Weight Loss and Improvement of Obesity-related Illness Following Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Procedure for Morbidly Obese Patients in Taiwan

Lee, Wei-Jei; Wang, Weu; Wei, Po-Li; Huang, Ming-Te

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(09)60174-1

« Previous Next »Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 105, Issue 11 , Pages 887-894, 2006

Weight Loss and Improvement of Obesity-related Illness Following Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Procedure for Morbidly Obese Patients in Taiwan

Wei-Jei Lee
- Department of Surgery, Taoyuan Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Weu Wang
- Department of Surgery, Taoyuan Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Po-Li Wei
- Department of Surgery, Taoyuan Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ming-Te Huang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Correspondence to: Dr Ming-Te Huang, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, Taiwan

Received 21 October 2005; received in revised form 30 November 2005; accepted 4 April 2006.

Background/Purpose

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a newly developed minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity. This study was conducted to evaluate body weight loss, surgical complications, and comorbidities after LAGB surgery.

Methods

Ninety-one morbidly obese patients (mean age, 31.2 years; mean preoperative weight, 120.8 kg) underwent LAGB in a private Taiwan hospital setting within a comprehensive multidisciplinary bariatric program. Patients were followed up to 36 months. Comorbidities were assessed in 55 patients who completed more than 12 months of follow-up by comparing each comorbid condition before surgery and during follow-up.

Results

All procedures were performed laparoscopically with no conversion. Mean operation time was 88.7 ±32.9 minutes. There were no intraoperative or major postoperative complications. Minor complication of stoma stenosis occurred in three (3.3%) patients. At 36 months after surgery, mean body mass index had decreased from 42.7 to 33.9 kg/m², and mean percentage of excess weight loss was 44.8%. Late complications were as follows: intractable vomiting requiring band removal in one (1.1%) patient, tubing problems requiring revision surgery in four (4.3%), and stoma obstruction in two (2.1%). There was no mortality. Resolution or improvement of comorbidities was significant for hyperglycemia and diabetes-related index, dyslipidemia, abnormal liver function, hyperuricemia, sleep apnea, and arthralgia, but not for hypertension.