title: Improvement of vertical banded gastroplasty by strict dietary management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) has been found to reduce BMI significantly during the first postoperative year. However, the same trend in weight loss has not been established thereafter. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of our dietary program on morbidly obese patients treated with VBG.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective evaluation of 40 obese patients (25 female, 15 male) undergoing VBG over a 3-year period was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age range was 24-57 (median 38) years, mean weight 133+/-2 SD kg, and mean BMI 45+/-6.4 SD kg/m2. After VBG, a special follow-up program was applied to patients. All patients (100%) were available for follow-up. Operative mortality was zero. 4 patients developed an early postoperative complication, and 1 patient was re-operated because of staple-line disruption 8 months after VBG. BMI decreased to 34+/-3.2 after 12 months, 27+/-1.3 after 24 months, and 28+/-1.4 after 36 months. All patients showed weight loss after VBG, and the weight loss continued with the strict follow-up program during a 3-year period, except in 1 patient who regained the weight lost despite an intact staple-line and stoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our policy for patients after VBG appears to be effective.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Avsar
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozel
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topaloglu
authors.forename: Bulent C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berkem
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delibasi
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hengirmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss