Open-surgery management of morbid obesity: old experience-new techniques.
Bariatric surgery is well established to treat morbidly obese patients (BMI >40 kg/m(2)) with various techniques. Gastric-restriction procedures [adjustable gastric band, vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG)] reduce caloric intake and are well accepted (weight loss up to BMI 28-33 kg/m(2) after 5 years), but they are less effective in super-obese patients and in sweet-eaters. For that group combined techniques, such as duodenal switch, gastric bypass or bilio-pancreatic diversion, could produce a better weight loss (between 60 and 160 kg or BMI of 25-30 kg/m(2)) with acceptable long-term side effect; however, due to malabsorption, a lack of minerals and vitamins, even protein, could occur and have dangerous side effects. Both basic techniques have their place in the treatment of morbid obesity. The surgical approach-open or mini-invasive-is only of minor importance. Technical complications should be avoided, especially band dislocation (2-12%) or suture leak. Long-term follow-up is very important because obesity is a chronic disease with a high risk of recurrence, even after bariatric surgery.
Department of Surgery, Surgical Clinic of Dominikus-Krankenhaus, 40549, Düsseldorf, Germany. chirurgie@dominikus.de
Bernhard
B
Husemann
D015904:Biliopancreatic Diversion; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss