable safety over the short term. Our patients may represent a distinct population that differs from that in the private system. Long-term data are necessary to determine the cost-effectiveness of this important surgical option for severe obesity.
Authors: Lars Sjöström; Anna-Karin Lindroos; Markku Peltonen; Jarl Torgerson; Claude Bouchard; Björn Carlsson; Sven Dahlgren; Bo Larsson; Kristina Narbro; Carl David Sjöström; Marianne Sullivan; Hans Wedel Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2004-12-23 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Andreas Thalheimer; Marco Bueter; Alexander Wierlemann; Caroline Lager; Christian Jurowich; Christoph-Thomas Germer; Martin Fein Journal: Obes Facts Date: 2009-03-18 Impact factor: 3.942
Authors: Timothy M Farrell; Stephen P Haggerty; D Wayne Overby; Geoffrey P Kohn; William S Richardson; Robert D Fanelli Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2009-01-06 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: J Picot; J Jones; J L Colquitt; E Gospodarevskaya; E Loveman; L Baxter; A J Clegg Journal: Health Technol Assess Date: 2009-09 Impact factor: 4.014
Authors: Caroline E Sheppard; Erica L W Lester; Anderson W Chuck; David H Kim; Shahzeer Karmali; Christopher J de Gara; Daniel W Birch Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2014-06-27 Impact factor: 4.584