Results and complications after adjustable gastric banding in a series of 250 patients

Background: Morbid obesity contributes to many health risks including physi cal, emotional, and social problems. The increasing prevalence of obesity i s a major public health concern since obesity is associated with several ch ronic diseases. Morbid obesity is the biggest independent risk factor for e arly mortality. Various options for the surgical treatment of morbid obesit y have been developed with varying results. Methods: Between January 1996 and December 1999, we operated on a series of 250 patients (200 women and 50 men) at the General Surgical Department of the University Hospital in Innsbruck. The parameters that were evaluated in cluded age, preoperative and postoperative body mass index (BMI), type of s urgery, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. Results: The mean follow-up period was 12 months (range 3 to 18). The avera ge preoperative weight was 135.5 kg (BMI 46.69 kg/m(2)). The average total weight-loss was 5.5 kg per month, reaching an average total of 35 kg after one year. The excess weight loss (EWL) after 12 months was 72%. Complicatio ns requiring reoperation occurred in 8.8%. Conclusions: In the first year after laparoscopic adjustable gastric bandin g, weight reduction of the study population was excellent. Additionally, th e complication rate was reasonable with no mortalities. (C) 2001 Excerpta M edica, Inc. All rights reserved.