title: Vertical banded gastroplasty in the Aegean Region of Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is increasing in Turkey. The first experience with vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) with regular intermediate-term follow-up in the Aegean Region of Turkey is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 1993 to August 1999, 40 morbidity obese patients underwent VBG. The patients were evaluated on the basis of excess weight loss (EWL) and satisfaction with the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regular follow-up was obtained in 38 patients (95%), with mean follow-up 27.2 months (14-85). Average preoperative body weight (BW) was 141.4 kg (93-238) and body mass index (BMI) was 52.3 kg/m2 (41-77.8). Average EWL was 64.1% (21.2-92.3). Average postoperative BW and BMI were 93.3 kg (70-145) and 34.4 kg/m2 (25.1-53) respectively. 35 of 38 patients (92%) lost more than 25% of EW and 28 of 38 (73.6%) lost more than 50% of EW. After weight loss, hypertension disappeared or improved in 86% of patients and diabetes resolved in 75%. Sleep apnea disappeared in 100% of patients. The early and late complication rates were 7.9% and 15.8% respectively. 33 of 38 patients (87%) were satisfied with the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VBG was safe and effective, resulted in acceptable weight loss, and the vast majority of patients were satisfied.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Department of General Surgery, 35340 Inciralti-Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haciyanli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gulay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss