Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band –Long term Results in 81 Patients

Abstract

Objective: The object of this study is to evaluate the long term outcome in respect of weight loss and long term complications following LABG. Setting: Department of Surgery, Sheikh Zayed Military Hospital Abu Dhabi UAE. Period: From August 2005 to August 2007. Patients and methods: Eighty one (81) patients with morbid obesity underwent LABG at the Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi UAE and were followed up till date. Twenty one cases followed up for 2 years after surgery and forty four cases followed up till today. Forty eight patients were female and thirty three were male. Age ranged from 21 to 51 years with median of 29 years. BMI in patients ranged from 31 to 59. Preoperative weight ranged between 93 kg to 170 kg with average weight of 129 kg.  Results:The following long term complications were seen in 65 cases with at least 2 years follow up. Retrosternal burning, severe dysphagia, gastric band erosion into stomach, port displacement, port hernia, band migration over the body of the stomach. Weight loss was evaluated in 44 cases with more than five years follow up. Maximum weight loss achived was 71 kg, with an average of 30 kg of weight loss. Weight loss peaked by the end of the first year and thereafter remained more or less static with average fluctuation of 6 kg.  Conclusion: With correct case selection, LAGB is an effective method in reducing weight with fewer long term complications in patients with morbid obesity and is a potentially reversible procedure.