title: Laparoscopic gastric banding in morbidly obese adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  4% of adolescents in the U.S.A. are obese, 80% of whom will become obese adults. Obesity in adolescence is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in adulthood. Is laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding a safe and effective method of weight loss in morbidly obese adolescents?
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 1996, data has been prospectively collected on all patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) by a single surgeon. Patients are reviewed at 6 and 12 weeks following surgery, then at 3 monthly intervals. Weight loss is measured in absolute terms, reduction in body mass index (BMI) and as percentage of excess weight loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  17 patients with a median age of 17 (12 to 19) years underwent LAGB. Median follow-up was 25 (12 to 46) months. 2 complications occurred, 1 slipped band and 1 leaking port. BMI fell from a preoperative median of 44.7 to 30.2 kg/m2 at 24 months following surgery, corresponding to a median loss of 35.6 kg or 59.3% of excess weight. 13 of 17 patients (76.5%) lost at least 50% of their excess weight, and 9 of 11 patients (81.8%) had a BMI < 35 kg/m2 at 24 months following surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LAGB is a safe and effective method of weight loss in morbidly obese adolescents, at least in the medium term. Its role in preventing obesity and obesity-related disease in adulthood remains to be determined as part of our long-term study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland, Australia. medkd@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Creighton
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fielding
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D010865:Pilot Projects