title: Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty--an effective long-term therapy for morbidly obese patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) has previously been documented as an effective treatment for morbid obesity. We have described a laparoscopic technique to perform this operation. Follow-up data are now presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of 139 morbidly obese patients were operated on with laparoscopic VBG. The patients were assessed with respect to peri- and postoperative morbidity, postoperative recovery and weight reduction up to 5 years thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conversions to an open operation (n = 6) and early reoperations (n = 3) occurred in the early part of the series. Late complications were observed in 8 patients. The average weight reduction after 1 year was 50% of excess body weight, which remained also after 2 years. The continued follow-up covering 3 to 5 years postoperatively revealed a moderate weight gain in about 20% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VBG can be safely performed by use of the laparoscopic technique. The average weight reduction after 1 and 2 years was 50% of excess body weight, whereafter tendency to partial weight gain was noted, suggesting an outcome comparable to that documented after the open surgical approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Frolunda Specialist Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olbers
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lönroth
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalenbäck
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haglind
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lundell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss