title: Disorders associated with clinically severe obesity: significant improvement after surgical weight reduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical treatment for patients with clinically severe obesity mainly aims to reduce morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two patients were examined for disorders associated with morbid obesity before and after surgical weight reduction by vertical banded gastroplasty. All patients were followed-up for 12 to 48 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the first postoperative year, 84% of the patients had lost at least 50% of their excess weight. Of the 218 weight-related pathologic conditions existing before the operation, 131 (60%) were completely cured, 50 (23%) showed significant improvement, and only 37 (17%) remained unchanged. The same percentages were obtained for patients followed tip for 24, 36, and 48 postoperative months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment of clinically severe obesity has a significant effect on the health of the patients by eliminating the associated disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melissas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christodoulakis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spyridakis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schoretsanitis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michaloudis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papavasiliou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsiftsis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000517:prevention & control; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000517:prevention & control; D017792:Surgical Stapling; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000517:prevention & control; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; C016674:Plastipore; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011126:Polypropylenes; D014280:Triglycerides; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene