VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY AT MORE THAN 5 YEARS

Background: Optimal evaluation of the results of surgery for morbid ob esity requires a long-term follow-up for at least 5 years. Methods: On e hundred patients were operated by vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and revised with a follow-up of no less than 5 years. Sixty patients were morbidly obese with a body mass index (BMI) of between 40 and 50 kg/m(2), and 40 were super-obese with a BMI of > 50 kg/m(2). Follow-up included 93 patients (93%). Results: Initial surgical mortality was n il. Twenty-five patients required surgery for complications related to the technique (25%) and one patient died due to pulmonary embolism af ter a re-stapling operation. The percentage excess weight loss was 54. 3%, and the BMI was 33 kg/m(2) for the 84 patients followed to 5 years post VBG. Only 40 out of 92 patients (43.5%), obtained the weight los s benefit due to the operation. None of them is able to eat a regular diet, and the quality of food intake has been severely affected in som e of them. Conclusions: VBG is, in our experience, a safe and technica lly simple operation, but the long-term results are questionable. The reoperation rate was high, and weight loss and quality of life are sup erior with other operations. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.